Argentine boxing legend Jorge “Locomotora” Castro died Wednesday after collapsing at a bingo hall in Morón, Buenos Aires Province.
According to Argentine media reports, Castro, 59, was with his daughter when he collapsed. He was taken away in a wheelchair and later pronounced dead by a doctor from the emergency medical services team.
Police reports suggest that the former world champion, who had diabetes, had low insulin levels at the time of his death, although the cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
Castro’s partner, Noelia Vigliarolo, posted a heartfelt message on her Instagram account, writing that “the house will be empty” without him.
“I don’t know how I’ll manage to go on without you, my love — my life is gone. I’ll always love you. Farewell, love of my life — you have no idea how much we’re going to need you,” she wrote.
The government of Santa Cruz province, where Castro was born, posted a message extending its “condolences to his family and loved ones.”
The World Boxing Association (WBA), under which Castro won his world title, also paid tribute to him, praising his “trademark toughness and relentless heart” and extending “its deepest sympathies to his loved ones and the Argentine boxing community.”
A fight for the ages
Born on August 18, 1967, in Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz, Castro was one of the biggest names in Argentine boxing.
On August 12, 1994, he defeated United States boxer Reggie Johnson by split decision in Tucumán province to win the WBA middleweight world title.
His most famous fight, however, came four months later, when he defended his title against another U.S. boxer, John David Jackson, in Monterrey, Mexico.
Under pressure throughout the fight, Castro appeared headed for defeat after taking numerous punches that left him bleeding from his left eye.
But in the ninth round, he capitalized on a lapse in Jackson’s guard and unleashed two powerful punches. He missed with the first but landed a left cross that sent the U.S. boxer crashing to the canvas.
Jackson was unable to continue, handing Castro the victory in a bout that The Ring magazine later named Fight of the Year.
Castro successfully defended his title four more times before losing it to Japan’s Shinji Takehara in Tokyo, in December 1995.
His final professional fight took place in January 2007, when he defeated José Luis Herrera by technical knockout in the second round.
He retired with a record of 130 wins, including 90 knockouts, 11 losses, and three draws.
After leaving professional boxing, Castro devoted part of his life to running soup kitchens, food pantries, and boxing gyms.
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