WBC Special Preview: BRUCE CARRINGTON vs. CARLOS CASTRO
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Vacant Featherweight World Championship
January 31, 2026 / New York, New York / Madison Square Garden
BRUCE “Shu Shu” CARRINGTON (USA)
· WBC Interim Featherweight World Champion
· Former NABF Featherweight Champion, 3 Defenses
· Former WBC Silver Featherweight Champion
Age: 28 / Date of birth: 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 (USA)
· Ranked WBC No. 2 at Featherweight
· Former WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Champion, 3 Defenses
· Former WBC-USA Super Bantamweight Champion
Age: 31 / Date of birth: 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
WBC FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS:
1. Davey Moore (USA) + 1963
2. Ultiminio Ramos (Mexico) 1963 – 1964
3. Vicente Saldivar (Mexico) + 1964 – 1967
4. Howard Winstone (Wales) + 1968
5. Jose Legra (Cuba) 1968 – 1969
6. Johnny Famechon (France) 1969 – 1970
7. Vicente Saldivar (Mexico) * + 1970
8. Kuniaki Shibata (Japan) 1970 – 1972
9. Clemente Sanchez (Mexico) + 1972
10. Jose Legra (Cuba) * 1972 – 1973
11. Eder Jofre (Brazil) 1973
12. Bobby Chacon (USA) 1974 – 1975
13. Ruben Olivares (Mexico) 1975
14. David Kotey (Ghana) 1975 – 1976
15. Danny Lopez (USA) 1976 – 1980
16. Salvador Sanchez (Mexico) + 1980 – 1982
17. Juan Laporte (Puerto Rico) 1982 – 1984
18. Wilfredo Gomez (Puerto Rico) 1984
19. Azumah Nelson (Ghana) 1984 – 1987
20. Jeff Fenech (Australia) 1988 – 1990
21. Marcos Villasana (Mexico) 1990 – 1991
22. Paul Hodkinson (Great Britain) 1991 – 1993
23. Goyo Vargas (Mexico) 1993
24. Kevin Kelley (USA) 1993 – 1995
25. Alejandro Gonzalez (Mexico) 1995
26. Manuel Medina (Mexico) 1995
27. Luisito Espinosa (Philippines) 1995 – 1999
28. Cesar Soto (Mexico) 1999
29. Naseem Hamed (Great Britain) 1999
30. Guty Espadas (Mexico) 2000 – 2001
31. Erik Morales (Mexico) 2001 – 2002
32. Marco Antonio Barrera (Mexico) 2002
33. Erik Morales (Mexico) * 2002 – 2003
34. Injin Chi (Korea) 2004 – 2006
35. Takashi Koshimoto (Japan) 2006
36. Humberto Soto (Mexico) Interim 2005 – 2006
37. Rodolfo Lopez (Mexico) 2006
38. Injin Chi (Korea) * 2006
39. Jorge Linares (Venezuela) 2007
40. Oscar Larios (Mexico) 2008 – 2009
41. Tahakahiro Aoh (Japan) 2009
42. Elio Rojas (Dominican Republic.) 2010
43. Hozumi Hasegawa (Japan) 2010 – 2011
44. Jhonny Gonzalez (Mexico) 2011 – 2012
45. Daniel Ponce de Leon (Mexico) 2012 – 2013
46. Abner Mares (USA) 2013
47. Jhonny Gonzalez (Mexico)* 2013 – 2015
48. Gary Russell Jr. (USA) 2015 – 2022
49. Mark Magsayo (Philippines) 2022
50. Rey Vargas (Mexico) 2022 – 2024
51. Brandon Figueroa (USA) 2024 – 2025
52. Stephen Fulton (USA) 2025
* Regained
WBC FEATHERWEIGHT TOP 10 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)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY:
47 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, five of whom have regained the title: Vicente Saldivar (Mexico), Jose Legra (Cuba-Spain), Erik Morales (Mexico), Injin Chi (Korea), Jhonny Gonzalez (Mexico).
