Q&A: Rogelio Espino

By Robert Coster
Photo: Promociones y Eventos Del Istmo

Rogelio Espino has been, for the past decade, Panama’s top promoter and manager. His company, Promociones y Eventos del Istmo, has guided the career of six world champions and promoted 40 title bouts. Espino accompanied his boxer Celestino “Pelenchin” Caballero to Argentina to challenge WBA featherweight champion Jonathan Victor Barros on July 2nd, in Barros’ hometown of Mendoza. Barros retained his title via a very controversial split decision even though he was knocked down twice (in the first and ninth round) in spectacular fashion. “The verdict against Pelenchin was simply incomprehensible and bad judging is one of the biggest problems of boxing today,” says the measured and always courteous Espino. Fightnews sat down with Rogelio Espino to discuss the Caballero-Barros controversial fight and its aftermath.

Rogelio, you probably have heard of the action taken by the NJ Athletic Commission following the Lara-Williams fights in regard to the officials that judged the fight. How do you feel about that and can you relate that to the case of your boxer, Celestino Caballero?

I believe the measures taken by the NJ Commission were pertinent. A judge holds in his hands the future of a boxer. Actions have to be taken in the cases of gross incompetence. Judges’ performances have to be evaluated after each fight. I believe that the verdict rendered in Argentina was even more out of touch with reality than in the Lara-Williams fight considering that Pelenchin knocked Barros down twice and was the constant aggressor all though the fight. Barros was almost knocked out in the first round.

What do you think of judge Danny Nelson’s card which saw Barros win 116-110?

Incomprehensible and illogical. By the way, in the rounds Caballero knocked down Barros, he voted 10-9 for Pelenchin when in such cases the boxer who knocks the other down should be given 2 points. Even the Argentine TV commentators saw Caballero win 115-111.

You have lodged an appeal with the WBA. What is the situation right now?

The WBA has yet to render its decision. We are waiting with serenity. We believe justice will prevail and we are hoping for an immediate rematch against Barros

Do you consider bad or prejudiced judging to be a serious problem in boxing today?

Incompetent judging or voting erroneously for the local boxer is a serious problem that affects boxing’s credibility. When you deprive a boxer of a well deserved victory, you are negating months of effort put into that fight by the boxer and his team. The verdict in Argentina was a miscarriage of justice. I call on world boxing bodies to take action against incompetent judging, even retire some judges if necessary.

Pelenchin Caballero particularly criticized the role of Barros’ promoter, Osvaldo Rivero, who throughout the fight approached and kept talking to the judges. The Barros camp actually started celebrating before the verdict was announced. What is your opinion on Rivero’s role?

I am a promoter and I am not one to hurl accusations at a fellow promoter. In my case, I always keep away from the judges so that no undue and partisan pressure is put on them. I want to make clear that I have no reason to doubt of Mr Rivero’s honesty but Mr Rivero, being an experienced promoter, should have acted differently that night.

Would you be ready to have a rematch in Argentina given what happened there the first time?

We will do our best to have a rematch in Panama but we are willing to go to Argentina, providing the conditions for fair, impartial judging are met.

July 17th, 2011

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