World Boxing News first reported on Dominican fighter Alexis Rafael Castillo Sanchez after he compiled one of the most unusual records in modern boxing, losing his first 40 professional bouts, 36 of them by knockout.
At the time, the story appeared to have reached its conclusion. Castillo Sanchez’s career seemed to have ended in 2018 after a long run of stoppage defeats that stretched across more than a decade in the sport.
However, official bout records show the boxer later returned to the ring under a completely different name in his late forties.
Castillo Sanchez has since competed as Alexis de la Cruz Shephard, adding three more bouts to extend the record that stood at 0-40 when WBN first examined the case.
All three contests ended in further stoppage defeats, pushing the overall tally to 0-43, with 39 losses coming by knockout.
Two of those latest losses also list no confirmed stoppage details in the official record, meaning the precise moment or method of the knockout was never formally documented.
Name Change
The change makes the situation even more unusual.
Previously known as Alexis Rafael Castillo Sanchez, the boxer has appeared on recent fight listings as Alexis de la Cruz Shephard, a significant alteration from the name under which the earlier portion of the career was recorded.
World Boxing News identified the continuation of the career after reviewing recent opponent records, where matching biographical details eventually revealed the same fighter competing again years after the original report.
Latest Fights
The three additional bouts occurred between 2022 and 2024, when records show Shephard competing between 45 and 47 years old.
In April 2022, Shephard lost by TKO to Dario Duran Gonzalez in Moncion. Four months later he returned in Monte Plata, suffering another stoppage defeat against Emill Gonzalez Lopez in the second round.
The most recent appearance came on December 18, 2024, in Santo Domingo, where Shephard was stopped in the opening round by Omar Alexander Rivera Cerda after suffering a shoulder injury.
Each bout followed a familiar pattern from the earlier portion of the career, which had already seen dozens of early finishes.
Unusual Record
When WBN first examined the case, Castillo Sanchez’s record already stood out due to the sheer number of stoppage losses and the length of time the run continued.
The fighter began his career in 2007 and competed across multiple weight classes before eventually appearing in the heavyweight division.
During that period, he faced a wide range of opponents, from debuting prospects to experienced professionals, while rarely lasting beyond the early rounds.
The additional fights recorded under the name Alexis de la Cruz Shephard have now extended the streak further, creating one of the strangest records in modern boxing.
Whether the career continues beyond 0-43 remains to be seen.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.