-Photo Credit: Tom Casino/Showtime-

The Saturday Showtime s/bantam twin-bill from far out Hidalgo, Texas opened with Panama’s Celestino Caballero (26-2, 18) nipping challenger Jorge Lacierva (32-6, 22) by unanimous decision to retain the WBA version of the 122 pound shareholders.

No arguments Caballero is head and shoulders above the rest at super bantamweight - that is, in height at 5’11 - but at this first glance, if getting the shouted wish of a Marquez-Vazquez winner he’ll be quickly dispatched to former champion.

Showtime touts Albert and Bernstein dismayed by the early inaction of the favorite tall one quickly chalked it up to his overlooking Lacierva for a hoped unifier with the main event winner.

Maybe so … but judging by what we saw over the magic lantern, Caballero hasn’t the faintest clue to what a simple combination is - awkward doesn’t come close, and is in need of a lesson or two from the boxing book for dummies.

On this night, the book for both Caballero and challenger Lacierva was far and away from the book of Queensberry - rabbit punches, low blows, kidney punches - and a head butt from Lacierva being charged a point in stanza six that turned him in the wrong direction after an early rounds jump start.

Caballero picked up the pace somewhat during the trot to the wire as his shorter at 5’4" opponent began showing fatigue - nothing dramatic or impressive for either hopefuls to a Vazquez-Marquez challenge.

Scoring went unanimous Caballero 116-110, 116-111, 115-112 - my unofficial had it all square at 114-114 in points and good enough for the WBA champion to retain - were it under the round by round method of yesteryear my tally would have been Lacierva the winner 6-5-1.

Post Scripts: Referee Laurence Cole back on the Lone Star State scene - heavily connected hack with little clue if any had no idea in dealing with this ugly affair - surrendered after the stanza six point deduction to Lacierva - never entered the alleged mind to balance the books with Caballero going the elbow, forearm, knee route maybe?

Closing comments: Don’t see Caballero big enough draw to make Vazquez a happening - any chance of making the yankee dollar is if (IBF) Molitor, (WBO) Ponce de Leon unifier can be negotiated.

GEL  -

Comments can be emailed to Frank Gonzalez Jr.

8-4-2007