Celestino Caballero

Last updated
Celestino Caballero
Born (1976-06-21) June 21, 1976 (age 48)
Colón, Panama
Other names
  • Pelenchín
  • Towering Inferno
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach73+12 in (187 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights43
Wins37
Wins by KO24
Losses6

Celestino Caballero (born June 21, 1976) is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2014. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the unified WBA (Super) and IBF super bantamweight titles between 2006 and 2010, and the WBA (Regular) featherweight title from 2011 to 2012.

Contents

Professional career

Caballero began boxing professionally in 1998. During the majority of his early career, Caballero won a number of minor regional championships: the Panamanian, WBA Fedecentro, WBA Fedelatin, WBO Latino, and NABA Super Bantamweight titles. [1]

He had won the first four of his titles and had a record of 17-0 before losing by a third-round knockout to José Rojas on May 16, 2003. [1]

Seven months later, Caballero won the vacant NABA title by defeating Giovanni Andrade. The fight, which was held in Coconut Creek, Florida, was Caballero's first one outside of Panama. In his next fight, back in Panama, Caballero was knocked down in the tenth round and lost the title by unanimous decision to Ricardo Cordoba on May 25, 2004. [1]

On February 17, 2005, Caballero fought the then unbeaten and would-be world champion Daniel Ponce de León in Hollywood, California. Caballero, who was a heavy underdog, won the bout by unanimous decision.

On October 15, 2005, Caballero defeated Yober Ortega by unanimous decision for the WBA Super Bantamweight interim championship. He defended the title on February 4, 2006 against Roberto Bonilla. After knocking down Bonilla in the third and fifth rounds, Caballero won via TKO in the seventh.

WBA super bantamweight champion

Caballero fought against WBA world Super Bantamweight champion Somsak Sithchatchawal in Sithchatchawal's native country of Thailand on October 4, 2006 in order to win the real WBA title. He won by TKO by knocking Sithchatchawal down three times in the third round—causing the referee to stop the bout. Caballero has defended the title five times with the last one being that he knocked out Elvis Meija in one round.

On November 21, 2008, Caballero knocked out the unbeaten IBF Super Bantamweight champion Steve Molitor in the 4th round at the Casino Rama, Ontario. With the victory, he added the IBF title with his WBA crown. [2] Caballero won his first defense on both titles with a split decision win over Jeffery Mathebula on April 30, 2009. He defended the titles for second time on August 29 in the same year against Francisco Leal who conceded in the 8th round.

Caballero was stripped of his IBF title on February 5, 2010 for failing to have a defense against Takalani Ndlovu, his mandatory challenger in that sanctioning body, in a timely manner. On April 10, 2010, Caballero defeated Daud Yordan. After that fight Celestino expressed his high interest in fighting Cuban Gold Medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa but that fight failed to come off being unsuccessful in securing a fight at Featherweight. Celestino was able to schedule a fight with Junior Lightweight Jason Litzau at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on the opening bout of the HBO Televised undercard of Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis on November 27. Cabellero subsequently, lost that fight via unanimous decision.

Celestino Caballero has dropped from Junior Lightweight to Featherweight division for a career-high against Jonathan Victor Barros, champion in property of the WBA version of this division, which fight is dated for June 18, 2011 and to take place at Mendoza, Argentina.[ needs update ]

The WBC final Featherweight eliminator ordered by the World Boxing Council between Caballero and the Romanian Viorel Simion (16-0, 7KOs), with the winner landing a shot at current champion Daniel Ponce de León, should have taken place on a date in spring 2013. [3] [4] The fight did not happen, however.

