Celestino Caballero

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

Celestino Caballero
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Pelenchín Towering Inferno
Weight(s)	Super bantamweight Featherweight Super featherweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach	73 ^1⁄2 in (187 cm)
Nationality	Panamanian
Born	(1976-06-21) June 21, 1976 Colón, Panama
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	43
Wins	37
Wins by KO	24
Losses	6

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 Featherwight 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.

The WBC final Featherwight 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

Professional record summary

43 fights	37 wins	6 losses
By knockout	24	1
By decision	11	5
By disqualification	2	0

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
43	Loss	37–6	Adrian Estrella	UD	12	Oct 4, 2014	Centro de Usos Múltiples, Los Mochis, Mexico	For WBC FECARBOX super featherweight title
42	Win	37–5	Jimmy Aburto	TKO	2 (8), 1:41	Nov 30, 2013	Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama	Won vacant WBC Latino featherweight title
41	Loss	36–5	Robinson Castellanos	SD	12	Apr 20, 2013	Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama	For WBC Silver featherweight title
40	Win	36–4	Satoshi Hosono	UD	12	Dec 31, 2011	Cultural Gymnasium, Yokohama, Japan	Retained WBA (Regular) featherweight title
39	Win	35–4	Jonathan Victor Barros	UD	12	Oct 14, 2011	Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina	Won WBA (Regular) featherweight title
38	Loss	34–4	Jonathan Victor Barros	SD	12	Jun 18, 2011	Polideportivo La Colonia, Junín, Argentina	For WBA (Regular) featherweight title
37	Loss	34–3	Jason Litzau	SD	10	Nov 27, 2010	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
36	Win	34–2	Daud Yordan	UD	12	Apr 10, 2010	BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
35	Win	33–2	Francisco Leal	RTD	7 (12), 3:00	Aug 29, 2009	Ciudad Deportiva, Mexicali, Mexico	Retained WBA (Unified) and IBF super bantamweight titles
34	Win	32–2	Jeffrey Mathebula	SD	12	Apr 30, 2009	Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama	Retained WBA (Unified) and IBF super bantamweight titles
33	Win	31–2	Steve Molitor	TKO	4 (12), 0:52	Nov 21, 2008	Casino, Rama, Ontario, Canada	Won IBF and vacant WBA (Super) super bantamweight titles
32	Win	30–2	Elvis Mejia	TKO	1 (12), 2:51	Sep 18, 2008	Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama	Retained WBA super bantamweight title
31	Win	29–2	Lorenzo Parra	RTD	11 (12), 3:00	Jun 7, 2008	Centro Olimpico, San Juan de los Morros, Venezuela	Retained WBA super bantamweight title
30	Win	28–2	Mauricio Pastrana	TKO	8 (12), 0:53	Dec 1, 2007	Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama	Retained WBA super bantamweight title
29	Win	27–2	Jorge Lacierva	UD	12	Aug 4, 2007	Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.	Retained WBA super bantamweight title
28	Win	26–2	Ricardo Castillo	DQ	9 (12), 2:02	Mar 16, 2007	Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.	Retained WBA super bantamweight title; Castillo disqualified after his corner entered ring
27	Win	25–2	Somsak Sithchatchawal	TKO	3 (12), 1:48	Oct 4, 2006	Wat, Ban Rai, Thailand	Won WBA super bantamweight title
26	Win	24–2	Roberto Bonilla	TKO	7 (12)	Feb 4, 2006	Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama	Retained WBA interim super bantamweight title
25	Win	23–2	Yober Ortega	UD	12	Oct 15, 2005	Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama	Won vacant WBA interim super bantamweight title
24	Win	22–2	José Luis Valbuena	TKO	5 (12), 3:08	May 5, 2005	Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
23	Win	21–2	Daniel Ponce de León	UD	12	Feb 17, 2005	Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
