Felix Caraballo is heading to Las Vegas knowing he’s playing with house money.
A longshot assignment awaits his arrival in the gambling town, as the 33-year old from the coastal town of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico faces unbeaten featherweight titlist Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7KOs) on June 9, live on ESPN (7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Conference Center Ballroom in Las Vegas. Their non-title bout will be contested in the junior lightweight division, intended as means for Stevenson to test the waters at a new weight.
Caraballo enters as a largely anonymous opponent—perhaps befitting his “La Sombra” ring moniker (“The Shadow”)—and with little expectations from the average boxing fan. All of that, he insists, will work to his advantage on fight night.
“I don’t got no pressure,” Caraballo (13-1-2, 9KOs) claimed during a recent media conference call to discuss the fight, where Stevenson is as high as a 100-1 favorite in some sports books. “I feel that this moment, I have to give it my all. It is a great opportunity. I’m gonna fight, I’m gonna give it my all on June 9.
“I never thought we were going to fight this year again with all the problems. When I got the call, I got all excited. I started training hard for this fight.”
A five-fight win streak precedes what is by far the biggest challenge of Caraballo’s six-year career, which has been spent entirely in Puerto Rico. Nine of his last ten starts have taken place in his hometown of Mayaguez, nearly the westernmost point of the island which also hosted his lone career loss—an eight-round decision to Pedro Marquez in January 2018. His first fight back in the win column—a 3rd round knockout of Mexico’s Mario Briones in July 2018—is about as good as it gets on an otherwise paper-thin résumé.
The lopsided odds reflect as such, as he gets a primetime assignment versus one of the sport’s best young stars. Stevenson entered the pro ranks as a blue-chip prospect following a stellar amateur career crowned by his hauling a Silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Caraballo manning the other corner on Tuesday is not based on his talent level, but simply because he’s available and meets the allowable travel requirements. A part of him knows it, but also knows what he signed up for and is fully prepared to make the most of his first—and perhaps only—shot at stardom.
“I know that I’m going with a great boxer,” acknowledges Caraballo. “He’s got speed and great technique. He’ll work hard and I know he’ll make me work. An opportunity like this doesn’t come twice.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox