Prospect of the Month: Jorge Castaneda

Countless high-level prospects took to the ring this month and put forth noteworthy performances, several did on the final weekend of the month. However, just one of them has been used as an opponent to build another fighter’s resume in back-to-back fights, and in back-to-back fights pull the upset and snatch the “o” from the previously undefeated fighter. That’s precisely what Laredo, Texas’s Jorge Castanedo was able to do. For the second consecutive time, he upset one of Eddie Hearn’s touted prospects. The Texan outpointed Otha Jones III back in April in Miami, Florida on the undercard of Andrade vs Williams. Castaneda accomplished the feat again this past weekend when he scored a decision victory over Youssef Khoumari at the 02 Arena. Castaneda moved his record to 15-1 (11), captured the WBC  Silver Super Featherweight Title, and our Prospect of the Month award. 

After a very close and competitive first half of their 130-pound scrap that probably had the Texan slightly behind in Castaneda began to pick up the pace starting in the sixth. Castaneda started landing flush with left hooks and right hands as the two were both more than willing to exchange. The momentum began to switch as the harder-hitting Texan began to were his British opponent down and towards the end of the stanza, Castaneda landed two thudding right hands that backed his opponent up. The momentum was clearly shifting and in the eight-round Castaneda seized control of what seemed to be a fight that he had evened up. Castaneda scored with the best punch of the fight a left hook that staggered Khoumari and sent him reeling backwards. Khoumari was able to survive the storm and run out the clock on the eight. However, Castaneda, brimming with confidence, kept coming forward landing more thudding power shots and further breaking down Khoumari. The Texan’s right hand became automatic over the final six minutes of the fight. Khoumari hung tough and fought back valiantly in the the last round but it wasn’t enough. Castaneda had dominated the last nine minutes and it was enough to secure a majority decision by scores of 96-94,93-94 with the third judge scoring it even 95-95. 

Castaneda, turned pro in the summer of 2015, he fought nine times all in his hometown of Laredo, Texas winning all nine bouts by way of stoppage. He was building a reputation for himself and secured himself a main event fight on a Roy Jones Jr Promoted card against Randy Moreno, in 2018. Castaneda got beat up and stopped in six. Casting much doubt on the Texan’s future. He has since scored six straight wins since the Moreno loss and has established himself at a world level. He has secured himself another big fight and the name Joe Cordina, another Eddie Hearn promoted fighter has been mentioned as his next fight.  A battle of highly touted prospects who are just a win or two away from being mentioned in the title picture. If a Cordina fight is not secured in the UK next for Castaneda he has plenty of good options in the states as well. Albert Bell, Xavier Martinez as well as Gabe Flores Jr are all in similar positions and would all make for highly entertaining fights that would propel the winner into title discussions.