Bruce Carrington vs Carlos Castro WBC special fight preview
A 'Shu' York challenge for Carrington and Castro
By James Blears
Unbeaten Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs) and Carlos Castro (30-3, 14 KOs) contest the vacant WBC world featherweight title at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, January 31st, on the Mega Ring VI card, headlined by Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson.
It's an equation on a balance sheet, of the up and coming undefeated boxer, against the seasoned veteran, who has one first and last chance to prove himself at the highest level.
Many think it will be a sure-fire straightforward victory for the puncher with the perfect record. But Bruce himself is under no such illusions. He knows Carlos' capabilities and the very real danger the Mexican-American presents. Yet, Bruce is hungry for victory and if he can achieve this, he wants a mandatory and then opportunities to unify. But a significant road block stands in his route.
WBC Interim champion Carrington underlined his eagerness by saying, "I`ve just been waiting, man. It was frustrating at times, but I just knew my time would come. Now I've just got to go out there and take what's mine."
Carlos Castro, who was born in Cuidad Obregon, Mexico, moved with his family to Phoenix as a child and now lives in Fullerton, California. He is similarly focused and deeply determined. He clarifies, "People say I will take any fight. That's not true. But I will take any fight that matters. When the opportunity comes, then you've got to take it."
That opportunity arose after Stephen Fulton vacated the title to move up to super-featherweight and fight O'Shaquie Foster.
Carrington became the WBC Interim featherweight champion by defeating Mateus Heita by UD. Castro was expecting to be contesting that title himself, but with this opportunity, he enthused, "When they announced that Stephen Fulton had vacated and this would be for the full title, I was thrilled. I'm not really the type of person who likes to show emotions, but in my head, I was pumped up. I still have a job to do and that brings excitement."
Carrington has built a solid foundation in boxing and his progression has been both talented and impressive. As an amateur, he clocked up an astonishing 255 victories, winning the New York Golden Gloves and went to the Olympic Trials. But with the Covid pandemic raging and the Olympics in doubt, he decided to turn pro a little earlier than expected in 2021.
He won the vacant NABF title with a fourth round KO of Bernard Angelo Torres in 2024. Then he successfully defended it four times. One of those defences was over Sulaiman Segawa which he won by MD, adding the WBC Silver title to his growing collection.
Bruce has fast hands, he's a talented boxer, a pressure fighter, and his dig deep body punching has been a significant key to his success. Aged 28, he's in his prime and big for a featherweight, standing a robust five feet-eight inches tall with a reach of 72 inches.
As an amateur, Castro had almost 200 bouts, winning three National Silver Gloves Championship. Today he's a veteran of an ample pro career, which started in 2016. He'll be 32-years-old this March.
Carlos recalls his start in the sport, "It was just co-incidence. My Dad and I used to go to a bakery to buy bread and donuts and some coffee for my Mom. And there was a gym across the street. My Dad took me there and as soon as I stepped in, I felt at home. My boxing career had started."
In the pro-sphere, it all began brightly. Castro rattled up an initial record of 19-0, 8KOs. He fought Alexis Santiago for the vacant WBC-USNBC super-bantamweight title winning via a 10th round TKO. He defeated Genesis Servania by UD for the WBC Continental Americas Belt. He defeated ex-world title challenger Oscar Escandon. Dropped in the first round, Carlos got back up and fought back to KO Oscar in the 10th. This was a career defining fight in which his fire glowed and talent showed.
Castro's three career defeats have been to world class fighters. He lost a very competitive SD to hard-hitting Luis Nery. In his very next fight Carlos was brawled, mauled and TKO'd in round six, by Brandon "Heart-Breaker" Figueroa. He lost a feisty SD to Stephen Fulton in October 2024. This is his most recent fight.
So there's a 16 months gap between Fulton and Carrington. Bruce's most recent five fights have all come within 19 months. Castro's most recent five have been during the post five years and six months. Yet for all that, he remains dangerous, a risk and a viable threat to aspirations.
Can't find a nickname for Carlos Castro, but Bruce rejoices with "Shu Shu". It was coined by his family, when he was knee high to a grasshopper, and apparently in Egyptian it means 'The One Who Rises Above'.
Bruce is from Brownsville, Brooklyn, the same neighbourhood as Mike Tyson, Shannon Briggs and Zab Judah. In relative terms, Madison Square Garden is only a hop, skip and a jump away for him. Yet it's doubtful whether this upcoming fight will prove a local walk in the park... even Central Park.
Carrington is an excellent body puncher and has fast hands. Carlos is heavy handed, particularly with the overhand right and he has accumulated ample experience in the pro ranks. It may be his first world title challenge, as it is with Bruce, but as Josh Flagg says: "It`s not my first time at the rodeo."
Carrington appears to be in a hurry to win the WBC Green and Gold and then aims to collect other belts in order to unify. Carlos is thanking his lucky stars he finally has the opportunity to become a world champion after slogging away for so long.
But will it be the young, up-and-coming fighter that takes a bite out of the Big Apple or the seasoned pro, who has seen it all? We finally find out this weekend, live on DAZN.
Tale of the Tape
Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington
WBC Interim Featherweight Champion
Age: 28
DOB: April 17, 1997
Residence, birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
Record: 16-0, 9 KOs
Total rounds: 94
Height: 5’8” – 173cm
Reach: 72” – 183cm
Stance: Right-handed (naturally left-handed)
Advisor: Ishmael Hinson
Trainer: Kay Koroma
Carlos Castro
WBC #2 Featherweight
Age: 31
DOB: March 6, 1994
Residence: Fullerton, California
Birthplace: Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico
Record: 30-3, 14 KOs
Total rounds: 192
Height: 5’7” – 170cm
Reach: 70” – 178cm
Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Self-managed
Trainer: Roberto Alcazar
Betting Odds
1/7 Carrington
7/1 Castro
20/1 Draw
WBC Top 10 Featherweight Champions
1. Salvador Sanchez (Mexico)
2. Azumah Nelson (Ghana)
3. Erik Morales (Mexico)
4. Marco Antonio Barrera (Mexico)
5. Vicente Saldivar (Mexico) +
6. Ultiminio Ramos (Mexico/Cuba)
7. Davey Moore (United States) +
8. Danny Lopez (United States)
9. Jeff Fenech (Australia)
10. Marcos Villasana (Mexico)
