After illness scrapped his bid to join Team USA for the 2020 Olympics, decorated amateur featherweight Marc Castro is going pro, signing with manager Keith Connelly and promoter Eddie Hearn.

Well this one is special! US amateur sensation, 2 x World youth amateur champ and 16 x National Champion welcome to the team @MarcTheBoxer - Thank you for choosing us @dazn_usa and @skysportsboxing - we won’t let you down and will help you make it all the way to the top! pic.twitter.com/httrlLHCwf — Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 26, 2020

“First I’d like to thank God because without him nothing is possible,” said Castro. “I am delighted to announce that I have signed a promotional contract with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing USA and a management contract with Keith Connolly. “I am excited for this next chapter in my career, I achieved so much in the amateurs, and I look to continue that success in the pros with the right team behind me. “I am always in the gym perfecting my craft and have made countless sacrifices to be in this position and I am not stopping now. My pro debut should be announced soon! I’m ready to get to work!”

He’s not the first strong American amateur to go pro recently; two-time heavyweight national champion Jared Anderson signed with Top Rank last year and has since gone 3-0 (3 K0).

According to ESPN, “Castro went 177-7 in the unpaid ranks, including 48-1 in international and national competition.” Fresno’s YourCentralValley.com had some more information:

Castro said he had to withdraw because of an illness, at the fourth and final event of the 2020 USA Boxing Olympic Trials Qualifying Series in Oxnard during November, which hurt his chances of making the USA Boxing Qualification Team. He said he also had opportunities to represent El Salvador, where his father is from, or Mexico, where his mother is from, at the Tokyo Olympics, but decided “it was best for me turn pro.” Castro said he has an offer to train with Eddie Reynoso in San Diego, who also trains world champion boxer Canelo Alvarez. Castro trained with Reynoso before the Olympic Trials Qualifying Series tournament in November.

Hearn, Connelly, and Reynoso would certainly be a fearsome combination. Keep an eye out for Castro on upcoming DAZN cards.