Caballero: rematch or I retire

By Robert Coster

“It was highway robbery,” says Rogelio Espino, manager of featherweight contender Celestino Cabellero, after his boxer’s very controversial 12 round split decision loss to WBA champion Jonathan Victor Barros last Saturday in Mendoza, Argentina, hometown of the defending champion. The 35-year-old Panama-born Caballero scored two knockdowns against Barros and maintained the offensive throughout the fight. Yet judge Raul Caiz voted 114-112 for the Argentine boxer while judge Danny Nelson scored a ludicrous 116-110 in favor of the defending champion. Judge Cesar Ramos voted 115-111 for Caballero as did the Argentine commentators of the TYC Sports TV network. Arriving in Panama City, a dejected Caballero declared: “It is a crime to rob a boxer after he’s given it his all, as I did. If I am not able to get an automatic rematch, I will simply hang up the gloves!”

July 4th, 2011

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