Former world boxing champion Jorge "Roña" Castro appeared on Mario Pergolini's television program Otro Día Perdido in Argentina weeks before his death on October 14, 2026.
The interview, broadcast on September 16, covered his recovery from a severe car crash, his large family and his community service.
Crash Recovery and Return to the Ring
Castro recounted a serious car accident in which he struck a tree, leaving him with fractures in both legs, his shoulder and ribs, a lung injury and the loss of his teeth.
He said he spent 31 days in intensive care, and some media outlets mistakenly reported his death while he was still hospitalized.
After regaining consciousness, he described an unusual experience in which he believed he could see a small white dove.
Despite the severity of the crash, Castro eventually returned to the ring, beginning rehabilitation by walking in a swimming pool before gradually rebuilding his ability to walk.
"They said I would never walk, but I started walking along the walls, and nine months later I was fighting again," Castro said.
He also discussed his family, saying he had 15 children, with the oldest aged 42 and the youngest 16, and 14 grandchildren.
"I had to populate Argentina," Castro joked, adding that he sometimes forgot family birthdays but maintained close relationships with his children.
"Nowadays, my children are my friends," he said.
When Pergolini asked about his relationships, Castro mentioned his girlfriend, Noelia, and said he had experienced a period of relative calm in his personal life.
Asked how many times he had married, he revealed he had been married seven times.
He linked his financial circumstances during his championship years to his lifestyle at the time.
"I treated everyone equally. Back then, I was world champion, and earning money was easy as a champion.
Today, I live well. I don't spend extravagantly, but I live comfortably," Castro said.
According to La Gaceta, Castro also described coordinating food assistance through community kitchens and snack centers.
The program reported that the initiative reached approximately 6,400 people through 14 community kitchens and nine snack centers.
Castro credited the provincial government of Buenos Aires and businesses that supplied food with helping sustain the program.
He explained that the Locomotora Foundation distributed supplies to people facing the greatest need.
"Today, I thank the government of the province of Buenos Aires and the factories that give us goods.
Through the Locomotora Foundation, we supply those who need it most," Castro said.
Castro died on October 14 after suffering a medical emergency in Morón, Buenos Aires province, according to the reported account of his death.
His final television appearance had taken place several weeks earlier, covering his sporting achievements, personal hardships, family and assistance to vulnerable communities.
