By Carlos Irusta

MARIANO CARRERA achieved his dream when several weeks ago he captured the WBA middleweight championship of the world by defeating Javier Castillejo of Spain. The referee Guillermo Pérez Pineda, from Panama, in the 11th round, stopped the bout. Carrera connected 29 punches when the referee felt Castillejo was getting hit too much. Castillejo was sanctioned with a point deduction in rounds 4 and 10, for low blows.

Carrera is the world champion number 29 in Argentine's boxing history. Carlos Monzón was the first in the middleweight division followed by Hugo Corro and Jorge Fernando Castro. Carrera, at 26-years-old, was and Olympian in Sydney (he lost his first fight) and now has a record of 30-4, with 21 knockouts. He trains with Carlos Tello, and Omar Narvaez, the WBO flyweight champion.

He is a different breed of boxer. He has long arms, good legs and a powerful left hook, but he also hit the books, obtaining two degrees. He started in boxing at 12-years-old at Mar del Plata with veteran trainer Hector Dipilato, “But I improved a lot as an amateur with Cuban Sarbelio Fuentes”, he says.

“I know that my belt was in Carlos Monzón hands, and is very important for me. The only thing I know is I like to train and I always dreamed to become world champion. I was very sure I would be world champion. Castillejo was a tremendous fighter, a man who fought Julio Cesar Vasquez and Oscar De La Hoya, but I was sure I will be the winner”.

Mariano Carrera will make the first defense of his crown against former world champion Felix Sturm, the man who was defeated by Castillejo. “But will try to make another alternative bout first”, says Mario Margossian, the manager of the new champion.

In a press meeting, Carrera showed his belt and thanked all of his family, especially his father who is always with him. Nice guy, Carrera, a man with a nice smile and a nicer left hook.