By Robert Coster
Spain’s greatest boxer of all time, two-division world champion Javier Castillejo has decided to hang up the gloves at age 41 after an illustrious, title-filled career. Castillejo, “the Lynx of Parla” has he is known, retires with a record of 62-8-1 with 43 KOs and in his 21 year journey in the ring, garnered the following belts: three times European jr middleweight champion 1994-95, 1998-99, 2002-03, WBC jr middleweight champion 1999-01 (six title defenses), interim WBC jr middleweight champion 2002-03, WBA middleweight champion 2006-07. Castillejo fought twice in the United States, losing decisions to Oscar de la Hoya and Fernando Vargas. Javier retires with his head held up high – but not without some justfied bitterness towards the lack of recognition and support given to boxing by Spanish authorities. Says Castillejo, “I was born in the wrong country to be a boxer. Anywhere else I would be honored but here in Spain I am lucky if I get invited by my next door neighbor.”
