Former WBA Middleweight Champion Jorge Castro Dies at 59

Jorge Castro, the former WBA middleweight champion, died aged 59 on Wednesday, October 14, after collapsing at the Morón Bingo Hall in Argentina. Castro, who suffered from diabetes, received medical attention after collapsing but died at the bingo hall, where he had been accompanied by his daughter and her mother.

A heart attack was subsequently determined to be the cause of Castro’s death. His daughter described the final moments: “We were fine and suddenly he told me, ‘I’m going to the bathroom.’.”

Castro was born in Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz, in 1967. His professional boxing career lasted 20 years and ended in 2007. He finished with a record of 130 wins, 11 losses and three draws, with 90 of his victories coming by knockout.

In 1994, Castro claimed the WBA middleweight title with a victory over Reggie Johnson. His second defense of the belt was his most famous fight, in which he stopped John David Jackson in a contest widely regarded as the best of the year. He successfully defended the WBA middleweight belt two more times, including another victory over Johnson, before losing the title at the end of 1995 when he was outpointed by Shinji Takehara.

In 1997, Castro split two bouts with Roberto Duran at super middleweight. At the start of the 2000s, he twice challenged unsuccessfully for world titles at cruiserweight.

Castro had been married six times. He is survived by his partner, Noeila Vigliarolo, 15 children and 14 grandchildren.

In recent years, Castro was known in the Buenos Aires area for his charitable work in soup kitchens and community centers.

His daughter offered further detail about the final moments. She said: “He went to the bathroom and when he came back he said, ‘My chest hurts a little.’.” She added: “They took him to a separate room, started doing CPR on him privately, and that was it.”

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