Miguel Angel Castellini 'Cloroformo'

Miguel Angel Castellini

'Cloroformo' from La Pampa, Argentina.

Fought nearly all of his 'bouts' in La Pampa (Central Argentina) and La Rioja (North-Central Argentina).

The 'one-time' WBA Light-Middleweight Champion {October 8, 1976 thru March 3, 1977}, who was supposed
to make everyone forget about Carlos Monzon.

Actually 'a brilliant ring technician', who at 5' 11 1/2" was very strong, and physically gifted with great footwork.
'Cloroformo' possessed a good left jab, and a ripping hard left hook. He was one of the few South American
Light-Middleweights who had 'knockout' power.

Started off as a professional in May 1965 {at age 18}, and by September 1969, was a Top 10 Welterweight,
with a record of 26-3-8 (17 KO's).

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On October 31, 1969

In Miguel's first attempt at 155 lbs., he took on Peru Middleweight Champion, 27 year-old veteran
- Carlos 'Patterson' Estrada 33-6-3 (23 KO's).

Things looked well early for the 22 1/2 year-old Castellini, as he scored at will over the hard-punching Estrada,
and swept the first '4' Rounds.

But in Round 5, he got nailed with a left hook, and was dropped for the 'first' time in his career. Miguel got up groggy,
and was unable to defend himslef properly, as the Peruvian Middleweight hammered him until the bout was
stopped by TKO 5.

At the time, Miguel was also working out in the same gym as Carlos Monzon.

Two-months later, in December 1969, Carlos Monzon got revenge for Miguel, as he knocked-out (KO 2) Carlos Estrada.

As for the loss to Carlos Estrada, Miguel Angel Castellini was so 'devastated', that at age 22 1/2, he retired from boxing
with a record of 26-4-8.

 

May 5, 1971

After '18-Months' of retirement,

24 year-old Miguel Castellini returns to the ring, and scores an 'impressive' (KO 2)
over Ivan Ramon Ramos.

Over the next '18-Months", 'Cloroformo' goes 13-0-0 (11 KO's) and improves his record
to 39-4-8 (28 KO's), working his way up to the #1 Argentinian Light-Middleweight.

Included in his wins,
* Ramon Pereya (2x)..... by (TKO 9 and TKO 3)
* Edmundo Prieto......... by (TKO 5)
* Alberto Massi............ by (TKO 5)

The victory over Alberto Massi was somewhat rewarding, as Massi had defeated
Carlos Monzon early in his career.
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Saturday Night - November 4, 1972 (Estadio Luna Park)

In Miguel Castellini's most important fight, and the first time he ever fought at the famous
'Estadio Luna Park Arena', 'Cloroformo' fights for the Argentina Light-Middleweight Championship.

In front of 14,000 fans, Miguel Angel Castellini scores a 'shocking 1st Round Knockout' (KO 1) over
Champion - Hector Ricardo Palleres 29-4-4 (13 KO's).

The victory improves the 'new' Argentinian Light-Middleweight Champion to 40-4-8 (29 KO's), and moves
'Cloroformo' to the World-rated #8 Light-Middleweight.

 

Miguel Castellini continues his streak,

From November 5, 1972 thru September 19, 1975,

'Cloroformo' goes 17-0-1 (12 KO's), improving his record to 57-4-9 (41 KO's),
and moves to the #1 WBA / #2 WBC Light-Middleweight.

Over a 4+ year span, Miguel Angel Castellini has gone 31-0-1 (24 KO's).

Included, were impressive wins over;
* KO 2.............Matt Donovan
* W Dec 10......Carlos Marks
* KO 2............Carlos Estrada (A rematch with the fighter who stopped him earlier).
* W Dec 12.....Ramon La Cruz
* KO 2............Melvin Dennis
* KO 5............Norberto Rufino Cabrera
* W Dec 10......Rodolfo Rosales
* KO 9............Mimoun Mohatar (September 9, 1975 - Miguel's first bout in Italy)

December 8, 1973 - Miguel defended his Argentinian Light-Middleweight Championship by defeating
Ramon La Cruz.

April 11, 1975 - Norberto Rufino Cabrera, was stopped (L KO 5) by Miguel, who later went 8-Rounds with Marvin Hagler
in June 1979.

May 3, 1975- Miguel scores a win (W Dec 10) over Rodolfo Rosales at the Estadio Luna Park Arena. After this
bout, Miguel moved to Milan, Italy in June 1975, and decided to campaign in the more 'lucrative' European
Boxing scene.

September 19, 1975 - Mimoun Mohatar, was stopped (L KO 9) by Miguel, who later went 10-Rounds with Ayub Kalue
in October 1977, and went 9-Rounds with Carlos Palomino in March 1978 in a bid for the WBC Welterweight Championship.
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September 1975

WBA Light-Middleweight Champion.......Jae-Do Yuh (South Korea)
WBA Light-Middleweight Champion.......Miguel De Oliveira (Brazil)

 

Vic,

Miguel Angel 'Cloroformo' Castellini,

Looks in 'supremo' shape at age 65.

I'd put him in the Top 20 of the Light-Middleweight Division today...:good

 

Double E,

Miguel Angel 'Cloroformo' Castellini

Left Argentina (and Manager - Tito Lectoure) in June 1975.

