Caballero Says WBA Did Him Dirty, With No John Fight

By Jhonny Gonzalez

Former champion Celestino Caballero, in an open letter obtained by BoxingScene.com, says the World Boxing Association, treated him badly and they forced his hand to vacate the WBA "regular" championship.

His complaints include:

1. Despite several requests, the WBA refused to order a mandatory fight with "full" featherweight champion Chris John of Indonesia.

2. The WBA backed Sampson Boxing LLC in a dispute over a mandatory fight against Mikey Garcia. Sampson Boxing won a WBA mandated purse bid with a submission of $440,000. The fight date was changed several times and eventually fell apart. Both sides refused to take blame. Caballero made a complaint to the WBA, placing all of the blame on Sampson Boxing, who filed a counter-complaint which noted how Caballero's former adviser/Panamanian promoter Rogelio Espino interfered with their plans by persuading Caballero to change his mind on fighting Garcia in September.

The WBA sided with Sampson Boxing LLC. But Garcia would walk away from the fight and signed a contract to face WBO champion Orlando Salido.

3. After Garcia fell out, the WBA would not allow him to make a defense against an opponent of choice in the top ten, and instead were threatening him to defend his belt against Nicholas Walters.

"In total, I have fought in 14 WBA world championship matches. I have participated in two versions of the 'KO To Drugs' Festival and I have supported their activities. Despite this history, I never expected to be treated like this," Caballero said.

"I received advice from lawyers to sue your organization for the the flagrant violation of your own regulations. However I appreciate the long history with your organization and I have withdrawn that possibility. Instead, I have decided to renounce the title of featherweight champion."