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PELENCHIN TKO'S FRANKIE IN 'FIRE IN MEXICALI' DUEL By Jonathan Davis PhilBoxing.com Wed, 02 Sep 2009 Last Saturday, August 29, 2009, at the open air Plaza de Toros Arena in Calafia, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero made his 11th successful defense of the IBF/WBA Super Featherweight title after his gritty, but outgunned Mexican challenger, Francisco "Frankie" Leal, bleeding from a deep cut above the right eye, finally heeded his corner's advice and surrendered on his stool at the start of the 9th round, for an official technical knockout victory for the Panamanian Champion. Dubbed "Fuego En Mexicali" in the pre-fight promotions of Nacho Huizar's KO Entertainment, fire literally spewed in the ring all throughout eight gruelling rounds as the Mexican challenger, cheered on by the boisterous hometown crowd, aggressively attacked Celestino Caballero in every round, forcing the champion to engage in close quarter combat each time he is cornered. However, his bravado and the crowd's chants of "Frankie" "Frankie" did little to change the outcome of the fight. The much superior Panamanian Champion finding his rythym early, knocked Leal down with a perfectly timed right straight to the jaw with seconds left in the first round, then outpunched him the rest of the way. He also inflicted a cut on the challenger's right eye in the sixth round and aggravated it on the eight forcing Texan Referee Rafael Ramos to call two timeouts for the Ring Physician to inspect the injury. 
Caballero (R) puts on the pressure on Leal during Saturday's action at Plaza de Toros in Mexicali. 
Officials of the fight (L-R): Vaughn La Prade, IBF Judge US, Aaron Kizer, IBF Director/Fight Supervisor US, Guy Jutras, WBA Fight Supervisor Canada, Rafael Ramos, IBF/WBA Referee US, Jonny Davis, IBF Judge US, Carlos Cruce, WBA Judge US. Ringside Officials' scores at the time of stoppage read 79-72 from IBF Judges Vaughn La Prade of Virginia and Jonny Davis of California, and 79-71 from WBA Judge Carlos Cruce of Florida, all for Celestino Caballero. All three judges gave the 4th round to the challenger, when Pelenchin slowed down a bit, obviously feeling the sweltering Mexicali heat and allowed Leal to take the lead and which temporarily brought the crowd back to life. The IBF and WBA Championship belts were separately awarded to the winner Celestino Caballero on top of the ring by the IBF Director and Fight Supervisor Aaron Kizer of Phoenix, Arizona and also by the WBA Director and Fight Supervisor Guy Jutras of Canada. Pelenchin's camp is now reportedly pursuing a possible October 2009 unfication bout with the reigning WBO Champion, Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico. In the chief supports, WBC Female Super Flyweight Champion Ana Maria "La Guerrera" Torres of Mexico kept her title with a unanimous decision win over Californian challenger Ava "Lady of Boxing" Knight. Likewise, in the all Mexican duel for the IBF Regional Latino Featherweight Championship, Gilberto Sanchez outlasted Carlos "El Salado" Yanez by unanimous decision. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jonathan Davis.  |
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