Photo by Jesse Garcia/Team Caballero
A 23-year-old undefeated prospect entered the arena in Tokyo, Japan last April with fear and intimidation overwhelming him as he was about to fight in an IBF title-eliminator bout.
This young fighter had only his small team behind him to cheer him on, but many more waiting at home. Home being all the way in Coachella and Indio, California. Home was the only place he had fought for the beginning of his career, and now he was going halfway across the world to try and succeed at the next level.
What put the fighter’s mind at ease were the small claps and welcoming sounds from the people of Japan as he walked into the ring. The crowd of course was screaming and jumping for their own fighter, Kohei Oba, but after the bout, the person they cheered for was the winner, Randy “El Matador” Caballero (22-0, 13KOs).
Caballero took a victory by TKO in the eighth round, and also won the hearts of the crowd. “They were taking pictures with me and telling me I was going to be a world champion, and that was all I needed to take with me to Monte Carlo,” said Caballero.
Monte Carlo would be his next stop, where he would win that IBF belt and have it placed over his waist. His opponent was the tough Stuart Hall from the UK, who took Caballero 12 rounds for the first time in his career.
“I knew he was going to come strong and put up a tough fight, which he did. He made me fight hard for that belt, but I thank God I pulled it off,” said Caballero, who won by unanimous decision and became the new IBF World Bantamweight champion.
Where it all began for the young champ was fighting in the living room and in the yard of his parent’s home in Coachella with his older brothers. Marcos Caballero, a former boxer from Nicaragua, watched proudly and knew the best way to help his sons learn the sweet science was to teach them.
With boxing blood running thru his veins, it was at the age of eight that Randy stepped into the ring to begin his young amateur career. Caballero admits now that his childhood wasn’t average.
“I fought every weekend in tournaments, I didn’t get to hang out with my friends or splurge and eat junk food. It’s made me a strong man today, but at the time I didn’t get to really be a kid.”
That dedication however, gave Caballero the great opportunity to be advised and signed with Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya.
With his dad as his trainer and manager, a beautiful wife and three gorgeous babies behind him, Caballero–now 24–isolates himself in training camp just a few minutes away from home.
“I do my fight camps at my parent’s house about 10 minutes away from my house. I have to say goodbye to my kids and wife and all distractions. It’s really hard but I do this for my family. The more I win, the better of a future they have,” says Caballero.
Training camp is the ultimate sacrifice for all involved, as his wife Yaniva, takes care of their three children and also tends to the business they opened up last Septembe, “El Matador Cutz,” the ultimate man cave and barbershop in Indio.
“I’ve always wanted to open a barbershop, and I enjoy hanging out in there with my boys, and just being myself. I can only fight for so long, there are other things I want to be a part of. Business is going great, the community here is so good to me and supportive.”
Caballero has a supportive and proud community indeed. Coming back home from Monte Carlo, Caballero was given “The Key to the City of Coachella” and appointed the Grand Marshall of the Christmas Parade.
“I know they’re real proud of me, I’m always taking pictures with people everywhere I go. I thank God for my community; I know they’re going to be here through thick and thin.”
Photo by Hogan Photos
Thankfully, the community doesn’t have to stream their fighter’s next bout. They can proudly cheer on their champion at home at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio. Caballero defends his IBF title for the first time on February 27 against Alberto Guevara (19-2, 7 KOs).
“I know he’s going to try and bring a tough fight, but I’ve traveled around the world to get this title, and I’m not going to let it go,” says Caballero.
While Caballero has plans to travel back to Nicaragua with his family, where he’s already visited once before as a guest of the President, he keeps his main focus on the upcoming fight with Guevara. After that, Caballero has his eyes on the ultimate goal.
“I said it, after I won my title, I want ‘em all. I’ll take on anybody, if you have a title I want it, unify it, whatever. I’m ready to fight whoever I need to, so my name can continue to move on up.”
With that attitude and ambition, it’s easy to cheer on Caballero and clear to see why his fan base continues to grow from California and around the world. At 24, there is so much that lies ahead for this young champion, but for now it’s just one fight at a time to take over the 118-pound weight division.
