PHOENIX – Featherweight Carlos Castro continued to exhibit poise and possible power in an effective mix that might lead to bigger bouts and major cards, scoring a unanimous decision Saturday night over Jose Silveira at Celebrity Theatre.
Evident potential was the biggest victory in the 21-year-old Castro’s 13th pro bout on an Iron Boy Promotions card.
He displayed plenty.
At 126 pounds, Castro (13-0, 5 KOs) is long and lanky. There’s a lot room to grow.
Against Silveira (15-18, 6 KOs), Castro showed that he could. He staggered the Phoenix brawler in the second, yet was unable to knock him down. Throughtou the next four rounds, he employed footwork and long jab to control tbe pace and keep Silveira off of him.
In the co-feature, junior welterweight Abel Ramos (14-0-2, 9 KOs) of Casa Grande, south of Phoenix, turned Mario Hermosillo’s face into a target for an uninterrupted succession of right hands. After the third round, the trainer for Hermosillo (12-21-4, 2 KOs), a Tijuana fighter, had seen enough. He said no more to referee Richard Soto, who ended it before the bell sounded for what would have been a futile fourth.
News & Notes On An Undercard
Former lightweight contender Raymundo Beltran worked as a second in the corner for Phoenix lightweight Danny Montoya (2-1), who won a unanimous decision over Jayson Thompson (0-5).
Beltran’s suspension for a positive steroid test after a second-round stoppage of Takahiro Oh on May 1 ends in February. That’s when he plans to re-start his career.
“I’d like to make my comeback here (Phoenix),’’ said Beltran, who is living in Phoenix. “I’m staying in shape. I think I could come back at lightweight or maybe junior-welter. We’ll see.’’
World-class trainer Buddy McGirt was in the corner for couple of possible prospects, both from Chicago. Both won. Joshua Greer (1-0, 1 KO) got a second-round TKO over Luis Rangel Guerrero (0-1), a Phoenix fighter whose corner threw in the towel. Welterweight Ernest Muhammad (2-0, had a tougher time, yet prevailed, scoring a majority decision over Clifford Jordan (1-1) of Phoenix. McGirt also handled the bucket in the Ramos’ corner
The Rest: In the card’s biggest crowd-pleaser, Albuquerque featherweight Jamie Gutierrez scored a knockdown en route to a unanimous decision over Mexican Robert Leon (0-1); Phoenix featherweight Paul Romero, a former amateur standout, remained unbeaten as a pro (6-0-1, 1 KO) with a unanimous decision over Gerardo Avila (3-5-2, 1 KO of Nogales; Phoenix junior-lightweight Miseal Chacon (1-12) couldn’t double his win total, despite knocking out Junior Rodriquez (3-0, 2 KOs) mouthpiece in the final seconds of a loss by unanimous decision; Phoenix heavyweight Anetelea Opetaia (2-1, 1 KO) threw concussive shots, launching from redwood-sized thighs, in a head-rocking unanimous decision over Chad Davis (5-14, 1 KO), also of Phoenix; and Canadian Kevin Lavallee (14-0-1, 11 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over Mexican Pablo Batres (8-13-1, 2 KOs).
