Former WBC Continental Americas featherweight champion Carlos Castro is set to make a statement when he faces off against former WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton Jr. on September 14th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in Fulton’s return to featherweight. This highly anticipated bout will headline the free-access portion of PBC’s broadcast partnership with Amazon Prime Video.

While fans aren’t strangers to Fulton ahead of his much-anticipated return to the ring, Castro is a relatively unknown name despite having a respectable 30-2-0 record in the pro scene and an amateur career that consists of nearly 200 fights. However, that won’t last long as we explore Castro’s nationality, ethnicity, and hometown, days away from his big night in Las Vegas. 

Carlos Castro: Nationality, Ethnicity and Hometown

Born Carlos Alejandro Castro Manriquez, the 30-year-old is a proud Mexican-American boxer who draws inspiration and strength from his diverse heritage. While Castro was born in the city of Ciudad Obregon in Sonora, Mexico, his destiny was to live and grow up somewhere else. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona at the tender age of two, when his family sought out a better life for him.

Carlos Castro’s journey from Mexico to the States has made him a diamond in the dust, as his identity was influenced by the blending rich culture of Mexico and the vibrant community that his adopted hometown is known for. But you know what the best part is, his Mexican roots haven’t left him, as they are reflected quite clearly in his fighting style–tenacious, resilient, and unyielding. 

His unique background drives him to represent both Mexico and Phoenix when he gets in the ring to put on a show. Despite that, Phoenix holds a special place in his heart because that’s where he discovered his passion for boxing when he was just seven. It’s also the place where he cultivated a small celebrity status in the local Celebrity Theater, where he won 21 fights out of 30. 

Castro’s journey to Stephen Fulton Jr.

Carlos Castro’s journey to stepping in the ring against Stephen Fulton Jr. was nothing short of a bumpy but glorious ride. He started his professional career with a series of victories and an extremely enchanting performance against Oscar Escandon in 2021. While this fight got him the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best, it resulted in a minor setback. 

He lost two back-to-back fights against Luis Nery and Brandon Figueroa, two of the biggest names in the Super bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Despite that, Castro showed remarkable resilience as he bounced back with three consecutive victories, which included a decision victory over Belmar Preciado in April 2024. Not to mention, he transitioned into training with Manny Robles, which will play a pivotal role in his fight against Fulton on the Mexican Independence Day weekend. 

That said, Carlos Castro, like his Mexican counterpart in the main event, is pumped and ready to get his hands raised after the final bell. In doing this, he will not only have support from Mexico but also from the people in Phoenix, Arizona, where his boxing journey began. What did you think of Castro’s journey?