134 WBC featherweight world title fights have been held in WBC history.
MEMORABLE WBC FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Feb. 1, 2025 Stephen Fulton W12 Brandon Figueroa – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 4, 2024 Brandon Figueroa KO9 Jessie Magdaleno (Interim) – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mar. 8, 2024 Rey Vargas D12 Nick Ball – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
July 9, 2022 Rey Vargas W12 Mark Magsayo – San Antonio, Texas
Jan. 22, 2022 Mark Magsayo W12 Gary Russell Jr. – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Feb. 8, 2020 Gary Russell Jr. W12 Tugstsogt Nyambayar – Allentown, Pennsylvania
May 19, 2018 Gary Russell Jr. W12 Joseph Diaz – Oxon Hill, Maryland
Mar. 28, 2015 Gary Russell Jr. TKO4 Jhonny Gonzalez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Aug. 24, 2013 Jhonny Gonzalez KO1 Abner Mares – Carson, California
May 4, 2013 Abner Mares TKO9 Daniel Ponce de Leon – Las Vegas, Nevada
April 8, 2011 Jhonny Gonzalez TKO4 Hozumi Hasegawa – Kobe, Japan
Nov. 26, 2010 Hozumi Hasegawa W12 Juan Carlos Burgos – Nagoya, Japan
Mar. 12, 2009 Takahiro Ao W12 Oscar Larios – Tokyo, Japan
May 31, 2008 Oscar Larios TKO5 Feider Viloria – Chetumal, Mexico
July 21, 2007 Jorge Linares TKO10 Oscar Larios – Las Vegas Nevada
Aug. 20, 2005 Humberto Soto W12 Rocky Juarez – Rosemont, Illinois
April 10, 2004 In-Jin Chi KO7 Michael Brodie – Manchester, England
Nov. 16, 2002 Erik Morales W12 Paulie Ayala – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 22, 2002 Marco Antonio Barrera W12 Erik Morales – Las Vegas, Nevada
July 28, 2001 Erik Morales W12 In-Jin Chi – Los Angeles, California
Oct. 22, 1999 Naseem Hamed W12 Cesar Soto – Detroit, Michigan
Jan. 7, 1995 Alejandro Gonzalez TKO10 Kevin Kelley – San Antonio, Texas
May 6, 1994 Kevin Kelley W12 Jesse Benavides – Atlantic City, New Jersey
April 28, 1993 Goya Vargas TKO7 Paul Hodkinson – Dublin, Ireland
Nov. 13, 1991 Paul Hodkinson W12 Marcos Villasana – Belfast, Northern Ireland
Aug. 15, 1991 Marcos Villasana W12 Ricardo Cepeda – Marbella, Spain
April 8, 1989 Jeff Fenech W12 Marcos Villasana – Melbourne, Australia
Dec. 12, 1984 Azumah Nelson KO11 Wilfredo Gomez – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Mar. 31, 1984 Wilfredo Gomez W12 Juan Laporte – San Juan, Puerto Rico
July 21, 1982 Salvador Sanchez TKO15 Azumah Nelson – New York, New York
Aug. 21, 1981 Salvador Sanchez TKO8 Wilfredo Gomez – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 21, 1980 Salvador Sanchez TKO14 Danny Lopez – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 17, 1979 Danny Lopez KO15 Mike Ayala – San Antonio, Texas
June 20, 1975 Ruben Olivares TKO2 Bobby Chacon – Inglewood, California
March 1, 1975 Bobby Chacon KO2 Jesus Estrada – Los Angeles, California
Oct. 21, 1973 Eder Jofre KO4 Vicente Saldivar – Salvador, Brazil
May 9, 1970 Vicente Saldivar W15 Johnny Famechon – Rome, Italy
Mar. 21, 1963 Sugar Ramos TKO10 Davey Moore – Los Angeles, California
‘’Shu’’ York Challenge for Bruce and Carlos
By James Blears
Bruce ‘’Shu Shu’’ Carrington and Carlos Castro contest the vacant WBC featherweight title at Madison Square Garden on Saturday January 31st on the Mega Ring VI card.
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. But Bruce himself is under no such illusions. He knows Carlos` capabilities and the very real danger he presents rather than poses. 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 way.
Bruce 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, who was born in Cuidad Obregon, Mexico, moved with his family to Phoenix as a child and now lives in California. He is similarly focused and deep grained 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.
Bruce, 16-0, 9 KO`S was already WBC Interim Champion, having defeated Mateus Heita by UD. Carlos, 30-3, 14 KO`s was expecting to be contesting that title. 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.’’
Bruce has built a solid foundation in boxing and his progression has been both talented and impressive. As an amateur he clocked up two hundred and fifty- five victories, winning the New York Golden Gloves and he 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. Then he successfully defended it four times. One of those victories was over Sulaiman Segawa which he won by MD, adding the WBC Silver Belt 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 twenty-eight, he`s in his prime and he`s big for a featherweight, standing a robust five feet eight inches tall with a reach of seventy- two inches.
As an amateur Carlos had almost two hundred fights, winning three National Silver Gloves Championship. Today he`s a veteran of an ample pro career, which started in 2016. He`ll be thirty-two years old in March. Earning a crust and then gaining bread in big time boxing had a modest, but interesting, well buttered start. Carlos, who is noted for using his loaf, recalls:
‘’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. Carlos rattled up an initial record of 19-0, 8KO`s. He fought Alexis Santiago for the vacant WBC-USNBC super-bantamweight title winning via a tenth 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 up and fought back to KO Oscar in the tenth. This was a career defining fight in which his fire glowed.
Carlos` 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 sixteen months gap between Fulton and Carrington. Bruce`s most recent five fights have been during one year and seven months. Carlos`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. Something to ponder.
Can`t find a nickname for Carlos Castro. Bruce rejoices with Shu Shu. He was dubbed with it 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 for him. Yet it`s doubtful whether this upcoming fight will prove a localized walk in the park …even Central Park.
Bruce is an excellent body puncher and has fast hands. Carlos is heavy handed, particularly with the overhead 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.’’
Bruce appears to be in a tearing hurry to win the WBC Green and Gold Belt and then try to collect other belts in order to unify. Carlos is thanking his lucy stars he finally has the opportunity to be one.
Sage advice for both. from of all people Fred Flintstone, who urged: ‘’Whatever you want to do, do it now. There aren`t so many tomorrows.’’
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