Marc Castro building a foundation for boxing greatness
Marc Castro had one of the best amateur boxing careers you will ever see. He’s carrying his success to the pro ranks in the hopes of a takeover.
Marc Castro has a lot of eyes on him. The 22-year-old from Freson, CA, fights in his hometown at Chukchansi Park on Saturday, Oct. 16. The hometown kid is undefeated at 3-0, with 3 KOs, but the promise established during his amateur days has his name buzzing in the boxing world.
Castro has lived much of his life inside the boxing gym. His father was an amateur boxer who transferred his love of the sweet science to his son.
“I grew up in the gym,” Castro told FanSided. “I grew up not really knowing any fighters. The first fight I remember recalling watching was probably Margarito versus Cotto when Margarito ended up stopping him. I’m like damn, that’s a brutal fight, and that’s one of the fights I will never forget.”
Castro was a standout as an amateur. He tallied a record of 177-7 and was a 16-time national champion and two-time world amateur champion. Castro is used to being the number one super featherweight around. It makes sense that he found success in the ring. His parents were fighters in life, and he inherited their fighting spirit.
Castro’s mother was an immigrant from Mexico, and his father was a Salvadoran refugee who escaped the terrifying violence of the Salvadoran civil war.
Marc Castro looks to keep up his winning ways against Angel Luna on Oct. 16
“My dad came here at the young age of 14, didn’t know English,” said Castro about his father. “Had no education. I think he dropped out of high school. My mom graduated high school. My mom came here, I think, at three years old, and just for a better life.”
Castro’s father, Tony, has been the driving influence in Castro’s life. The two have an incredibly close bond. Castro is used to high praise and accolades, but none of that matters if he doesn’t have his father’s approval.
“I feel like when I started knowing [my talent] when a lot of people started noticing me,” said Castor. “Being number one in the world was good, but if I don’t keep being number one in the world, then that doesn’t mean anything no more. I really take a lot of pride, like pride in what my dad thinks. Like if my dad thinks I’m capable of doing something, then I can do it. Floyd Mayweather once said, ‘I can back up anything my dad says,’ and that’s how I feel. Like if my dad thinks I can beat that guy, I can beat that guy.”
Castro is an incredibly hard worker, which is why he succeeded as an amateur and now as a professional. He’s ready to put on a show for his hometown against Angel Luna (14-7-1, 7 KOs). Castro is early into his boxing career, but this super featherweight is built differently from the rest and could develop into a special kind of champion.
Next. Diego Pacheco is the next BIG super middleweight. dark