Fresno boxer turns pro with heavyweight champ’s promoter, then gives grandmothers a surprise
The latest Fresno-area boxer to turn pro thanked his grandmothers for their support with a gift of lottery tickets.
Fresno native Marc Castro, 20, recently signed with Matchroom Boxing and promoter Eddie Hearn.
“My hard work is paying off,” Castro said. “The sacrifice my family and I made ... it’s a dream come true.”
He joins the Matchroom Boxing roster highlighted by heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua.
It’s uncertain when Castro will make his pro debut because of the global coronavirus pandemic. For now, he’s just working out.
In the amateur ranks, Castro went 177-7 and won 17 national championships and two world titles. In national and international bouts, he went 48-2.
Castro’s family supported his boxing career since he was 8 years old. His father, Tony, is his coach.
And his grandmothers are big fans – thus the surprise gift over the weekend of lottery tickets and several $100 bills.
Why Matchroom?
Castro said he signed with Matchroom Boxing because he feels “they’ll take me to be a global mega superstar.”
Matchroom Boxing’s events are held mostly overseas.
“I’ll be fighting on the biggest fight card around the world and building a fan base worldwide,” Castro said. “I have fought in Russia twice and I have fans overseas.”
He said Hearn’s pitch to sign with Matchroom sealed the deal. “He told me I believe you have all the talent and skills in the world, but I don’t pay too much attention to that. It’s great to have a promoter that believes in me because the possibilities are endless.
“I’ve been chasing my passion at a young age and now I’m getting paid for it.”
Castro is the second Fresno-area boxer to go pro this year; Parlier’s Evan Sanchez inked with Golden Boy Promotions in January.
They’re both hoping to follow a path blazed by Avenal native Jose Ramirez, the WBC/WBO super lightweight world champion.
