Ivan Montiel: It’s been a long time so I wanted to see what Pelenchin is up to?

 

Celestino Caballero: Thanks Ivan. I am doing good, retired from boxing

 

IM: What’s your thoughts on both Yuriorkis Gamboa and Juan Manuel Lopez still fighting? They are two guys which you wanted to fight while you were IBF champ.

 

CC: Well to be honest with you, Gamboa hasn’t looked good lately. He’s been fighting dirty.  Gamboa just isn’t the same prime Gamboa.  Gamboa has to resort to dirty tactics since he can’t no longer compete with the best of the best.

 

IM: I must agree with you. Gamboa hasn’t looked impressive lately yet he’s still getting opportunities here and there.  

 

CC: I always wanted to fight both Gamboa and Juanma but these guys didn’t want anything to do with me.  

 

IM: Why is that? Those fights would have been very interesting to see.

 

CC: I am not sure what happened. All I know is that we were all champions and these fights should have occurred.  I also think the reason why these fights never happened were due to bad promoting from the guys who I was working with.  I didn’t have the right big promoters like some of these guys.  I believe I had the advantages over these guys with my boxing abilities, movement, intelligence and power.

 

IM: Perhaps it wasn’t only what you just mentioned. Maybe it was your long reach and height advantage as well?

 

CC: No, I believe it was my boxing abilities. Plus I am very strong although it may not seem that way.  I am a guy who can absorb punishment as well.

 

IM: Maybe it was because of the way you knocked out Steve Molitor for the IBF title?

 

CC: Exactly after winning my IBF title, none of the other champions-- Gamboa, Juanma, Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez, were willing to fight me.  

 

IM: What’s your thoughts on boxing now that your retired?

 

CC: Well boxing is very controlled. I sometimes get the itch to return but only if I had a big promoter. I look at champions in the 126-130 weight class, and I believe I could beat them with my height, experience and boxing abilities.

 

IM: Are you still training?

 

CC: Yes, always although I would have to lose a couple of pounds here and there but yes, I always try to maintain myself at a good weight.

 

IM: It always amazed me how a tall fighter like yourself could squeeze to make weight at 122 pounds.

 

CC: Making weight wasn’t an issue at all for me since I always ate healthy and trained well.  Actually, going into my fight against Steve Molitor at the night of the fight I only had tea with a small piece of desert.  Team Molitor looked surprised to see what I was eating.

 

IM: Well at least you didn’t have a big piece of steak like Roberto Duran.

 

CC: No not like Duran (laughs)

 

IM: Speaking of this fight with Steve Molitor how did you feel having Roberto Duran by your side that night?

 

CC: It was a blessing to have Roberto Duran. One of, if not the best fighters out of Panama was right next to me.  I thank God for that special moment not only that but thanks to my hard work my training was I able to win that IBF title in Steve Molitor’s backyard.  I was able to demonstrate that Panama still had boxers with potential and great boxing abilities in which I believe I had.   I always had good discipline and good concentration therefore winning that IBF was the best moment of my boxing career.  Steve Molitor was a good boxer but in Panama we prepare ourselves right away, we study fighters and prepare ourselves for any other things that could occur in a fight.  I have good movement to dodge punches and counter attack that’s why Steve Molitor wasn’t able to beat me.  Molitor had never faced a complete boxer like myself.  Many people thought I wasn’t going to win that fight yet I proved them wrong.

 

IM: I do remember you doing a public workout in Toronto, Ontario Canada prior to that fight with Molitor while you showed us you not only liked to punch you also loved to dance and sing which I believe helps with being able to move in that ring.

 

CC: Exactly! I always loved to dance and sing even before I began boxing.  Dancing goes well with boxing if a fighter doesn’t have good footwork then he’s pretty much a sitting target which of course is bad for a boxer.

 

IM: The problem I find with boxing fans right now is that they tend to criticize slick boxers all these fans care about is a fighter who carries knockout power.  Boxing isn’t just about power it’s also about having boxing abilities!

 

CC: Exactly-- boxing abilities.

 

IM: Well Caballero thanks for your time I wish you all the best in your retirement who knows maybe in the future we can see you back in the ring.

 

CC: Thanks Ivan, much appreciated. But as far as getting back into boxing, not unless I have a good promoter.