![\"castillejo-1999--644x362\"](\"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/castillejo-1999-644x362-300x169.jpg\")
<\/a>By Luca \u201cMamaLuke\u201d Balossino<\/strong><\/p>\nJavier Castillejo was once asked, if he believed that he had received all the recognition based on his boxing record? His response was very straight forward: \u201cBoxing in this country (Spain) is not well known, but as the saying goes, nobody is a prophet in his own land. When one goes abroad you get respect and admiration, I was born in the wrong country to be a boxer\u201d.His record was 62-8-1, 43 KO\u2019s and he sported a nickname of \u201cEl Lince de Parla\u201d (The Lynx of Parla) He was born in Parla, Madrid in 1968. Ladies and Gentleman\u2026 this man, Javier Castillejo is the Spanish boxer with more world titles in history and is also the only one who has won in two different weight classes. Nobody can take this away from him, whether he is from Spain, China or Apple Valley (Minnesota). As an amateur he piled up a record of 30 fights with 25 wins. That\u00b4s when he decided to become a professional since he needed the money, making 75USD per bout was not paying the bills. He lied to his mother that he was a boxer until one day, he got cut, his dear mother saw his bloody bandages inside his bag and told Javier that boxing will make him a fool by absorbing punches, the response of Javier to his mother was very clear \u201cIf you don\u2019t allow me to box I will become a bull fighter instead”.
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One interesting fact among many of his life was that while he was in Kenya for a reality show, he got the news that the WBC considered him the super welterweight title since Winky Wright resigned the title. In 2006 in Hamburg, Germany (boxing hub in Europe) Javier Castillejo became the WBA Middleweight Champion against former 2 time middleweight champion Felix Sturm.
\nJavier has been in the ring with many champions, won some and lost some: Fernando Vargas and Oscar De La Hoya are just a few big names he faced. His dream fight that almost took place was against Felix Trinidad. “I had a fight set with Felix Trinidad, but we didn\u00b4t seal the negotiations … a shame, it would\u00b4ve had been a good fight” Javier said.
\nWhat are his thoughts after hanging up the gloves in 2009?<\/p>\n
“It was painful to leave as I was many years in boxing. You say to yourself it’s over … and you will not hear the crowd screaming your name no more … thanks to boxing I have been around the world, it has given me everything. Boxing has given me respect, sacrifice, pain, work to meet good people and have known what it is to have dollars in my pocket (laughs) I had pain … but thanks to boxing have also met the most important person, my wife Marta”.<\/p>\n
A true gentleman and people\u2019s champion, this is how Spain should remember Javier Castillejo and boxing. Maybe when that happens, we might see other champions emerging from Spain.<\/p>\n
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