PHOENIX – An old neighborhood got some of its punch back Saturday night.
Carlos Castro and Alexis “Beaver” Santiago put it there with a back–and-forth battle at Celebrity Theatre in front of a sellout crowd of 2,650 fans who exchanged chants at a rate that the Phoenix super-bantamweights traded punches.
In the chants — “Carlos, Carlos” then “Beaver, Beaver”, there were echoes of a time when a city’s boxing history was perhaps at its lively best. Neighborhoods would show up like rival tribes to cheer for their own. It happened in 1991 when Phoenix welterweight Cassius Clay Horne beat cross-town rival Eric Hernandez.
Seventeen years later, it happened all over again on a terrific card staged by Iron Boy Promotions. This time, Castro prevailed, winning when Santiago’s corner threw in the towel at 1:50 of the tenth round.
It was a moment to look back.
A moment to look forward.
With the victory, Castro’s record moved to a nice, noteworthy 20-0. That’s hard to ignore and Castro did everything thing he could to make sure that some better-known fighters wouldn’t. For the last couple of years, he has talked about fighting Diego De La Hoya.
“I’m ready for you,’’ a triumphant Castro said as he stood in the middle of the ring and called out De La Hoya. “Send me a contract.’’
It’s not clear whether De La Hoya can even make the weight, 122 pounds, any more. He failed in his last attempt in December. It’s also not clear whether De La Hoya has any real interest in facing Castro.
What was evident, however, is that Castro wants to test his skills and reputation at a level beyond the neighborhood. His promoter, Roberto Vargas, thinks Castro is ready to take that step up in class and attention. If not De La Hoya, then maybe contender Ronny Rios, Vargas said.
Above all, Vargas said, the 23-year-old Castro has begun to improve. To wit: He did to Santiago (21-6-1, 8 KOs) what nobody has done. Castro stopped the Mayweather Promotions fighter, adding a ninth KO to his own resume. Castro did it with versatility, agile footwork in the mid-rounds and some big right hands late.
There was some confusion at the stoppage. Santiago’s trainer stepped on to the ring apron once. He risked a disqualification in doing so. Nobody noticed and no towel was thrown. Seconds later, however, there was the towel, spinning in midair and onto the canvas. Santiago looked surprised, then angry. But the bruises on his face said his corner had done the right thing.
The fight was over and the old neighborhood belonged to Castro.
Best Of The Undercard
Lots of punches. Lots of energy. A whole lot of Phoenix featherweight Francisco De Vaca (18-0, 6 KOs) overwhelmed Christian Esquivel (30-2-1, 23 KOs).
With Oscar De La Hoya first pro trainer Robert Alcazar in his corner, De Vaca unleashed a withering succession of body punches that put Esquivel on to his knees, exhausted and beaten at 1:59 of the sixth round.
The Rest
It was back-and-forth. It was wild. It was bloody. Mostly, it was dramatic. In the end, it belonged Phoenix super-middleweight Eduardo Ayala (2-0), who wound up with a bloody nose and a unanimous division Lenny Correa, also of Phoenix.
Phoenix heavyweight Oswaldo Cortez (2-1) survived bludgeoning blows from 314-pound Dante Stone, a boxing version of the Round Mound of Rebound. Stone, of Chandler, Ariz., bounced off the canvas once, bounced off the ropes repeatedly, yet lost a unanimous decision to the more the more precise Cortez.
Joshua Greer (16-1-1, 7 KOs) of Chicago brought a pillow as prop to his corner and power in his hand to the ring. The power prevailed, stopping Basilio Nieves (15-6, 3 KOs) of southern California in a super-bantamweight bout.
Floridian James McGirt (24-3-1, 14 KOs), son of Buddy McGirt, made quick work of over-matched Mexican Gilberto Rubio (8-7, 6 KOs), putting him onto his knees and finishing him midway through the second round.
After 16 years away from the ring, Phoenix light-heavyweight Fidel Hernandez (18-4, 11 KOs) celebrated his comeback with a bruising unanimous decision over Cesar Barraza (3-1-1), also of Phoenix.
