Alberto Puello Calderón Bio
Alberto Puello Calderón, born on 22 July 1994, is a Dominican professional boxer who competes in the super-lightweight division. Nicknamed “La Avispa” (The Wasp), he is a two-time super-lightweight world champion, having held the WBA (World Boxing Association) super-lightweight title from 2022 to 2023 and the WBC (World Boxing Council) super-lightweight title from 2024 to 2025. Puello made his professional debut in 2015 and built a reputation as a crafty southpaw with strong decision-making skills and dependable power.
Standing 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall with a reach of 71 inches (180 cm), Puello combines technical precision with a patient fighting style. His record of 24 wins and 1 loss, with 10 victories coming by knockout, reflects a boxer who can finish opponents but is equally comfortable going the distance. He remains one of the most accomplished Dominican fighters of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Alberto Puello Calderón was born on 22 July 1994 in San Juan de la Maguana, a city in the western Dominican Republic known for producing competitive athletes. Growing up in a country with a deep boxing tradition, Puello was exposed to the sport at an early age, watching local fighters and training in community gyms. The Dominican Republic has produced many world champions, and that rich environment helped shape his early interest in boxing.
From his teenage years, Puello dedicated himself to amateur boxing, refining the southpaw stance that would later become a signature element of his professional style. His family supported his athletic ambitions, and he channeled his energy into structured training rather than a traditional academic path. By the time he was ready to turn professional, he had developed the discipline, footwork, and ring intelligence that would define his career.
Path to Professional Boxing
Puello made his professional debut on 7 March 2015 against Marcos Hernandez, winning by first-round technical knockout and immediately announcing himself as a prospect to watch. Over the following 18 months, he built an unbeaten 10–0 record, picking up experience against a steady stream of regional opponents. His rapid early progress demonstrated both finishing power and the ability to adapt to different styles.
On 24 February 2017, Puello faced Abrahan Peralta for the vacant WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino super-lightweight titles, capturing his first professional belts by an eighth-round stoppage. He continued stacking wins, including a first-round knockout of Ricardo Gutierrez in November 2017, and steadily climbed the WBA rankings. By 2019, he was positioned for a shot at interim world-level competition, marking his transition from regional prospect to legitimate contender.
Alberto Puello Calderón Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Puello’s opening years as a professional were marked by steady activity and consistent results. After his debut knockout of Marcos Hernandez, he racked up win after win, often stopping opponents inside the distance. His first title opportunity came against Abrahan Peralta in February 2017, and he made the most of it, winning the WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino super-lightweight belts.
Throughout 2017 and 2018, Puello defended those regional titles and stayed busy with non-title bouts, sharpening his skills against a variety of styles. He established a rhythm of training camps and fights that prepared him for the international level, and by the end of 2018, his record stood at a perfect 14–0.
WBA Interim Super-Lightweight Title (2019–2021)
On 27 July 2019, Puello faced undefeated Jonathan Alonso at the Coliseo Carlos “Teo” Cruz in Santo Domingo for the WBA interim super-lightweight title. In the main event of a Dominican card, he won a unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 115–113 in his favor. The victory established him as a recognized world-level champion and elevated his standing on the global scene.
He made his first interim title defense against Cristian Rafael Coria on 17 December 2020, winning by seventh-round stoppage after Coria retired at the end of the round. His second and final interim defense came on 21 July 2021 against Jesus Antonio Rubio, a one-sided unanimous decision with all three judges scoring 120–107. On 25 August 2021, the WBA eliminated its interim champion designations, and Puello was stripped of the interim belt, but he remained at the top of the contender rankings.
WBA Super-Lightweight Champion (2022–2023)
When undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor was stripped of his WBA title, Puello was ordered to face Batyr Akhmedov for the vacant championship on 20 August 2022. The fight was originally slated for the undercard of an Adrien Broner and Omar Figueroa Jr. welterweight bout, giving Puello one of the biggest platforms of his career. He delivered, winning a split decision with two judges scoring 117–111 in his favor, and became the first super-lightweight champion from the Dominican Republic.
His reign was disrupted in 2023. Scheduled to defend against Rolando Romero on 13 May, Puello tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance on 19 April 2023. He was named champion-in-recess on 10 May and received a six-month suspension on 22 June, forcing him to vacate the WBA belt.
WBC Super-Lightweight Champion (2024–2025)
Puello returned to championship form on 15 June 2024, defeating Gary Antuanne Russell by split decision for the interim WBC super-lightweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The win was a major statement against a fellow undefeated contender. On 24 June 2024, after Devin Haney was declared “WBC World Champion in Recess,” Puello was elevated to full WBC super-lightweight champion.
He made his first WBC title defense on 1 March 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, against Sandor Martín, winning by split decision. On 12 July 2025, Puello made his second defense against Subriel Matías at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, losing by majority decision with two judges scoring 115–113 for Matías and a third scoring 114–114. The defeat ended his WBC title reign.
Alberto Puello Calderón Career Wins
Across his professional career, Alberto Puello Calderón has compiled a record of 24 wins and 1 loss, with 10 of those wins coming by knockout and 14 by decision. His victories span regional titles, interim world championships, and full world title reigns, reflecting a fighter who has consistently performed at the highest levels of the super-lightweight division.
Super-Lightweight Highlights
Puello’s WBA super-lightweight reign began in August 2022 with a split-decision win over Batyr Akhmedov, making him the first Dominican champion in the division. After vacating the WBA belt in 2023, he returned to claim the WBC super-lightweight title in June 2024 by defeating Gary Antuanne Russell by split decision. His most recent super-lightweight victory came in March 2025, a split-decision win over Sandor Martín at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Other Wins & Performances
Before his world title runs, Puello captured the WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino super-lightweight titles, beginning with an eighth-round stoppage of Abrahan Peralta in February 2017. He also won the WBA interim super-lightweight title in 2019 with a unanimous decision over Jonathan Alonso and defended that interim belt twice, against Cristian Rafael Coria and Jesus Antonio Rubio. Earlier in his career, he made his United States debut on 18 December 2021, defeating Ve Shawn Owens by unanimous decision at The Armory in Minneapolis.
Alberto Puello Calderón Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Alberto Puello Calderón’s immediate family remain limited. He was raised in San Juan de la Maguana in the western Dominican Republic, a region with a strong tradition of producing competitive boxers, and his family supported his early pursuit of the sport.
Personal Life
Puello is known professionally by the nickname “La Avispa” (The Wasp), a moniker that reflects his quick, stinging style in the ring. He continues to live and train in the Dominican Republic, where he remains an active figure in the country’s vibrant boxing community.
2025 Season Performance
Alberto Puello Calderón entered 2025 as the reigning WBC super-lightweight champion following his June 2024 victory over Gary Antuanne Russell. His first major appearance of the year came on 1 March 2025, when he defended the WBC title against Sandor Martín at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, winning by split decision in a closely contested bout. The victory extended his reign and kept him among the elite fighters in the super-lightweight division.
His second title defense, scheduled for 12 July 2025 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, ended in a majority-decision loss to Subriel Matías. Two judges scored the fight 115–113 for Matías, while a third scored it 114–114, costing Puello his WBC belt. Despite the setback, his competitive performances throughout 2025 reinforced his reputation as a top-tier super-lightweight.
Looking ahead, Puello is scheduled to challenge Dalton Smith for the WBC super-lightweight title in Sheffield, England, on 6 June 2026, giving him a clear opportunity to regain championship status. His 2025 campaign, though ending in a loss, demonstrated his durability and skill against world-class opposition.