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A fellow learning that very lesson was the Ex-IBF Super Flyweight champion Felix Machado when on March 30th 2002, he met Castillo out in Reading, Pennsylvania. An unfortunate deep cut on Castillo's scalp occurred during that match in the sixth round depriving the public from watching how Martin actually performs. If there's any way to describe him, it would be "The Comeback Kid". From his ring savvy to the brink of his savage prolific punch.
Surely this supports much credence when just this past May 16th, Castillo plainly took to decimating yet another tricky southpaw favorite Hideyasu Ishihara (15-3-1) of Japan. In the most honorable mention, boxing-matchmaker, fight promoter, and scribe giant Joe Koizumi quipped, "He acquired the WBA interim 115-pound belt with a come-from-behind stoppage as he landed a well-timed right to the button of aggressive Japanese lefty Hideyasu... to drop him so badly that the referee stopped counting and declared a halt to the bout." Castillo won by an 11th round spectacular knockout making him the WBA number one numero uno rated fighter bar none.
If you look at the cushy gig of coziness with the kind of fights WBA champ Alexander Munoz (25-0) has gotten by with lately, who would've thought it added even further insult to this weight division. Munoz has defended his last three mandatory picks played to the theme held exclusively out in Japan. In the order of these fighters: Eiji Kojima (6-0), Hidenobu Honda (26-2), and a barnburner of a long shot for the re-matching of Kojima. Did I mention that all three of these fights fitted in on his busy schedule took place on July 2002, October 2003, and this past January.
While Munoz takes to these rather queasy, meager and lacksidasical kinds of workouts for him in between, Castillo thrives on his boxing skills in competition. Martin is here to set the next project in motion.
Martin caught up with TalkingBoxing.com for an exclusive interview! We go that extra mile with Martin "El Gallo" Castillo pulling no punches.
George Diaz Smith: "El Gallo" Martin, how's it going?
Martin Castillo: Very fine.
George Diaz Smith: We all know you've got a fine manager in Frank Espinoza. Tell us some of your own tips on how you managed to assemble for yourself to have better stamina carried for the later round knockouts?
Martin Castillo: Working a little with the weights helps. Bench presses or some military presses, things like that. But nothing overly done in any way to become muscle bound or anything likes that. No. A little of everything so we have the strength punch. You can say the rest of it has to do with my length of 180 amateur experiences, of which I've won one hundred and sixty of them losing just twenty. It has been very important to have the amateur experiences.
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Martin Castillo: Well, it was ruled a clash of heads. I didn't think I lost...And it was in the house of Don King that I felt I impressed them with all night.
I was outworking, out-jabbing and overall winning. He was running. After the first round he looked like he tumbled a little and ran the whole night, grabbing me at times, surviving. He plainly felt my punches and ran! I wanted to make a fight of it, but all Machado managed to do was just run so he could hang onto me, supporting himself up grabbing onto me suspending himself keeping from falling down.
George Diaz Smith: Many legendary fighters have come from Mexico City and elsewhere. I know your hometown is in Hacienda Heights, California now. Can you tell some of our readers about the value and importance of the treasured left-handed left hook?
Martin Castillo: I've adopted here well, but I also like Mexico City, Mexico. Like everybody else obviously I enjoy the countryside, the roads, etc., and good living.
Note: Castillo tentatively was awaiting departure to Mexico just as we conducted this interview before leaving to visit his relatives.
Just think about it, the left-hook is the weapon that follows behind after all the many other punches you've worked so hard to achieve beforehand. When you look at it from that only perspective, it's a thing of beauty. My right hand feels good.
I have had just as much such due success by it for in my left hook. It is probably the most important punch, yet many fighters today don't even study to realize the importance of it at all. To me it is above the mark it rates. I've had tremendous results with my right hand, but the left is the most important of all the other punches put together I'd say.
George Diaz Smith: Alexander Munoz is being talked about as boxing's secret. He has only fought in Venezuela, having fought on his own soil last time on December 2001, with his latest four fights done flown directly into Japan. He's been making some pretty good yen away from home. He could be homesick. Could you and Frank (Espinoza) lure him into coming here in the states for this fight?
Martin Castillo: They would have to speak with Frank (Castillo's Manager) for all that of course. I would like and welcome it. Maybe if it's here in California or anywhere else I don't care where I fight him. I only look at the fighter in front of me. Its between him and I. Even the referee doesn't count when I'm in there with him because he won't help him. I have the experience for the preparation to attain such measures. Where.. when.. or how is all I want to known about luring him into the ring with me. That's all.
George Diaz Smith: Martin, you're a very unusual fighter in that you actually welcome fighting Southpaws - when most conventional orthodox fighters would rather pass them up. You've had great successes in beating them. You seem to time them really nicely getting in your overhand right in on them too with extreme accuracy. Alexander Munoz is no lefty. How do you plan in nullifying his big punch?
