IBF and WBA Super Bantam titlist Celestino Caballero walked into the Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City, Panama on Thursday as the recognized world champion at 122 pounds but left with a tarnished reputation after winning a controversial spilt decision victory over South African challenger Jeffrey Mathebula.

Caballero started the bout well, keeping the South African at bay and controlling the pace of the contest but wasn't able to dominate the action as he had in winning the IBF belt in most recent fight against Steve Molitor in November.

Mathebula kept the pressure on, making the champion work, taking Caballero's best shots without budging. The strategy paid off when Caballero was spent by the midway point of the bout.

The freakishly tall Caballero, 32-2 (22), normally towers over opponents, usually enjoying a half foot height advantage but against Mathebula, the 5'11 Panamanian held only a narrow edge in this department. More...

Fresh off a smashing victory over Steve Molitor in a world title unification fight last Nov. 20 on Showtime, exciting southpaw Celestino Caballero of Panama will defend his WBA/IBF junior featherweight belts against mandatory challenger Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa in the main event on a special World Championship edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, April 24, on Showtime. More...

Friday night saw a big show at the Carousel Casino in Temba, with three IBF title eliminators on offer.

WBC International Featherweight titlist Jeffrey Mathebula, 22-1-2 (12), made a successful transition to super bantam by winning the IBF eliminator on points at 122 pounds against Mexico's Julio Zarate, 26-5-1 (16).

Former IBF Super Feather Champ Malcolm Klassen, 23-4-2 (14), shockingly stopped durable 37 year old ex-five time world champion Manuel Medina, 67-16-1 (31), of Mexico in round two.

An IBF Minimumweight title eliminator was decided when Ronald Barrera, 24-5-1 (16), KO'd Zukisani Kwayiba, 11-1 (7), in the second frame.

Former IBF Super Feather Champ Mzonke Fana, 28-4 (11), returned from a world title loss to Cassius Baloyi by banging out Victor Manon, 3-9-2 (2), in the third round of a scheduled eight.

WBC International Featherweight Champion Jeffrey Mathebula will drop a division to fight Mexican Julio Zarate in an IBF Junior Featherweight Title Eliminator on August 29. The venue has not been announced as the promotional rights for the fight are to be decided by purse bids to be held at the IBF convention in Germany on May 31. More...