WBC DECLARES THREE DAYS OF MOURING FOR BANTAMWEIGHT GREAT JESUS ?CHUCHO? CASTILLO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Jan 2013
Castillo.
The World Boxing Council headed by its president Don Jose Sulaiman has declared three days of mourning for the great bantamweight champion Jesus ?Chucho? Castillo of Mexico who passed away at the age of 68 on Tuesday.
Castillo passed away due to complications from gastric surgery that he underwent several days ago.
A former world WBC and WBA bantamweight champion Castillo is best remembered for his trilogy with countryman Ruben Olivares at the famed Forum in Inglewood, California in the early 1970s.
After winning the Mexican bantamweight title by defeating Jose Medel Castillo dropped a 15 round decision in a title battle with Olivares on April 18, 1970 but regained the crown with a 14th round TKO over Olivares also at the Forum on October 16 1970 handing Olivares his first defeat in 62 bouts in a fight promoted by the famous George Parnassus, a good friend of the late Lope ?Papa? Sarreal, father in law of world junior lightweight champion Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde...
However, Castillo dropped a 15 round unanimous decision in their third meeting on April 2, 1971.
In another memorable title fight Castillo lost a 15 round split decision to Australian world champion Lionel Rose at the Forum on December 6, 1968 resulting in a major riot where fires were set, debris hurled into the ring while cars were overturned in the parking lot in a close fight where Rose was dropped in the 10th round.
During that time fights were scored by rounds with Lee Grossman and John Thomas having Rose the winner by 7 rounds to 6 while Dick Young had Castillo the winner by 9 rounds to 6.
Among Castillo?s other main rivals were American slugger Danny ?Red? Lopez, Nicaragua?s Vicente Blanco and Japan?s Seiichi Watanuki.
In his last bout before retiring on December 12, 1975 Castillo lost a ten round unanimous decision to Ernesto Herrera after suffering a 2nd round TKO to Lopez on April 24 that same year.
The WBC said that during several years when he was classified as among the best bantamweights in the world, Castillo defeated great rivals such as Rafael Herrera, Chuchpo Pimentel, Bernardo Caraballo and former featherweight champion Rafael Ortega.
Castillo was a courageous boxer with great technique and power in both hands.
Castillo retired with a record of 47-18-2 with 22 knockouts in 1975 after starting his pro career in 1962. K
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
Sat, 13 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
Sat, 13 Sep 2025SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
Thu, 11 Sep 2025UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
Thu, 11 Sep 2025