Take a Swing at Ruben Castillo!

April 20, 2010

Golf Tournament with former featherweight

Hey Southern California fight fans–here’s a way to beat the Monday morning blues come out to the World Boxing Hall of Fame’s 8th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament being held next Monday, April 26 at the Montebello Golf Course near Los Angeles.

With the charity event quickly approaching, I caught up with the main man in charge, Ruben Castillo. The former boxer–who lists his record at 70-10-2, with 38 KOs–is busy making all the final plans for the non-profit organization’s yearly day on the links where you can take your best shots on the fairway against some of the best on the canvas.

The fighter, who in his career went toe-to-toe against the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello, Juan La Porte and many others, is now taking on “all comers”–on the greens! Instead of body shots inside the ropes, the former WBO NABO lightweight titlist, will be delivering hook shots with his golf clubs instead.

“It’s best ball with a five-man scramble,” Castillo says. “And anyone can enter the tournament; we have A, B, C and D level players on every team.”

I ask the ex-featherweight what his own handicap is?

“It’s a 12,” he admits. “BUT it used to be a 3; I don’t get to pay as much now.” He chuckles and after a pause comments, “I wish I had more time to play to get it back down to a single digit!”

“It’s gonna be a really fun day,” the slugger tells me. “We have a special guest Erik Estrada, who will be there. And after the tournament, we’re having a great awards banquet with comedy acts, Ballet Folklorico, raffles, silent and live auctions and more.”

He adds with enthusiasm, “And we have a lot of celebrity guests: actors, boxers, Dodgers, singers. Bob Harris from the Drifters, boxers Bobby Chacon, Frankie Duarte, John Montes, Danny Lopez, Carlos Palomino, actors Emilio Rivera, Bobby Costanza and Valente Rodriguez (“Ernie” from the “George Lopez Show”) and a whole list of others who will be playing.”

Castillo then asks me, “Do you like horse racing?” He speaks in a rapid-fire stream and before I get a chance to reply, he answers excitedly, “We’ve got several jockeys that will be playing too from Santa Anita.

“Laffit Pincay, Matt Garcia, Danny Sorenson, David Flores, Fernando Valenzuela, and others will also be at the tournament.”

With energy to spare, Ruben has been planning this fundraiser for months, along with WBHF President Mando Muñiz and their golf committee. They are expecting a full day of fun in sunny SoCal while raising money for their organization. And while taking a break today in all the tournament planning, Castillo also makes sure to give his wife Cynthia a shout out for all her help in organizing this year’s event.

“She’s been amazing,” her husband of almost 22 years raves. “Cindy has been great; she’s even getting an award next month through the Golden State Boxers’ Association.”

With a day of taking your best swings on the golf course instead of a boxing ring, the Castillo couple are also making sure the fans get to participate and mingle with the champs. Sounds like a knockout day “par” none!

Boxing aficionados and golf fans can get autographs and pose for photos with the celebrities this Sunday and also Monday morning before the shotgun start.

“We’re having a meet-and-greet Sunday night in Ontario with all the actors, boxers and Dodgers,” Castillo says. “and from 8 to 10 a.m. on Monday there will be an autograph session too.”