Junior welterweight Starling Castillo, now training under the tutelage of coach Bob Santos in Las Vegas, is preparing to face off against Jesus Saracho on Wednesday in Plant City, Florida.

Castillo-Saracho, the event’s co-main bout, is scheduled for 10 rounds at the ProBox TV Events Center, and will be broadcast internationally on ProBox TV’s “Wednesday Night Fights.”

Castillo, a boxer-puncher from the Dominican Republic who is known for his high ring IQ and superior boxing skills, wants to make a statement. Under the guidance of Santos, the 2022 trainer of the year, Castillo (18-1-1, 13 KOs) has honed his skills and is ready to showcase his talents on a global stage.

“A victory in this fight will get me back in contention to compete for a world title in the [junior welterweight] division,” Castillo said. “I’ve been training hard alongside Coach Santos, and I’m confident that all the hard work we’ve put in will pay off. This is a pivotal moment in my career, and I’m ready to seize the opportunity.”

“I’ve been impressed with Starling’s dedication and work ethic over the past year,” Santos said. “He’s made significant improvements in his technique and conditioning, and I have full confidence in his ability to deliver a standout performance in this bout. He’s ready to make a statement in this fight.”

Castillo, who hasn’t fought since last May – and only once since October 2022 – has called it a “challenging journey” to get back into fighting shape, but he’s excited to climb back into the ring.

The 22-year-old Saracho (13-1, 11 KOs) of Guanajuato, Mexico – whose only loss has come against undefeated Deonte Brown – represents a challenge in his own right. But Castillo believes his work with Santos is ready to pay dividends.

“The time away has made me extremely hungry to come out on top,” Castillo said, “and I can't wait to showcase the improvements I've made.”