Jorge Castro (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Jorge Fernando "Locomotora" Castro , (born August 18, 1967 in Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz province) is an Argentine
boxer
and former middleweight
champion of the world, who is best known for his second defense of the title against John David Jackson
in 1994.
by a wide unanimous decision in a challenge for the WBC
super welterweight title. It was reported that prior to the bout, Castro had done roadwork for the first time in his life.
In June 1992 at Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, United States, Castro lost a wide decision over ten rounds to future pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr.
.
Castro became a world champion in 1994 by defeating Reggie Johnson in Buenos Aires
by split decision to win the vacant WBA
middleweight title. After defeating Alex Ramos
by a knockout
in two rounds to retain the belt, he travelled to Monterrey, Mexico to defend against the former undefeated holder of the WBA title John David Jackson
in December 1994.
What began merely as an undercard world title fight in a Pay Per View program featuring Félix Trinidad
vs Oba Carr
and Julio César Chávez
vs Tony Lopez
, soon became a fight that is part of boxing
's lore. Castro was trailing badly on all three scorecards, with one eye closed and the other one only halfway opened, bleeding and taking combination after combination against the ropes. Seemingly on the verge of being stopped, Castro landed a left hook to Jackson's chin and Jackson hit the floor. Jackson got up, but he suffered two more knockdowns and Castro completed what could be said that was one of the greatest turnarounds ever in a boxing fight, retaining the title by a knockout in the ninth round.
At the press conference after the fight, Castro called his winning punch La mano de Dios, (The hand of God), in reference to the Hand of God goal by Diego Maradona
during a win by Argentine national team
at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
. Therefore, that moment became known as boxing's version of The hand of God. The fight, and its ending, were talked about for months on many boxing magazines and books.
Castro defended his title another two times, including a rematch win over Reggie Johnson, and then he lost the title to Shinji Takehara
by a decision in twelve. He split two 10 round decisions with Roberto Durán
, winning the first in Argentina, but losing the rematch in Panama
, and then he gave Jackson a rematch, this time winning by a decision in ten.
Castro has lost two more world championship fights: on December 2000, he went to Germany and lost by a knockout in 10 to WBC
cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez
, and on February 2002, he went to Phoenix
and challenged IBF
cruiserweight champion Vasiliy Jirov, a Kazakhstan
native who lives in Phoenix, losing by a decision in twelve. Despite his failures in these attempts to become a world champion again, he has not announced a retirement.
On June 18, 2005, Jorge Castro suffered a car accident in Buenos Aires, with a collapsed lung
and some broken rib
s. The accident and its consequences were similar to the one suffered by arch rival Duran in Buenos Aires a few years before. Castro required hospitalization and emergency surgery, and was in stable condition after the surgery. He recuperated from his injuries.
On April 22, 2006, Castro fought Jose Luis Herrera, losing by a fourth round knockout. He had his "revenge" against the same opponent on January 27, 2007, when Castro won by technical K.O. in the second round.
Currently, he has a record of 130 wins, 11 losses and 3 draws, with 89 knockout wins, which ranks him among the most prolific knockout winners in boxing history according to the records of Ring Magazine.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and former middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
champion of the world, who is best known for his second defense of the title against John David Jackson
John David Jackson (boxer)
John David Jackson , is a former professional boxer who held world titles in the light middleweight and middleweight divisions, and later became a boxing trainer after his career ended.-Professional Career:...
in 1994.
Early years
Castro, who in 1985 was set to become a professional boxer but suffered a bicycle accident that left him injured so badly that doctors told him he'd never be able to fight as a professional, recuperated from the accident and turned professional, defying the doctor's predictions, in 1987.Professional career
In December 1991 at Palais Omnisports, Bercy, France, Castro lost to Terry NorrisTerry Norris
Terry Wayne Norris is a retired American boxer and a three-time world champion in the light middleweight division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.-Early boxing career:...
by a wide unanimous decision in a challenge for the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
super welterweight title. It was reported that prior to the bout, Castro had done roadwork for the first time in his life.
In June 1992 at Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, United States, Castro lost a wide decision over ten rounds to future pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
.
Castro became a world champion in 1994 by defeating Reggie Johnson in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
by split decision to win the vacant WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
middleweight title. After defeating Alex Ramos
Alex Ramos
Alex Ramos is a former middleweight boxer from the 1980s. A native of Manhattan, New York, he is Puerto Rican by his parents' side. He was nicknamed "The Bronx Bomber", after Joe Louis, whose nickname was "The Brown Bomber"....
by a knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in two rounds to retain the belt, he travelled to Monterrey, Mexico to defend against the former undefeated holder of the WBA title John David Jackson
John David Jackson (boxer)
John David Jackson , is a former professional boxer who held world titles in the light middleweight and middleweight divisions, and later became a boxing trainer after his career ended.-Professional Career:...
in December 1994.
