ANDRE `Stone’ Purlette suffered his first defeat in the professional ranks on January 4, 2002. Entering the ring with an imposing record of 32 victories (28 KOs), Purlette was TKOed by Cuban-American Eliester Castillo at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.

Referee Brian Garry stopped the contest at two minutes 58 seconds of the fifth round to save the Guyanese, a former cruiserweight, further punishment.
The defeat came as a surprise as Purlette had taken out several top contenders in a short space of time.
In October of the previous year, he TKOed Jeremy Bates, to claim the vacant WBO NABO heavyweight title. Former world champion Jimmy Thunder lasted only two rounds with the stone-fisted Purlette in July 2001.
The Guyanese last fought in 2009 and has a record of 40 victories in 44 fights. He has boxed 134 rounds and has a 79 percent knockout average.