Professional boxing record

43 fights37 wins6 losses
By knockout241
By decision115
By disqualification20
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
43Loss37–6Adrian EstrellaUD12Oct 4, 2014Centro de Usos Múltiples, Los Mochis, MexicoFor WBC FECARBOX super featherweight title
42Win37–5Jimmy AburtoTKO2 (8), 1:41Nov 30, 2013Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaWon vacant WBC Latino featherweight title
41Loss36–5Robinson CastellanosSD12Apr 20, 2013Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, PanamaFor WBC Silver featherweight title
40Win36–4Satoshi HosonoUD12Dec 31, 2011 Cultural Gymnasium, Yokohama, JapanRetained WBA (Regular) featherweight title
39Win35–4 Jonathan Victor Barros UD12Oct 14, 2011 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon WBA (Regular) featherweight title
38Loss34–4 Jonathan Victor Barros SD12Jun 18, 2011Polideportivo La Colonia, Junín, ArgentinaFor WBA (Regular) featherweight title
37Loss34–3 Jason Litzau SD10 Nov 27, 2010 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
36Win34–2 Daud Yordan UD12Apr 10, 2010 BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
35Win33–2Francisco LealRTD7 (12), 3:00Aug 29, 2009Ciudad Deportiva, Mexicali, MexicoRetained WBA (Unified) and IBF super bantamweight titles
34Win32–2 Jeffrey Mathebula SD12Apr 30, 2009Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA (Unified) and IBF super bantamweight titles
33Win31–2 Steve Molitor TKO4 (12), 0:52Nov 21, 2008 Casino, Rama, Ontario, CanadaRetained WBA (Unified) super bantamweight title;
Won IBF super bantamweight title
32Win30–2Elvis MejiaTKO1 (12), 2:51Sep 18, 2008Figali Convention Center, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA super bantamweight title
31Win29–2 Lorenzo Parra RTD11 (12), 3:00Jun 7, 2008Centro Olimpico, San Juan de los Morros, VenezuelaRetained WBA super bantamweight title
30Win28–2 Mauricio Pastrana TKO8 (12), 0:53Dec 1, 2007Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA super bantamweight title
29Win27–2 Jorge Lacierva UD12 Aug 4, 2007 Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.Retained WBA super bantamweight title
28Win26–2 Ricardo Castillo DQ9 (12), 2:02Mar 16, 2007 Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA super bantamweight title;
Castillo disqualified after his corner entered ring
27Win25–2 Somsak Sithchatchawal TKO3 (12), 1:48Oct 4, 2006Wat, Ban Rai, ThailandWon WBA super bantamweight title
26Win24–2Roberto BonillaTKO7 (12)Feb 4, 2006Figali Convention Center, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA interim super bantamweight title
25Win23–2Yober OrtegaUD12Oct 15, 2005 Figali Convention Center, Panama City, PanamaWon vacant WBA interim super bantamweight title
24Win22–2 José Luis Valbuena TKO5 (12), 3:08May 5, 2005 Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
23Win21–2 Daniel Ponce de León UD12Feb 17, 2005 Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
22Win20–2Victor PeraltaTKO5 (10)Oct 15, 2004Coliseo Bernardo Caraballo, Cartagena, Colombia
21Loss19–2 Ricardo Cordoba UD12May 25, 2004Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City, PanamaLost WBA–NABA and Panamanian super bantamweight titles
20Win19–1Giovanni AndradeDQ10 (10)Dec 5, 2003Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.Won vacant WBA–NABA super bantamweight title
19Win18–1Arcelio IbarraTKO3 (10), 2:18Sep 20, 2003Jardín Nuevas Glorias Soberanas, Panama City, Panama
18Loss17–1Jose RojasKO3 (12), 2:59May 16, 2003Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, PanamaLost WBA Fedelatin super bantamweight title
17Win17–0Leonardo GonzalezTKO2 (12), 0:57Feb 15, 2003Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA Fedelatin and WBO Latino super bantamweight titles
16Win16–0Jorge MonsalvoTKO4 (12)Oct 31, 2002 Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City, PanamaWon vacant WBO Latino super bantamweight title
15Win15–0Angel ValenciaKO3 (12), 1:45Sep 21, 2002Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaRetained Panamanian super bantamweight title;
Won vacant WBA Fedelatin super bantamweight title
14Win14–0Andres CiriacoUD8Jun 14, 2002Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
13Win13–0Marcos VerbelKO3 (12), 2:47Nov 30, 2001Riande Continental Hotel Bella Vista, Panama City, PanamaWon vacant WBA Fedecentro super bantamweight title
12Win12–0Euclides EspitiaKO4 (10), 2:14Oct 5, 2001 Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama
11Win11–0Armando RojasTKO7 (12)Aug 18, 2001Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaRetained Panamanian super bantamweight title;
Won vacant WBA Fedecentro super bantamweight title
10Win10–0Santos MarimonKO6 (10), 0:32Mar 17, 2001Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
9Win9–0Antonio JaramilloTKO2 (10), 1:39Feb 3, 2001Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
8Win8–0Armando CordobaUD12Jun 16, 2000 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaWon Panamanian super bantamweight title
7Win7–0Arquimedes GonzalezKO4 (8), 1:48Apr 29, 2000Gimnasio, Puerto Pilón, Panama
6Win6–0Raul AlonsoRTD5 (8), 3:00Mar 31, 2000Jardin "El Rancho", Panama City, Panama
5Win5–0Henry FrancisUD6Feb 16, 2000Magnum Eventus, Panama City, Panama
4Win4–0Garibaldo MorrisKO1 (6), 3:00Mar 3, 1999Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama
3Win3–0Leopoldo ArrochaTKO3 (4), 2:39Jan 20, 1999Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama
2Win2–0Arquimedes GonzalezRTD3 (4), 3:00Dec 2, 1998Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama
1Win1–0Victor PerezUD4Nov 18, 1998Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama

