Cabellero vs Gamboa

Caballero might move up

Unified junior featherweight titleholder Celestino Caballero (31-2, 22 KOs), fresh from a dominant fourth-round TKO of Steve Molitor to unify belts Nov. 21, says he is ready to fight any of the top 122-pounders.

"Israel Vazquez, Juan Manuel Lopez and Rafael Marquez are the ones I want to fight," he said. "I don't care what order they come in, but I won't stop calling for them until they step up and prove themselves to be the warriors they say they are."

The problem, however, is that none of them seem interested in facing Panama's 5-foot-11 "Towering Inferno."

Celestino Caballero

Chris Cozzone/FightWireImages

"OK, who's next?" Celestino Caballero wants to unify the belts at 122 pounds.

"In an era where world class fighters run away from unification bouts, Celestino is running to unify, and he should be commended for such a stance," said Leon Margules of Caballero co-promoter Seminole Warriors Boxing. "Then again, I'm not surprised that the other beltholders don't want to fight the biggest, strongest, and best 122-pounder in the world -- Celestino Caballero. I welcome the representatives of Vazquez, Lopez, and Marquez, to help us unify the title, and give the fans the fights they want to see."

Since those bouts appear unlikely in the near future, Margules told ESPN.com that Caballero might take his next fight at featherweight against Yuriorkis Gamboa, the electrifying 2004 Cuban Olympic gold medalist who has moved quickly up the ranks as a professional.

Margules said he has a deal for Caballero to fight Gamboa pending a television network buying the fight. Margules said Showtime, which televised Caballero's victory against Molitor, is interested in Caballero against Lopez or Marquez (Vazquez is on the shelf for several months with an eye injury), but is also considering Gamboa, who has appeared on HBO in two of his last three bouts, for a possible March or May fight.

Margules said Gamboa would have to win his ESPN2 fight against Roger Gonzalez on Jan. 9 in the "Friday Night Fights" season premier.

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Interesting match-up I can see why Celestino would want to do it with all the other top 122 busy fighting each other. Gamboa by UD.