By Rick Reeno
IBF/WBA super bantamweight champion Celestino Caballero was fuming when his management informed him of the recent comments that were made by Juan Manuel Lopez, the WBO champion. During an interview with Primera Hora of Puerto Rico, Lopez made it known that a fight with Cabellero was not appealing because of the heavy sanctioning fees that are involved between their three title belts.
Lopez is not exactly jumping for joy that his next opponent is Rogers Mtagwa, a veteran fighter with twelve defeats on his record. He would prefer to fight Israel Vazquez or Rafael Marquez, but they prefer to fight each other for a fourth time.
I’ve caught a few interviews where Lopez puts his foot in his mouth. He criticizes Vazquez and Marquez for overlooking him. He says the two Mexican stars are more concerned about a fourth meeting because it brings them the most money. At the same time, he says Caballero doesn’t bring him enough money to make a fight. Well, Vazquez and Marquez view Lopez in the same light.
Caballero tells BoxingScene.com that he can erase the concerns of Lopez. If Lopez agrees to a fight, Caballero promises to pay all of the sanctioning fees involved.
“Why take a chance where you can lose to a nobody? If he loses to me, then he loses to the best. He doesn’t have to worry; I will pay for all of the sanctioning fees. Don’t be a maricón in front of your own people. It’s shameful the way he is acting in front of his own people by fighting nobodies. Mtagwa does not bring any greatness to him. The best fight with the best,” Caballero said.