22	Win	20–2	Victor Peralta	TKO	5 (10)	Oct 15, 2004	Coliseo Bernardo Caraballo, Cartagena, Colombia
21	Loss	19–2	Ricardo Cordoba	UD	12	May 25, 2004	Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City, Panama	Lost WBA–NABA and Panamanian super bantamweight titles
20	Win	19–1	Giovanni Andrade	DQ	10 (10)	Dec 5, 2003	Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.	Won vacant WBA–NABA super bantamweight title
19	Win	18–1	Arcelio Ibarra	TKO	3 (10), 2:18	Sep 20, 2003	Jardín Nuevas Glorias Soberanas, Panama City, Panama
18	Loss	17–1	Jose Rojas	KO	3 (12), 2:59	May 16, 2003	Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama	Lost WBA Fedelatin super bantamweight title
17	Win	17–0	Leonardo Gonzalez	TKO	2 (12), 0:57	Feb 15, 2003	Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama	Retained WBA Fedelatin and WBO Latino super bantamweight titles
16	Win	16–0	Jorge Monsalvo	TKO	4 (12)	Oct 31, 2002	Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City, Panama	Won vacant WBO Latino super bantamweight title
15	Win	15–0	Angel Valencia	KO	3 (12), 1:45	Sep 21, 2002	Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama	Retained Panamanian super bantamweight title; Won vacant WBA Fedelatin super bantamweight title
14	Win	14–0	Andres Ciriaco	UD	8	Jun 14, 2002	Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
13	Win	13–0	Marcos Verbel	KO	3 (12), 2:47	Nov 30, 2001	Riande Continental Hotel Bella Vista, Panama City, Panama	Won vacant WBA Fedecentro super bantamweight title
12	Win	12–0	Euclides Espitia	KO	4 (10), 2:14	Oct 5, 2001	Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama
11	Win	11–0	Armando Rojas	TKO	7 (12)	Aug 18, 2001	Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama	Retained Panamanian super bantamweight title; Won vacant WBA Fedecentro super bantamweight title
10	Win	10–0	Santos Marimon	KO	6 (10), 0:32	Mar 17, 2001	Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
9	Win	9–0	Antonio Jaramillo	TKO	2 (10), 1:39	Feb 3, 2001	Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
8	Win	8–0	Armando Cordoba	UD	12	Jun 16, 2000	Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama	Won Panamanian super bantamweight title
7	Win	7–0	Arquimedes Gonzalez	KO	4 (8), 1:48	Apr 29, 2000	Gimnasio, Puerto Pilón, Panama
6	Win	6–0	Raul Alonso	RTD	5 (8), 3:00	Mar 31, 2000	Jardin "El Rancho", Panama City, Panama
5	Win	5–0	Henry Francis	UD	6	Feb 16, 2000	Magnum Eventus, Panama City, Panama
4	Win	4–0	Garibaldo Morris	KO	1 (6), 3:00	Mar 3, 1999	Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama
3	Win	3–0	Leopoldo Arrocha	TKO	3 (4), 2:39	Jan 20, 1999	Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama
2	Win	2–0	Arquimedes Gonzalez	RTD	3 (4), 3:00	Dec 2, 1998	Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama
1	Win	1–0	Victor Perez	UD	4	Nov 18, 1998	Discoteca Congo, Panama City, Panama	Professional debut

References

1. 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. Archived December 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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.

External links

• Boxing record for Celestino Caballero from BoxRec

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 Somsak Sithchatchawal	WBA super bantamweight champion October 4, 2006 – November 21, 2008 Won Super title	Succeeded by Ricardo Cordoba promoted from interim status
New title	WBA super bantamweight champion Super title November 21, 2008 – November 2010 Unified title from December 2008 to February 5, 2010 Vacated	Vacant Title next held by Guillermo Rigondeaux
Preceded by Steve Molitor	IBF super bantamweight champion November 21, 2008 – February 5, 2010 Stripped	Vacant Title next held by Steve Molitor
Preceded by Jonathan Victor Barros	WBA featherweight champion Regular title October 14, 2011 – October 7, 2012 Vacated	Vacant Title next held by Nicholas Walters