Randy “El Matador” Caballero suffered an ankle injury during training camp and has withdrawn from his IBF Bantamweight World Title defense scheduled for Feb. 27 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. The Feb. 27 event will proceed, with a new main event to be announced shortly and a full card of exciting fighters featured on the live FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes telecast from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
“I was very excited to bring my first title defense to my hometown for all my fans, friends and family who have been on this journey with me from the beginning,” said Randy Caballero. “I am devastated that this injury is stopping me from continuing this journey; however I expect to make a full recovery from surgery and will be ready to face any opponent that wants to stand in my way. I promise my fans that I will back and better than ever!”
As previously announced the Golden Boy Live! card will feature the exciting rising star Diego De La Hoya (8-0, 6 KOs) against Manuel Roman (17-3-3, 6 KOs) as the co-main super bantamweight eight-round event and Chinese heavyweight sensation Taishan (2-0, 2 KOs) will fight against Roy McCary (3-2, 3 KOs) in the opening four-round televised bout. Nick Arce (1-0, 1 KOs) fights in his second professional match against Lyonell Kelly (1-4-1) of Los Angeles, Calif. in a four-round lightweight bout. Finally, Oscar Negrete (7-0, 3 KOs), will make his third appearance at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino as he faces Hemet’s Fernando Fuentes (5-3, 1 KO) in a six-round bantamweight contest.
Fans in attendance will also get a taste of the best talent from the local area as well as the professional debut of two-time Brazilian Olympic team member Everton Lopes in a four-round super lightweight fight against an opponent yet to be announced. Local favorite, Neeco “The Rooster” Macias (7-0, 3 KOs) will face fellow unbeaten Gabriel “Gato Salvaje” Lopez (3-0, 3 KOs) in a six-round super welterweight showdown. In the opener, scheduled for four rounds in the heavyweight division, Alex Rivera (1-0) of Coachella squares off with Los Angeles’ Richard Ballard (0-1).
