HOLLYWOOD, FL, February 2007 – Six foot Celestino Caballero, one off the most physically imposing super bantamweights in boxing history, defends his WBA World Titile against Ricardo Castillo, March 16, at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida. At 5’6”, Ricardo Castillo will try to climb the mountain and take Caballero’s WBA Super Bantamweight World Title in the main event of “Tribal Pride 2”. .
This event which will be televised live on Univision’s “Solo Boxeo” series is presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing Promotions of Hollywood, Florida and Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego, California.
The seven-bout card also features the return of undefeated lightweight teenage sensation Jorge Paez Jr. and an intriguing semi-main event between unbeaten super featherweights Adailton De Jesus from Brazil and Noe Bolanos from Mexico.
This is the second ‘Tribal Pride’ boxing event co-promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing and Sycuan Ringside Promotions. The inaugural event took place on May 18, 2006, also at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.
Doors open at 6:30 PM and the first fight will start promptly at 7 PM. Tickets are on sale now and are priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25. Tickets are available at the Hard Rock Live Box Office and all Ticket Master Outlets.
“We’re honored to share the promotion again with our friends at Sycuan Ringside Promotions, and fight fans are in for another great night of fights on March 16th,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing.
“Celestino Caballero is one of the most underrated champions in the sport today, but we expect that to change after the boxing world gets to see him in against a tough challenger in Ricardo Castillo,” said Margules. “We’ve also got Jorge Paez Jr., one of boxing’s brightest young prospects, on the card, and a great fight between unbeaten 126-pounders De Jesus and Bolanos in what should be a war.”
“With no pun intended, the sky’s the limit for Celestino,” said Glenn Quiroga, president of Sycuan Ringside Promotions.
“Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Seminole Warriors Boxing have a real gem in Celestino,” said Scott Woodworth, vice president of Sycuan Ringside Promotions. “ It’s not often you find a fighter who’s not only physically unique for his weight division, but one who can produce at such a devastating level as well.”
Caballero, also known as “The Towering Inferno” because of his height and his relentless hard-hitting style, is a southpaw with a record of 25-2, and 18 knockouts. The 30-year old from Colon, Panama won the interim WBA super bantamweight championship with a 12-round unanimous decision over Yober Ortega on October 15, 2005. Caballero then successfully defended his title, stopping Roberto Bonilla in the seventh round February 4, 2006. In his most recent outing, Caballero destroyed World Champion Somsak Sitchchatchawal in the 3rd round on October 4, 2006, and removed the “interim” from his title. ‘Pelenchin’ as he is known in his native Panama, got on the world map in February of 2005 with a win over current world champion Daniel Ponce De Leon.
Castillo, the brother of former two-time World Lightweight Champion, Jose Luis Castillo, has a record of 27-3, and 17 knockouts and has won 16 of his last 17 bouts dating back to 2003. The 27-year old Castillo, from Mexicali, Mexico, faces a daunting task against Caballerro, who stands five inches taller and has a decided reach advantage.
With significant power and an entertaining style, the 19 year old Paez Jr. also from Mexicali, has a record of 12-0, with 8 knockouts and is gaining steam as he works his way up the lightweight division. The son of former IBF and WBO featherweight champion Jorge Paez Sr., Paez Jr. is carving out his own niche in the sport and has yet to touch upon his seemingly endless well of potential.
A native of Salvador, Brazil, 28 year old Adailton De Jesus (18-0, 17 KOs) has paid his dues and is now ready to make the leap to boxing’s next level. To get there, he has to get by fellow unbeaten prospect Noe Bolanos (16-0, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico. A former WBA Continental Americas champion who is just as hungry to move into title contention as his opponent, Bolanos may be the next in a long line of great Mexican Champions. This bout has the makings of a classic.