Pelenchin defends title

PANAMA. Panamanian boxing champion Celestino “Pelenchin” Caballero will defend his super bantamweight title today against South African challenger Jeffrey Mathebula, in a special night for the legendary Panamanian boxer Roberto Duran.

The former world champion, aka “Mano de Piedra” (hand of stone) will not be fighting, but will be paid homage in the re-inauguration of the gymnasium named after him.

The former Nuevo Panama gym, built in the 70s, will be renamed “Arena Roberto Duran” after undergoing a $16.5 million remodeling.

“This is the greatest honor for a legend like Roberto Duran,” the general secretary of the National Sports Institute, Alonso Solis, told AP.

President Martin Torrijos will attend the re-inauguration of the gym, located in the Irving Saladino (long-jump Olympic champion) sports city, which includes the Rommel Fernandez football stadium, also being remodeled.

Duran, 57, who was the best Panamanian boxer of all times, joked that Caballero has no other choice but to win. “He can’t let me down,” he said.

Caballero responded by asking Duran not to worry, saying he was going to “triturate” the 29-year-old South African in the boxing ring.

“I just hope Mathebula brought an armor because I am going to hit him like no one has hit him before, I am going to break a rib,” warned 32-year-old Caballero.