A historic Venezuelan boxing coach with an unblemished record. The Venezuelan Media released the news about Castillo who passed away being 82 years old.

The mentor of several of Venezuela’s best fighters had a close relationship with the WBA. For the organization, he was part of the family, he participated in many fights for black and gold belts, in addition, he collaborated in different activities such as clinics, courses and, of course, international conventions.

He was a legend in the amateur and professional boxing, he was born in Chivacoa, a city in Yaracuy state, in 1936. He had an internship as a boxer, which was boost to become a coach at the beginning of the 60s.

He was coach of the National team and he was at the corner of Francisco “Morochito” Rodriguez when he won the gold medal in the 1968 Olympic Games, which was the first gold medal in the Venezuela’s history. He managed several teams in different events of the Olympic cycle and was always recognized as a great coach, he was also recognized as a person who made a great effort teaching knowledge to his pupils.

In 1992 he retired from the National team and moved to Maracay, where he started training professional boxers, and like in amateur boxing, Castillo was also extremely successful in professional boxing. He was involved in 7 World Championships of his trainees.

Several of the best boxers of the time, such as Crisanto España, Rafael Oronó, Antonio Cermeño and even Jorge Linares, worked with him, and there’s no doubt that one of the most important boxers was Leo “Torito” Gamez, who was four times World Champion and one of the best fighters in the history of that country.

The WBA offers their condolences to Castillo’s family and friends and also remembers with great affection this great friend and partner of this pioneer in the organization.