by Geoffrey Ciani – Nineteen year old featherweight prospect Randy Caballero (4-0, 4 KOs) has had a story book start to his professional boxing career. Once regarded as an elite amateur, Caballero won his pro debut in March of this year when he scored a first round knockout against Gonzalo Nicolas. Since then he has had three more fights and has won all four of his professional matches by first round knockout. Most recently, he defeated Jairo Delgado earlier this month. Caballero is looking to stay busy and make a name for himself. Late last week I was afforded the opportunity to have a brief chat with the young prospect. Here is what he had to say.
Q: Randy, you’re coming off of a first round KO against Jairo Delgado a few weeks back. How would you evaluate your performance?
A: Every time I step in the ring I’m ready to fight anybody. Whoever it is I’m never going to be in the ring not being 100%. When that bell rang, you know I was ready, but when that bell rang I thought it was going to last longer. I’ve seen this guy’s record and seen him fight. I thought it would have went at least to the second or third round maybe. If it went to a decision then it went to a decision. I had caught him with a lucky punch. Well it was, well you know. We practice all of those punches. They come natural and I hit him with the perfect punch and he went out and I just finished the fight.
Q: Now that’s four pro fights for you and four first round knockouts. Are you prepared to go more rounds if need be?
A: Hey, I’m always prepared to fight as many rounds as they give me. My promoter already told me we’re going to go up to six rounds already and I’m ready for it. I spar eight rounds with tough guys putting pressure on and I’m not getting tired at all with those eight rounds, so I’m ready for six rounds.
Q: Now Randy, you fought four times this year since March. When are you hoping to get back inside the ring?
A: I’m hoping as soon as possible. We were trying to get one this Saturday under Timothy Bradley’s but it wasn’t possible so we’re hoping for at least some time next month?
Q: How many fights would you ideally like to have by the end of this year?
A: They said a minimum of eight, but if they can get me more I would love that.
Q: You had a celebrated amateur background, Randy. Has this helped with your smooth transition into the professional ranks?
A: Oh yeah, definitely. I’ve been fighting since I was eight years old. I grew up in a gym and travelled everywhere fighting different shows every week. Every tournament that came out we entered and we came out on top. With all of the experience I went through in the amateurs, it does help out, as well as sparring Nonito Donaire and Abner Mares. That also got me ready for the pros as well.
Q: You were once regarded as one of the best amateurs out there. Does that give you any added pressure now that you’re trying to establish yourself in the professional ranks?
A: Oh no, not at all. After amateurs once you hit pros, nobody looks at your amateur record anymore. Really as you’re going up once you hit seventeen you know, you forget about everything else that happened before that and then after you turn pro everybody forgets about your amateur record other than if you make it to the Olympics and that’s whenever everybody looks at you. I don’t feel any pressure at all. I’m just another fighter that wants to win world titles and make a name for myself.
Q: Now you mentioned the Olympics a moment ago. You missed the age cutoff for the 2008 Olympics by just a few months I believe. Were you disappointed by the fact that you were just a bit too young to compete?
A: Oh yeah, I was. I wanted to try and make 2008 and 2012. I was going to wait around anyway but I couldn’t make it. So we said you know what, let’s stay in the gym and try to make 2012. We went to go fight somewhere and I messed up my hand. I was off for about a year. We thought about what if I hurt my hand again so we decided I may as well just turn pro.
Q: Has your hand fully healed?
A: Oh yeah, it’s 100% healed. I have no problems with it now.
Q: Randy, which fighter in the sport today do you admire most and why?
A: You know one fighter that I always looked up to is Floyd Mayweather. He’s a quick, smart fighter. He never wastes with his punches. That’s what they always tell you in the professionals. Never waste any of your punches. Everything you throw you have to make it land and that’s what I think he does. I look up to him a lot but I never set myself to where I want to be like that fighter. I’ve always tell myself I wanted to be better than them and it’s gotten me this far so far.
Q: You’re nineteen years old, Randy. What would you ultimately like to accomplish in professional boxing before you turn twenty-five?
A: I want to get out of the sport before anything can happen to me. You see people stay in the sport and they can’t even talk at the end of their career. I want to stay healthy, live a good life, and I’m going to get out of the sport early.
Q: Is there anything else you want to say to all the fans out at East Side Boxing, Randy?
A: I just want to say thank you for following up on me and you’re going to hear a lot about me soon. Hopefully I’ll make it to the top.
Q: Great. Thank you for your time, Randy. It was a pleasure speaking with you. I wish you the best of luck with your career.
A: Thank you. I appreciate it.
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