By Jim Dower: WBA World featherweight champion Celestino Caballero (35-4, 23 KO’s) has a tough first title defense against Japan’s Satoshi Hasono (21-1, 15 KO’s) on December 31st at the Bunka Gym in Yokohama, Japan. Caballero, 35, recently defeated Jonathan Victor Barros by a 12 round unanimous decision last October, and is already prepared to get back in the ring against at the end of this month on New Year ’s Eve.

Caballero was at one considered the best fighter in super bantamweight division. However, in moving up in weight to the featherweight division the 35-year-old Caballero has lost two out of his last three fights to Jason Litzau and Barros. To his credit, Caballero avenged his earlier loss to Barros by beating him by a fairly lopsided 12 round decision. But Caballero is going to have a lot hard work cut out for him against the all action Hosono.

This guy not only throws a lot of punches but he’s got excellent power as well. Where Hosono, 5’7”, may have problems is in the height and reach department, as Caballero, 5’11”, will have a four inch height and a seven inch reach advantage against Hosono. This means that Hosono is going to have to apply a lot of pressure on Caballero to try and negate his height and reach on the inside.

Unfortunately, Caballero is an excellent inside fighter and has a superb uppercut that he can throw with either hand with knockout power. We a little of this in Caballero’s fights against Steve Molitor and Daud Cino Yordan, both of which Caballero hurt on the inside with uppercuts.