Felix Caraballo: I’m Going to Make Him Work
On June 9, Puerto Rican featherweight Felix “La Sombra” Caraballo (13-1-2, 9 KO’s) will be granted his very own dare to be great moment. On that date, Caraballo will take on WBO world featherweight champion “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KO’s) in the MGM Grand located in Las Vegas. La Sombra is very cognizant of the fact that very few are giving him a shot at victory over the highly touted champion.
“I feel great, I feel emotional…I just want to go to the ring and do my job.”
PLAY YOUR HAND
Caraballo doesn’t concern himself with the negative chatter in the least. In fact, not only does he have immense faith in his odds, La Sombra sacrificed a significant amount to tangle with Stevenson. Despite being a career featherweight, the bout June 9 will be staged at 130. This also means that Stevenson’s WBO title will not be on the line.
Without question, Caraballo is not happy about either situation. Yet, he is still thankful to have the opportunity. He realizes that if fortune is on his side, and he prevails over Fearless, his entire life will transform overnight. For Caraballo, fighting outside of his native Puerto Rico for the first time, above his desired weight class and for no belt is all well worth the risk.
“It’s a little bit disappointing not fighting for that title. That’s every boxers dream, fighting for a title shot. But I’ll be fighting him in 130 without that title because it could open for me a lot of doors. So, I’m going to get this great opportunity, I’m going to give it all and I know that if we win, we could open all the doors. We could have more fights and better fights.”
“…I know there is not a lot of video about me, nobody knows about me a lot. Been doing my career here in PR [Puerto Rico], but I don’t think that is going to be a problem. I think that when we get to the fight, we are going to do our job.”
“…I know I am going in with a great boxer. He’s got speed, he’s got technique, but I am going to work. He’s going to make me work and I am going to make him work. I know it’s going to be a great fight and I get motivated because I know that this opportunity doesn’t happen twice.”
By: Bakari Simpson
