After piling up 12 wins in 12 fights at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., hometown hero Randy “El Matador” Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) went on the road in search of a world championship. On October 25, it was mission accomplished for “El Matador” after he defeated England’s Stuart Hall in Monte Carlo. On Friday, February 27, the conquering hero returns to Indio’s Fantasy Springs Resort Casino to defend his IBF Bantamweight World Championship for the first time against Alberto “Metro” Guevara (18-2, 6 KOs) in a 12-round homecoming bout, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and televised by FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.
“This is a night I’ve dreamed about for a long time, and I always said that the only thing better than winning a world title at home would be defending it there,” said Caballero. “I’m going to be tough and impress my fans at Fantasy Springs.”
“Randy Caballero is a good, young champion and he’s fighting in his backyard, but I feel like this is my time,” said Guevara. “I like being the underdog, and that will make my victory sweeter on February 27.”
“The fans at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino have watched Randy Caballero grow up as a fighter, so after he won a world title, our first order of business was bringing his first title defense back here,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions. “It’s going to be a great night and a celebration of an exciting young champion, but Alberto Guevara knows what it’s going to take to beat Caballero, and he’s going to give everything he has to take the title.”
Tickets for the event, priced at $105, $75, $55, $45 and $35, and go on sale December 26, at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
A former amateur star, Randy “El Matador” Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) has been a fighter to watch ever since his amateur days, and once he turned professional in 2010, he lived up to all of the hype. He dominated his opposition both at home and abroad. A former WBC Youth Intercontinental and NABO champion, Caballero earned a shot at a world title in April by stopping Kohei Oba in eight rounds in Kobe, Japan and in October he defeated Stuart Hall via unanimous decision in Monte Carlo to win the vacant IBF crown. On February 27 the 24-year-old puts his belt on the line for the first time.
A professional fighter since 2009, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico’s Alberto “Metro” Guevara (18-2, 6 KOs) is a rugged warrior who battled his way up the bantamweight ladder, earning his first shot at a world title in 2012. Guevara lost a hard-fought decision to Leo Santa Cruz, but two wins over Jose Tirado and Jonathan Vidal put him right back at the top of the class. On February 27, following a hard-fought world title bout with Shinsuke Yamanaka, the 24-year-old Guevara hopes the third time is the charm against Caballero.
