Carlos Castro returns to the ring in style
Mexican super bantamweight boxer Carlos Castro (27-0, 12 KO’s) made a successful return to action after one year of inactivity. In his return bout, Castro was able to secure a clutch final-round TKO over Oscar “El Guerrero” Escandon (26-6, 18 KO’s) in a shootout! With the win, Castro, 27, has placed himself one step closer to challenging for a world title. The super bantamweight contender is already ranked #2 (WBC), #4 (WBO) and #5 (IBF).
At the moment, he is very close to being able to press for a bout with WBC world super bantamweight champion Brandon Figueroa. Yet, Figueroa has an upcoming dance date to satisfy with Stephen Fulton on September 19. If he does not secure a fight with either, perhaps he will try to get #1 (WBC) contender Daniel Roman in the squared-circle. For Oscar Escandon, this is another bitter setback in a string of sour outcomes. Currently, El Guerrero is 1-4 in his last five matches. Given the rocky nature of these losses, his immediate future is looking rather grim. At the same time, his style and heart can easily endear and win over fans.
ITS GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT
Right out the blocks, Escandon took the fight to Carlos Castro and kept him on the back foot for the majority of round. To his credit, Castro started evening the action out a bit toward the end. However, he was caught with a hard left hook at the bell which clearly shook him up. Minus the impactful hook in the final ten seconds, the second round greatly mirrored the first.
In the third however, Castro seemed to have found his rhythm. He was still fighting in reverse, behind his high guard, yet now he was scoring regularly with nasty, short uppercuts and sharp, pinpoint hooks to the body. Along with his offense, Castro was consistently causing El Guerrero to miss badly with a number of shots. Curiously, after the successful period, in the fourth, Castro elected to suture his back to the ropes and plant his feet in the ground. As excepted, Escandon rushed his stationary target like a foamy-mouthed wolf would a broken legged deer. The Mexican did land his shots here and there but the volume and quality was Escandon’s to claim.
Thankfully, Castro amended his flawed tactic and began fighting on the move in the fifth. With the shift, the Mexican pugilist resumed lighting Escandon up with brain-dulling hooks and debilitating torso shots. At the conclusion of the sixth, the Columbian was getting thumped and stumbling around like he drank a fifth of Ireland’s finest whiskey on an empty stomach. To begin the seventh, Castro nailed Escandon with a solid right hook that stole the stability of his legs.
DOWN THE STRETCH
Moments later, El Guerrero attempted his own right hook and threw himself to the ground. In the heat of battle, it was ruled a knockdown because Castro was throwing a punch. Given his condition the writing appeared to be scrawled on the wall as Castro closed in to finish his prey. Despite continuing to land hurtful shots, Escandon was not wilting under the pressure. He was wounded for sure, but he was fighting like life and land depended on it. Toward the middle of the period the Mexican looked a bit arm weary. Seeing his opportunity the Columbian turned the tables, got Castro on the ropes and unloaded his own assault. This was an extremely fun round to watch. Also, to referee Celestino Ruiz’s credit, through the use of instant replay, the ‘knockdown’ was reclassified as a slip.
The action more or less leveled out over the next two periods. Yet about a minute into the tenth round, Castro clipped Escandon with a crisp, straight right. Once again, the Columbian was wobbling around like a failed breathalyzer test waiting to happen. The Mexican was never able to land a definitive killing shot, but he did swarm, overwhelm and knock down El Guerrero with a whirlwind of punches.
While he initially beat the count, Oscar Escandon attempted to take a knee about the count of eight. It was at that point the referee Ruiz called a halt to the action and awarded Castro the extremely hard-fought TKO victory.
By: Bakari Simpson
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