By Pablo Fletes, notifight.com
Randy Caballero is very eager to bounce back after failing to make weight for what was scheduled to be his first defense of the IBF bantamweight world title last November on the Miguel Cotto-Saul Alvarez undercard in Las Vegas.
The undefeated boxer was 5.5-pounds over the division limit of 118 for his mandatory bout against Lee Haskins of the UK.
For safety fears, the fight was canceled and Caballero was stripped. Haskins, who had the interim belt, was elevated to the status of full champion without throwing a single punch.
Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) is still not sure what happened. He firmly claims that his weight was perfect when he went to bed, but woke up several pounds over the limit on the day of the weigh-in.
He is scheduled to return on February 5, on a Golden Boy Promotions card at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. His opponent will be Mexico's Ruben Garcia, with a record of 15-1-1, and half a dozen knockouts.
"I could not fight in Las Vegas. I didn't make the weight in my last fight. I do not know why. But I'm ready. I have the hunger to come back. I do not feel good about what happened, I lost the title and lost a lot in my career, but I want to return at 122 pounds," Caballero said.
Caballero wants to forget the stormy 2015 that was plagued by injuries and this excess weight issue that prevented him from defending a belt he won in October 2014.
"I do not know much about [my next opponent], but I fight with anyone. I want to come back and prove that I can be world champion again," Caballero confessed. "It's very difficult to understand [what happened with my weight]. The people here at Fantasy Springs support me, but I must leave this matter in the past. I must return soon to win a title at 122 pounds."
"The good thing is, I'm already in the gym. I am checking now at 128 pounds. And at 122 that there are good boxers and lucrative names in that division. I think that I will be a champion at that weight. The good thing is - I have the support of Golden Boy Promotions. I'm ready, I want to come back and I hope I get another chance soon [at a world title]."
