Talking Boxing with MARTIN CASTILLO
"that's what it's all about....To make good fights"
by
Coyote Duran
12/21 - Some days I just wake up lucky. This particular day was one of them. I had the very, very cool opportunity to speak to
two of the toughest little guys in the sport, IBF Junior Featherweight titlist Israel Vasquez, 36-3 with 26 KOs and newly crowned WBA Junior Bantamweight titlist Martin Castillo, 27-1 with 16 KOs. Vasquez is currently preparing for a showdown with undefeated Art Simonyan (14-0-1 with 7 KOs) on December 28th while Castillo is basking in the glow of his recent points win on December 3rd over hard-hitting knockout artist Alexander Munoz (25-1 with 24 KOs).
With the help of both of the guys' manager/groovy cat at large, Frank Espinoza on language gap duty, Israel, Martin and I talked about what's in store for their careers, how they view their past and present opponents and being smaller yet explosive talents in the sport.
MARTIN CASTILLO - WBA CHAMPION
Coyote Duran: First off, I'd like to congratulate you in handing Alexander Munoz his first defeat. Would you say
that Munoz was your toughest opponent to date?
Martin Castillo: I don't feel that it was my toughest fight of all or the strongest. I did prepare very well and I
don't feel Munoz was the toughest fighter I've faced.
Coyote Duran: Wow....Now you're a mover, Martin. Did your mobility frustrate Munoz?
Martin Castillo: yeah, that had to frustrate him because Munoz hardly moves very much as it is. He just throws
punches but I feel that I did frustrate him with my movement.
Coyote Duran: I heard that you worked really hard in camp on improving your left hook and your jab. Do you think
the hook and the jab were the keys to defeating Munoz?
Martin Castillo: We (Castillo's team) know that Munoz' strength was in his right hand and in blocking with his left
hand. But I'm the type of fighter that uses a lot of the left hand anyway. You know? To the body and to the head.
Coyote Duran: Martin, I've actually read in a lot of articles about you that you actually fought Floyd Mayweather
Jr. in the amateurs and defeated him. With Mayweather climbing to junior welterweight and you still competing at junior
bantamweight, that shows a lot of discipline on your part. Does it get harder for you to make weight while everyone else goes
up?
Martin Castillo: My body structure is what I would consider "small boned." I feel that's whats helped me to stay
where I haven't blown up.
Coyote Duran: So you're a naturally light guy.
Martin Castillo: Yeah, I'm a small guy!
Coyote Duran: Cool!
Martin Castillo: So that helps me.
Coyote Duran: Now, Martin, have any names come up for your first defense of the WBA title or will Munoz get a
rematch?
Martin Castillo: That's up to Top Rank and Frank Espinoza because Top Rank's my promoter and Frank's my manager.
I'll fight anybody that they put in front of me but that's their (Top Rank's and Espinoza's) job.
Coyote Duran: Is there any chance of unifying your title with guys like (IBF titlist) Luis Perez or (WBO titlist)
Ivan Hernandez? They could really make for some really exciting fights.
Martin Castillo: I'd be all for it! You get more noticed, you know what I mean?
Coyote Duran: Sure! Absolutely! Especially at the lighter weights.
Martin Castillo: Yeah. They recognize you more! I would love to do that because that's what it's all about. To make
good fights.
Coyote Duran: One of the biggest little bangers in the sport is (IBF Bantamweight tilist) Rafael Marquez, just 3
pounds north of you. Would that sound like a good fight for you in the future and do you think you might be ready for a
showdown with him at 118?
Martin Castillo: Yeah! I wouldn't mind fighting him! But first I would like to stay at 115 for a while and make a
few defenses and maybe some unifications. If Marquez is still there, then I certainly would take him.
Coyote Duran: If you could fight anyone, who would be your ideal opponent? Who would you just love to
fight?
Martin Castillo: I haven't really though about who I'd fight, you know? I'm a low-key person out of the ring but
once I'm in the ring, I'm a different person. I'm a gentleman outside of the ring but once I'm in the ring, I'm a terror!
(Laughs)
Coyote Duran: Over the past year, the heavier weight classes haven't been putting out the type of quality fights
we've been wanting. We've seen a lot of boring contests. It seems like from 154 on down, over the past few years, the best
fights have come out. Do you think, for as hard as they fight, that the smaller fighters get as much respect as they
should?
Martin Castillo: Well, if you notice at the heavier weights, there's really not a lot of boxing. They really don't
have a lot of ability. They move slower. They really don't exhibit as well as the smaller fighters who are faster. I don't
know why some don't pay much attention to the lighter weights when the heavier guys are, like you said, getting boring.
Coyote Duran: In your spare time when you're not training or working for your next fight, who are your favorite
figters to watch in your downtime?
Martin Castillo: One of my favorite fighters, one who I've always loved the way he fights is (Marco Antonio)
Barrera.
Coyote Duran: (In total nerd mode) Oh, yeah! Definitely one of my top favorites! Man, I loved that last scrap with
Morales! Holy Smoke! Who did you like growing up? Who were your favorite fighters?
Martin Castillo: When I was growing up, it was Julio Cesar Chavez. Right now, it's Barrera. Just like a lot of
other people who think Chavez is great, I've always felt that.
Coyote Duran: What would you like to say to all the Martin Castillo fans out there?
Martin Castillo: I want to thank everyone that's been there for me and that's been behind me. All the fans. I wanna
show them that I can stay spectacular. I want them to be there when I make more defenses but I wanna thank everyone!
Coyote Duran: I want to thank you for your time, Martin. You've been spectacular.
Martin Castillo: The same goes to you! Thank you for taking the time to interview me!
Talking Boxing would like to thank Israel Vasquez, Martin Castillo for sharing such valuable time for their fans and Frank
Espinoza for his time and much-appreciated help.
Coyote Duran can be reached at coyoteduran@talkingboxing.com
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