Randy "El Matador" Caballero looks to rise

Unbeaten bantamweight Randy “El Matador” Caballero steps out of the shadows next month when he fights former champion Stuart Hall for the IBF championship on the Golden Gloves “Title Tornado” tournament in Monte Carlo on October 25.

Just 23, the American (21-0, 13 KOs) has already stepped into dangerous territory, having stunned Kohei Oba in an official IBF eliminator in Japan in April. This time it is all on the line as he seeks to deliver on the rich promise he showed as an amateur when he won numerous US national championship titles and captured bronze at the world championships.

“It’s a dream come true,” said the Golden Boy fighter from his home in Coachella Valley, California. “I’ve seen Hall fight, he’s been a world champion, but his time is done. It’s time for me to come up. I’m a young fighter and I’m ready to put on a show in Monte Carlo.”

Caballero said he had no problem travelling to Japan for his eliminator – “I was prepared to do what it takes” – and he was equally ready to go to Hall’s UK hometown, until the bout was switched to Europe.

He agrees that Hall (16-3-2, 7 KOs) comes to fight, as fans saw in his outstanding title scrap with Paul Butler in June. “Style-wise, it’s gonna be a great fight. I’m more hungry and I’m gonna be strong. He’s never faced someone like me; I’m gonna take it to him.”

Fans unfamiliar with Caballero can expect to see a boxer who can box or brawl, whatever the situation demands. “I break fighters down,” he says confidently.

Caballero, who is trained by his father Marcos, an ex-fighter, has boxed since the age of eight. He reckons he had over 150 amateur fights, with “no more than 10 or 11 losses”.

His transition into the professional ranks was explosive – his first opponent was blown out in 45 seconds – and he has since beaten contenders like Luis Maldonado and Manuel Roman on his way to the #1 ranking in both the IBF and WBO.