The boxing world is mourning the loss of Mexico's former contender, Ruben Castillo. In a 67-10-2 professional career with 35 KOs, spanning from 1975 to 1997, Castillo, who broke into the professional ranks at just seventeen years old, fought a total of 540 rounds. Not a single one was boring. He had the misfortune of fighting in a golden era, during which he fearlessly faced and lost on points to Salvador Sánchez and Juan LaPorte, and was stopped by Alexis Argüello and Julio César Chávez Sr. Later one Castillo that his fight against Chávez was, without a doubt the toughest and most demanding. Chaves had just won the WBC 130-pound title and, at only twenty-two years old, was overflowing with power, energy. He came into that fight with a 44-0 record, while Castillo came in at 64-5-2.

 

The WBC recounted that fight as follows: "For the first four rounds, Ruben held his ground and boxed beautifully. But even at that young age, Chávez showed his prodigious talent as a pressure fighter. He didn't give Rubén a moment's respite, much less a second to breathe. In the fourth round, two hard and precise right hands crossed opened a small but deep cut on Rubén's left eyelid. Then, a left hook landed on Rubén's right cheekbone, fracturing it. Typical of Rubén, he boldly encouraged Julio to continue and challenged him to give his best. Julio did not need a second invitation. By the sixth round, the tide had turned irreversibly. A flurry of blows knocked Rubén down and, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't beat the score. Rubén remembered with a laugh, softened by the years, that the small problem was that he couldn't feel his legs or anything below his waist. Instead of boxing in a boring way, he had attacked by throwing combinations, risking everything, knowing that he would fall on his shield but with his weapons raised. In doing so, he also suffered two broken ribs."

 

Also an expert television analyst, Castillo introduced boxing fans to his knowledge and sharp wit, generously peppering them with his charming character, jokes and great personality. The father of six children and married to Cindy, he was a wonderful husband and father, and a valuable and unforgettable friend. 

 

Boxingtalk joins the WBC in sending its sympathy to the friends and family of Ruben Castillo.