Randy Caballero's Quest to Put Lower Weight Classes Back on the Boxing Map

Randy Caballero wants you to know something about boxing’s lower weight classes.  

“There are a lot of great fighters who are coming up out of the smaller weight classes,” said Caballero. “Right now, everybody is starting to see how the lower weight classes produce action-packed fights. That’s what I’m here to do: to show that [the bantamweight division] is action-packed.

If you’ve seen Caballero fight already, you know he’s telling the truth. The 25-year-old IBF bantamweight titleholder is a buzz saw when the bell rings. He rips into his opponents with hooks and uppercuts and is anxious to prove to the boxing audience at large just how good little guys can be.

Caballero gets his wish on Saturday when he defends his IBF title against Lee Haskins during the televised undercard for HBO’s Miguel Cotto-Canelo Alvarez pay-per-view.

"I’m definitely excited," he said. "This is an opportunity for me to shine. It will open a lot of doors for me, and lots of great opportunities will come my way after the fight."

If you’re taken aback by Caballero’s confidence in himself, don’t be. He’s not the braggy type of boxer who runs around trying to overinflate his already oversized ego. Caballero just knows what type of fighter he is.

How? Because he’s had to prove it.

In an age where young fighters are coddled and given every advantage possible as they march their way toward predetermined title shots, Caballero has made his way to the top of the sport the hard way. He fought his last two fights, the IBF eliminator bout as well as the world title bout, overseas against opponents with loyal and vocal fanbases.

“It was tough knowing that no one was there but your corner to cheer you on, but that’s what made things that much better when I won.” 

Caballero defeated Kohei Oba in Japan and Stuart Hall in Monaco to end 2014 as a world champion. He’s been on the shelf since, recovering from the wear and tear associated with the hard life of making a living in the fight game.

But Caballero believes the time off for him was a good thing.

“My body feels like when I first started fighting again," he said. "I’m ready to showcase my skills and show people who I am.”

Credit: Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Caballero has a solid pedigree. He was a United States amateur champion in 2008 and turned pro in 2010. After five years of fighting his way up the ranks, he has made himself into a formidable professional.

His opponent on Saturday, Haskins, is no pushover. The 31-year-old from the United Kingdom should present a tough challenge for Caballero.

But Caballero said that’s how he likes things. He said as hard as it was to fight the two biggest fights of his career overseas, he knows they also made him into what he is today.

“It made me a better fighter, and I’m hungry to come back. I’m ready to shine that night and show people who Randy Caballero is.”

There’s real opportunity on Saturday for Caballero. Cotto-Canelo would be the biggest fight of the year had Mayweather and Pacquiao not finally gotten their acts together to deliver that long-awaited May 2 snooze-fest.

It’s a legitimate superfight.

Rich Schultz/Associated Press

And that means more people will see Caballero fight on Saturday than at any other time in his life. If that wasn’t enough pressure, HBO’s recent interest in smaller fighters such as flyweight Roman Gonzalez and featherweight Oscar Valdez would indicate Caballero has a genuine HBO audition on his hands too.

Caballero, whose father was born in Nicaragua, points to Gonzalez as this blueprint for his success.

“Just look at what Chocolatito did. He’s from Nicaragua. I’m proud to represent Nicaragua, too, and I want to make a name for myself. What he’s done and others have done in the lower weight classes, I’m just here to show people that they don’t want to miss these fights.”

He won’t have to worry about anyone missing his fight on Saturday. After that will all depend on how well he performs.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information was obtained firsthand. After publication, Golden Boy Promotions disclosed Caballero's bout has moved from the televised undercard to the featured bout of the preliminary bouts available on digital platforms only.