What began merely as an undercard world title fight in a Pay Per View program featuring Félix Trinidad
Félix Trinidad
Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered one of the best in Puerto Rico's history. After winning five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico, he debuted as a professional when he was 17. He won his first world championship when he defeated Maurice Blocker...
vs Oba Carr
Oba Carr
Oba Diallo Carr is a former American boxer in the welterweight division.-WBC Welterweight Championship:On May 22, 1999 Carr lost to the Mexican American Superstar Oscar De La Hoya by T.K.O....
and Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
vs Tony Lopez
Tony Lopez
Tony "The Tiger" Lopez , is a former professional boxer from Sacramento, California. He was a 3-Time World Boxing Champion. He is remembered for his victory in the 1988 The Ring Fight of the year by decision over Rocky Lockridge. He fought against Julio César Chávez in 1994 in Monterrey. He lost...
, soon became a fight that is part of boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
's lore. Castro was trailing badly on all three scorecards, with one eye closed and the other one only halfway opened, bleeding and taking combination after combination against the ropes. Seemingly on the verge of being stopped, Castro landed a left hook to Jackson's chin and Jackson hit the floor. Jackson got up, but he suffered two more knockdowns and Castro completed what could be said that was one of the greatest turnarounds ever in a boxing fight, retaining the title by a knockout in the ninth round.
At the press conference after the fight, Castro called his winning punch La mano de Dios, (The hand of God), in reference to the Hand of God goal by Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
during a win by Argentine national team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. Therefore, that moment became known as boxing's version of The hand of God. The fight, and its ending, were talked about for months on many boxing magazines and books.
Castro defended his title another two times, including a rematch win over Reggie Johnson, and then he lost the title to Shinji Takehara
Shinji Takehara
was a professional boxer in the Middleweight division. Takehara was Japan's only boxer to capture a World Middleweight Title, which is also the highest weight class in which a Japanese boxer has captured a World Title....
by a decision in twelve. He split two 10 round decisions with Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
, winning the first in Argentina, but losing the rematch in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, and then he gave Jackson a rematch, this time winning by a decision in ten.
Castro has lost two more world championship fights: on December 2000, he went to Germany and lost by a knockout in 10 to WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez
Juan Carlos Gomez
Juan Carlos Gómez is a professional boxer. A former Cuban amateur star, he is also a former WBC Cruserweight Champion and a devout Muslim. He lives in and boxes out of Orlando, Florida, USA.-Early years and defection:...
, and on February 2002, he went to Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
and challenged IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
cruiserweight champion Vasiliy Jirov, a Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
native who lives in Phoenix, losing by a decision in twelve. Despite his failures in these attempts to become a world champion again, he has not announced a retirement.
On June 18, 2005, Jorge Castro suffered a car accident in Buenos Aires, with a collapsed lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
and some broken rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
s. The accident and its consequences were similar to the one suffered by arch rival Duran in Buenos Aires a few years before. Castro required hospitalization and emergency surgery, and was in stable condition after the surgery. He recuperated from his injuries.
On April 22, 2006, Castro fought Jose Luis Herrera, losing by a fourth round knockout. He had his "revenge" against the same opponent on January 27, 2007, when Castro won by technical K.O. in the second round.
Currently, he has a record of 130 wins, 11 losses and 3 draws, with 89 knockout wins, which ranks him among the most prolific knockout winners in boxing history according to the records of Ring Magazine.
Trivia
- He is known to be a good autographAutographAn autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
signer. - In Argentina, he is also known as el Roña.
- On May 13, 2007, Locomotora Castro joined the reality TV show Gran Hermano Famosos (Big BrotherBig Brother (TV series)Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
), along with 13 other celebrities from ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The show was aired on TelefeTelefeTelevisión Federal S.A., best known as Telefe and later as TLF, is an Argentine television network. Formerly known as Canal Once , a state-run network, it was privatised and established as Telefe in 1989, when and News Corporation took over the channel...
Channel. Castro was the 8th eliminated, after staying in the house 58 days. - He was a contestant in Bailando 2011Bailando 2011Bailando 2011 is the seventh season of Bailando por un Sueño and was premiered on El Trece, on May 2011. The list of contestants and dreamers have been closed with a total of 30 pairs and is the first edition of the country that has a pairing of two men and two women and the first time in the world...
, but he and her partner, Sofía Macaggi, were the 2nd couple eliminated.