Former U.S. amateur standout Derrick Wilson (10-4-2, 3 KOs), coming off an upset of previously unbeaten prospect Braulio Santos this past June, has the opportunity of his career this Saturday night in Tulum, Mexico, challenging WBC Silver featherweight champion Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos (18-9, 11 KOs) in the 12-round main event.
Wilson, fighting out of Fort Myers (FL), was a 2004 National Silver Gloves champion, winning 50 of 57 amateur bouts with all of his losses coming in national competition.
The 24-year-old resurrected his boxing career by upsetting Santos (10-0), something he’s become quite adept at having shocked Charlie Huerta (11-0) in 2009, by way of a first-round knockout.
“I think this fight will be easier for me than my last,” Wilson said. “My last fight was hard, a real challenge, against an undefeated fighter. This guy (Castellanos) has already tasted losing before. I’m more talented than him, skill-wise, and he doesn’t have the power or speed to stay up with me. My skills will overpower him.”
Castellanos, rated No. 2 by the WBC, has won his last 10 fights in a row. He captured his WBC Silver title belt in 2011, stopping Alberto Garza (23-4-1) in the eighth round, and has successfully defended his title six times. His last fight was a win by 12-round split decision over Celestino Caballero (36-4) last April.
“I know if I win this fight,” Wilson remarked, “it’ll open a lot of doors for me. But I’m just thinking about this fight itself. I have too many other things going on in my life and can’t afford to think about what ifs. He (Castellanos) is just another person in the ring with me.”
Wilson’s manager, Si Stern, hopes Castellanos is looking past Wilson, ahead to a Mexican showdown with newly crowned WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez.
“This is a great opportunity for Derrick,” Stern commented.
“He got this shot because of his last fight. Derrick is a young, very good fighter who has turned his career around since getting back with his amateur coach, Larry Wills, who has gotten Derrick fully focused. He’s a completely different fighter now. We have to give credit to Golden Boy Promotions. Wilson isn’t signed with them, but Golden Boy liked what they saw in Derrick, and gave him this opportunity. If Derrick fights the way he did in his last fight, he’ll win Saturday night, positioning him to fight the top featherweights in the world.”