He went to Italy, and was managed by Umberto Branchini, who told Miguel he could
gurantee him a shot at the Light-Middleweight Championship.

Miguel became 'frustrated' when Miguel De Oliveira (Brazil) and Juan Carlos 'Pepe' Duran
(Spain) fought for the 'vacant' WBC Light-Middleweight Championship in May 1975,
in Madrid, Spain.

On the WBA side, Champion - Koichi Wajima was scheduled fo fight Jae-Do Yuh in
June 1975, as Miguel got stepped over.

Miguel felt that Tito Lectoure could not come through, as he was putting all his effort into Carlos Monzon.

 

Vic,

I saw him fight many times.

From 1972 thru 1976 (5-year span, he was good as any 154 lb. boxer)

Throw out the 'shocking' Knockout Loss (L KO 4) to Sandy Torres in Milan, Italy in
October 1975.

Otherwise between that span, Miguel (age 25 thru 29) could have beaten any
Light-Middleweight.

When he won the WBA Championship in October 1976, he was at the end of his
'prime run', as his hand-speed had left him.

 

Double EE

Friday Night - October 3, 1975 (Milan, Italy)

In Miguel 'Cloroformo' Castellini's '2nd-Bout' in Italy.

The #1 WBA / #1 WBC Light-Middleweight, with a record of 57-4-9 (41 KO's) got 'blitzed'
(L TKO 4) by 'upset specialist' Puerto Rican - Sandy Torres 23-6-4 (10 KO's).

The 28 1/2 year-old Miguel was looking past Sandy, in hopes for a Title Shot in November 1975,
versus WBC Champion (Brazilian) Miguel De Oliveira.

Going into this bout, Miguel had a (4+ year) undefeated run of 31-0-1 (24 KO's), and
was next in line for Light-Middleweight Title shot.

Sandy Torres, the 28 year-old Puerto Rican Welterweight Champion, was now competing at 154 lbs.,
and he was riding his own (2 1/2-year) unbeaten streak of 14-0-1 (7 KO's).

Sandy was rated as the #12 Light-Middleweight, and was considered a 'dangerous
opponent' for anybody.

Also at 5' 10" - Sandy was a 'sneaky' type of hard puncher, and he had a real good straight right hand.
He usually boxed, but when he had to, he would unload the right hand.

The Fight

Miguel got off to his usual 'fast start' and boxed smartly in both the 1st and 2nd Rounds,
winning each Round.

Round 3 started the same way, until Sandy found the mark with his right hand, which
staggered Miguel. Torres, pounced on the stunned Argentinian, and unloaded with
right hand after right hand, finally sending Miguel to the canvas for a 9-Count.

Somehow, Miguel made it through the 3rd-Round, but he was in 'bad-shape'.

In Round 4, Sandy stayed right on top of Miguel, and unloaded again, toppling
Miguel one more time for a 9-Count. Miguel got up in 'bad-shape' and Torres landed
several more hard punches, until the Referee stopped the contest at 1:35 of Round 4.

The (L TKO 4) loss, sent Miguel to the lower-tier of the Top 10, and with it, his
shot at the Light-Middleweight Championship.

 

Miguel 'Cloroformo' with Victor Galindez

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Monday Night - December 8, 1975 (Paris, France)

Following the 'upset' knockout loss to 'dangerous' Sandy Torres in October (in Milan, Italy),
# 8 Light-Middleweight - Miguel 'Cloroform' Castellini takes on an even 'more dangerous' fighter.

California Middleweight, James 'Sweet' Marshall, 17-4-1 (14 KO's).

James Marshall is ranked as the #10 Middleweight, based upon 'back-to-back'
'upset knockout' in wins in 1975 - over the 'two' top Australian 160 lb. fighters, with a
{KO 1} over Tony Mundine, and {KO 8} over Monty Betham.

The 6' 0", 160 lb. 'Sweet' Marshall can bang, and he is in a 'no lose' situation. Despite a
recent loss (L TKO 10) to Bobby 'Boogalo' Watts, 'Sweet' Marshall has been promised a Middleweight
Title shot in early-1976, if he can 'dispose' of Miguel Castellini.

Miguel 'Cloroformo' Castellini is in a 'must win' situation, as a loss will send him into the no man's land
of the Light-Middleweight Division.

The Fight

Miguel Castellini, shows no 'ill effects' from his previous bout, and boxes smartly over the first 3-Rounds,
taking the play away from the 'hard-punching 'Sweet' Marshall. By Round 4, Castellini is sitting down on
his punches, and stuns Marshall with a left-hook and short right-hand.

The experienced Argentinian, then sets up the American Middleweight, by backing him up to the ropes, where
he unloads a hard 4-punch combination, followed up by the 'finale punch', a wicked left hook to the chin, that drops
James Marshall for the count, at 1:49 of Round 4.

Aftermath

Miguel Castellini is in Paris, to help Carlos Monzon prepare for his upcoming December 13th bout versus Frenchman
Gratien Tonna. The victory over James Marshall is impressive, and puts the 28 1/2 year-old Argentinian Light-Middleweight
back 'on the board'.