28-year-old Kendo "Tremendo" Castaneda has had a rollercoaster of a career. He started off 17-0, captured the WBA NABA 140-Pound strap, was highly ranked by the sanctioning body, and was considered one of the premier prospects in the division. He then lost five in a row and was stopped in the AT&T Center in his hometown of San Antonio. That last loss seemed to strike a nerve. Castaneda remotivated himself. He secured a sensational first-round knockout in the opening round of the PROBOX Last Chance Tournament. That set up Saturday's showdown at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Castaneda took on local product Joseph Fernandez in a 10-round affair.
Castaneda got off to a quick start, pressing Fernandez and landing with straight right hands. Setting thighs up off the jab, Castaneda got off to a tremendous start. Fernandez was successful in slowing the pace and evening things up in the middle rounds. The Floridian was able to keep Castaneda at bay and stay off the ropes. A recurring theme had developed. Castaneda would win the first two and a half minutes. Fernandez would rally late to try and steal the round. It was an incredibly close contest heading into the ninth. Castaneda was admittedly exhausted and was told by his trainer Ronnie Cantu "Six minutes for the rest of your life/" Castaneda picked up his second wind and the pair produced the round of the year in the ninth. Castaneda was buckled early in the round. He seemed to be wearing down and that's just when he got going and put together the best rally of the fight that nearly dropped Fernandez and almost ended his fight as the bell sounded to end the round. The late rally from the Texan sealed the deal as Castaneda took a competitive but unanimous decision by scores of 96-94 on all three cards.
Castaneda will battle with rugged veteran Antonio Moran in the finals. Moran outlasted "West Texas" Warrior Michael Dutchover of Midland, to fill out the other side of the bracket. Moran was able to outbox Durchover and rolled to a wide points victory by scores of 100-90x2 and 99-91.