References

  1. 1 2 3 Boxrec. "Celestino Caballero". Boxrec Fighter Page. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  2. Panama's Caballero snatches boxing's IBF title from Molitor Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  3. Caballero-Simion WBC Featherweight Eliminator Looms Retrieved January 10, 2013. Archived February 15, 2013, at archive.today
  4. Per Ake Persson, Caballero-Simion WBC Eliminator Heads To March January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Armando Cordoba
Panamanian
super bantamweight champion

June 16, 2000 – May 25, 2004
Succeeded by
Ricardo Cordoba
Vacant
Title last held by
Humberto Soto
WBA Fedecentro
super bantamweight champion

August 18, 2001 – October 2001
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Óscar Larios
Vacant
Title last held by
Óscar Larios
WBA Fedecentro
super bantamweight champion

November 30, 2001 – September 21, 2002
Won Fedelatin title
Vacant
Title next held by
Jose Rojas
Vacant
Title last held by
Anthony Martinez
WBA Fedelatin
super bantamweight champion

September 21, 2002 – May 16, 2003
Succeeded by
Jose Rojas
Vacant
Title last held by
Joan Guzmán
WBO Latino
super bantamweight champion

October 31, 2002 – May 2003
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Oscar Rene Ponce
Vacant
Title last held by
Alejandro Barrera
WBA–NABA
super bantamweight champion

December 5, 2003 – May 25, 2004
Succeeded by
Ricardo Cordoba
Vacant
Title last held by
Jezreel Corrales
WBC Latino
featherweight champion

November 30, 2013 – April 2014
Vacated
Succeeded by
Sergio Romero
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Yober Ortega
WBA super bantamweight champion
Interim title

October 15, 2005 – October 4, 2006
Won full title
Vacant
Title next held by
Ricardo Cordoba
Preceded by WBA super bantamweight champion
October 4, 2006 – November 21, 2008
Won Super title
Succeeded by
Ricardo Cordoba
interim champion promoted
New title WBA super bantamweight champion
Super title

November 21, 2008 – November 2010
Unified title from December 2008 to March 2010
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Guillermo Rigondeaux
Preceded by IBF super bantamweight champion
November 21, 2008 – February 10, 2010
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Steve Molitor
Preceded by WBA featherweight champion
Regular title

October 14, 2011 – October 7, 2012
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Nicholas Walters