Martin Castillo: Really. He's fought no experienced fights coming to mind. Last fight Munoz went the distance with a fighter, having something I think like fifteen fights of experience. I look at the best form to fight with someone like him with his game plan. We move around quite a bit in there moving. I haven't studied him well as of yet; but I will with my trainer to act upon my movements to prepare much ahead in preparation for training for what he has, and we'll see how it goes. It takes a good technique.
George Diaz Smith: Martin, my cousin owned one of the best crops of fighting roosters in town (A perfectly legal sport in many other countries) years ago. We have a saying that goes, "If you're not going to fatten it up for consumption in a family setting ceremony to spiritually and physically enhance to revitalize and satisfying everybody, you set one aside destined to be a warrior." Nobody should take this literally -- unless you know what you're getting into (smile). El Gallo means tough rooster. When the bell rings for the start of the match against Munoz, what are we going to see from you?
Martin Castillo: I think I'm going to place my best to the maximum and demonstrate to be a champ... a great champion to show that I am going to be a champion for the people's memories to serve them as my being a great one.
George Diaz Smith: Your last two fights for this year have benefited you immensely Martin in going into the Championship Rounds. In January and in just this past May, you've come in at the perfect 114 level of weight.
You gave a unique boxing lesson at the Expo Center, out in Kansas City, MO to Roger "Rogelio" Galicia (23-2-1), the highly touted WBA #2 pugilist; already having won your title eliminator there with him for your surmountable stupendous spot at the title en la mesa (on the table). You then flew to Gifu, Japan disposing of Hideyasu Ishihara for your Interim title.
Now Martin most other fighters would've kept pampered in their seats, completely bypassing an interim championship having won already the secured position for a world title. That one against another southpaw Galicia. You must like to fight! What went on with that?
Martin Castillo: You have to work well for the weight to keep trim. I want to be one of those that reach that physical measure well in every fight I perform in. Regarding Ishihara whom I fought, I don't know. Probably press problems. I'll fight all and everybody! I'm already here; but I'm sure and aware of my training and with that nobody can beat me. I won't fight one fight a year when I'd rather fight four times a year, so it's more convenient to me. Nobody really knows how I ended up with Ishihara except the people in charge of that. My job is to get ready to fight them being it Munoz or whomever.
George Diaz Smith: This 115-pound division today has the most collectables of collective combatants in decades going right now. I can't remember when it's ever flourished as highly like it has. For example, I had followed about fourteen years ago a pretty good fighter named Katsuya "Spanky-K" Onizuka from Japan, an extraordinary exceptional fighter and formerly WBA junior-bantamweight champion.
A prolonged injury left unattended to his eye ended his career (a detached retina) earlier than expected. I could only think of what he would’ve been had Ray Leonard recruited him during those days, to feel for a guy like that to help correct his eye problem and protect his investments.
Martin this is an exciting division once again. Are you looking beyond this next fight at this point of your career or you keeping focused?
Martin Castillo: Various things may come to mind you know from time to time. One main objective is to be champion and I still do have many measures to seek. But keeping one thing at a time and following it through is the proper way to go. My next fight will be my sole and only focus to prepare for.
George Diaz Smith: What's your favorite functional apparatus used best in training? You know things like you prefer doing like in skipping rope, speed bags, or something?
Martin Castillo: Boxing in all its aspects. I like everything that goes along with it. I used to not like running so much, but I do now. I like the techniques of boxing at all times because all the time we make mistakes. So we go over things in the gym for preparations better for all and any situations that might occur during fights. Training makes all of the difference in the world.
George Diaz Smith: Martin we here at TalkingBoxing.com want to thank you for giving us the informative opportunity to get to know you better. Keep up the fine work you're demonstrating along with (Manager) Frank Espinoza, who is building a rather rapid sincere honest stable of Champions to this generation piercing through top multiple ranks being heard as history continues to keep us abreast. No doubt with Frank's tutelage you're going to be a part of it.
Martin Castillo: Well firstly I want to thank you George for the opportunity to let my fans know that I'm giving 100 percent of myself to be they're recognized fighting champion. Thank you.
TalkingBoxing.com gives us the rare insight for this interview provided by Frank Espinoza himself, who in turn pointed out to me the service of the growing numbers our readers we have. Thanks Frank. We really must place gratitude for this site headed into its first anniversary in July by Julius Stecker and Luke Callahan taking it to its infancy, responsible for gaining our readers across the whole smorgasbord.
We want to thank Martin "El Gallo" Castillo for his huge contribution and sacrifice going on truly showing what it takes to being number one as his priority with much success.
