Castillo now sees a title, not cuts, in his eyes

Martin Castillo had been getting cut over the eyes for several years prior to his super flyweight title defense against Nobuo Nashiro in July 2006 in Nashiro’s native Japan. Then Castillo was severely cut against Nashiro and he lost his belt via 10th-round technical knockout when the bout was stopped because of the cuts.

Castillo had to do something if he wanted to continue to be a world-class commodity. So under the knife he went.

“He was cut pretty bad in that fight,” Frank Espinoza, Castillo’s manager, said about the fight with Nashiro. “The cut was so bad that I took him to Dr. Pearlman Hicks. He’s a (California State Athletic) commission doctor and he does plastic surgery. At the time he recommended that he shave the bones down (around Castillo’s eyes). That’s why he was being cut so much.

“So he shaved both of the bones down and took some scar tissue out. He’s had three more fights and he hasn’t had any problems.”

Castillo has defeated Jorge Romero, Oscar Andrade and Jonathan Perez since losing to Nashiro, and the worst that has happened was a small cut under his right eye, and it was of no consequence.

Thanks to the surgery, Castillo has been able to continue his fine career. And a week from Saturday he will try to again become world champion when he challenges Fernando Montiel for his super flyweight belt on the undercard of the rematch between Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Castillo was on hand Tuesday at the Teamsters Youth Boxing Club in South El Monte, Calif. After a workout that included, among other things, hand mitts and rope work, Castillo talked about his odyssey. He said, with a straight face, that he was never concerned his career might be at an end after the loss to Nashiro.

“No, not at all,” he said. “I was not worried about that. My eyebrows, they cut, but no fighter has ever cut me with a punch. It’s been on head-butts.”

That may be the case, but it doesn’t matter how he was getting severely cut, only that he was. Castillo did admit that he has a brighter outlook post surgery.

“Of course, I’m more confident with the surgery,” said Castillo, of Mexico City. “In my last (three) fights, I haven’t been cut, so I’m definitely more confident.”

There was another concern for Castillo. As it was, he did not fight for 10 months after losing to Nashiro. Had he been out any longer, his age could have become a factor. Castillo is only 31. If he were at least a welterweight, that would not be an issue. But 31 for a guy fighting at 115 pounds is getting up there.

Espinoza agreed that being over 30 in the smaller weights can mean one is nearing the end of the road. But he said that Castillo (33-2, 17 KOs) has taken terrific care of himself over the years.

“I can tell you about Martin’s living habits,” Espinoza said. “He’s never been a drinker, he’s never been a partyer. He’s always been in the gym, so he’s taken care of his body. He’s got a 31-year-old body, but he’s never abused it.”

When Castillo was asked about getting on in years, he just smiled.

“I don’t look at my age,” he said. “I feel great, I feel good. And I’m confident with my hard work that I will become champion again.”

Castillo also smiled and chuckled a bit when talking about some of the trash Montiel has apparently been talking.

“I don’t know what Martin Castillo he’s been watching,” Castillo said. “He’s been talking a lot on the internet, saying that I’m a runner. I’ve never run from anybody. I’m a banger; I’m here to fight. I should be saying that about Montiel.”

Interestingly, Espinoza is hopeful that his fighter will go after Montiel (35-2-1, 26 KOs), but in a way that is not reckless.

“I see that Martin’s gotta go out and win that world title,” Espinoza said. “He’s gotta take it to Montiel. Speed is a big factor here. He can’t stay still. He’s gotta be moving all the time. He’s gotta be in and out. He can’t stay there. But he’s gotta be the one who brings the fight to Montiel.

“He’s gotta go out and win the world title. He knows what he needs to be done. He’s a professional. He’s been a world champion before.”

Castillo looked good working the hand mitts Tuesday. He was throwing very hard, very accurate punches. He said he didn’t mind fighting on Telefutura recently as he worked his way back to a title shot. But he admitted he is basking in the glory

that comes from fighting for another world title. That the event will be on HBO pay-per-view certainly adds to his eagerness.

“Without a doubt, you get more pumped up for a world title fight,” Castillo said. “It takes that extra enthusiasm in me to wake up and do the hard work and I am pumped up for it. It’s a world title and not just anybody gets to fight for a world title.”