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JESUS " CHUCHU " CASTILLO ; A Forgotten Champion
He lost his professional debut in 1962 but he would go on to later win
the bantamweight title and be a major force for several years. Jesus "
Chuchu " Castillo rebounded from that initial loss to win fourteen straight.
As he moved up in competition he suffered an occasional loss but he was also
beating some good fighters like Jesus Hernandez and Lenny Brice.
In 1967 Castillo challenged and defeated Jose Medal for the Mexican
title. He then defeated the rugged Bernardo Caraballo. In 1968 he continued
his march to a title shot with wins over Joe Valdez, Jesus Pimentel and a
two round kayo of Evan Armstrong. On December 6th at the Forum in Inglewood,
California Chuchu finally got his title shot. He met the slick boxing Lionel
Rose. After fifteen rounds Rose, who was knocked down in the tenth round was
awarded a split decision. The verdict sparked a full scale riot in protest
of Castillo not being proclaimed the new champion.
Chuchu would go on a solid campaign in 1969 to earn another shot at
the title. He knocked out future champion Rafael Herrera. He drew with
Ushiwakamaru Harada and Jose Medal. He also split a pair of bouts with Raul
Cruz. On April 18, 1970 Castillo would meet the new champion, Ruben
Olivares. " Rockabye " Ruben had stopped Rose in impressive fashion to win
the crown. Although Castillo knocked Ruben down, Olivares did enough to earn
the decision and retain his title. Still Chuchu's game effort warranted a
rematch. They met again on October 16th and Castillo finally became world
champion as a severe cut forced Olivares out in the fourteenth round.
Chuchu's tenure as champion did not last long. On April 2, 1971 Ruben
regained his crown with a decisive decision. Once again though Chuchu put
Ruben on the canvas.In his next bout Castillo lost a rematch to Rafael
Herrera with the NABF title at stake. Herrera would go on to dethrone
Olivares but then lost the title to Enrique Pinder. Castillo would then meet
Pinder in a non-title bout losing a decision.
In 1973 Chuchu would lose to Jose Luis Soto and then be stopped by
Bobby Chacon. In his last attempt to remain in the limelight he was stopped
in two rounds by Danny " Little Red " Lopez in 1975. Chuchu would lose one
more fight and then call it quits.
Castillo had 66 fights in his illustrious career, winning 46 of them.
Many of his 18 losses came early and late in his career. Castillo's record
from 1967 through his second loss to Olivares was 17-5-2 and that was
against top level opposition. He was a warrior and a true champion.
He lost his professional debut in 1962 but he would go on to later win
the bantamweight title and be a major force for several years. Jesus "
Chuchu " Castillo rebounded from that initial loss to win fourteen straight.
As he moved up in competition he suffered an occasional loss but he was also
beating some good fighters like Jesus Hernandez and Lenny Brice.
In 1967 Castillo challenged and defeated Jose Medal for the Mexican
title. He then defeated the rugged Bernardo Caraballo. In 1968 he continued
his march to a title shot with wins over Joe Valdez, Jesus Pimentel and a
two round kayo of Evan Armstrong. On December 6th at the Forum in Inglewood,
California Chuchu finally got his title shot. He met the slick boxing Lionel
Rose. After fifteen rounds Rose, who was knocked down in the tenth round was
awarded a split decision. The verdict sparked a full scale riot in protest
of Castillo not being proclaimed the new champion.
Chuchu would go on a solid campaign in 1969 to earn another shot at
the title. He knocked out future champion Rafael Herrera. He drew with
Ushiwakamaru Harada and Jose Medal. He also split a pair of bouts with Raul
Cruz. On April 18, 1970 Castillo would meet the new champion, Ruben
Olivares. " Rockabye " Ruben had stopped Rose in impressive fashion to win
the crown. Although Castillo knocked Ruben down, Olivares did enough to earn
the decision and retain his title. Still Chuchu's game effort warranted a
rematch. They met again on October 16th and Castillo finally became world
champion as a severe cut forced Olivares out in the fourteenth round.
Chuchu's tenure as champion did not last long. On April 2, 1971 Ruben
regained his crown with a decisive decision. Once again though Chuchu put
Ruben on the canvas.In his next bout Castillo lost a rematch to Rafael
Herrera with the NABF title at stake. Herrera would go on to dethrone
Olivares but then lost the title to Enrique Pinder. Castillo would then meet
Pinder in a non-title bout losing a decision.
In 1973 Chuchu would lose to Jose Luis Soto and then be stopped by
Bobby Chacon. In his last attempt to remain in the limelight he was stopped
in two rounds by Danny " Little Red " Lopez in 1975. Chuchu would lose one
more fight and then call it quits.
Castillo had 66 fights in his illustrious career, winning 46 of them.
Many of his 18 losses came early and late in his career. Castillo's record
from 1967 through his second loss to Olivares was 17-5-2 and that was
against top level opposition. He was a warrior and a true champion.
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