Walter Tello


Walter Tello is a Panamanian professional light flyweight boxer. He is a former WBO Latino Minimumweight and WBC Latino Light Flyweight champion.

Professional career

Tello made his professional debut in 2006. After a quick 6-1 start to his career, he fought veteran Edwin Diaz for his WBO Latino minimumweight title, and won by TKO on February 23, 2008 for his first belt. After four more wins, he received a shot at the interim WBO Minimumweight title, but lost to Mexican fighter Manuel Vargas in Hermosillo by UD on February 14, 2009. It was his first fight outside Panama.
One year later, he received another world title shot when he fought Giovani Segura, again in Mexico, for his WBA Light Flyweight title. The bout, held on February 20, 2010, was stopped in Segura's favor in the third round after he landed several punishing uppercuts and hooks on the young Panamanian.
Tello lost consecutive bouts to world title contender Carlos Melo in November 2010 and March 2011, both by decision. However, Tello followed this up by defeating fellow countrymen Carlos Ortega twice within a span of a 17 months. This earned him a third world title shot. He fought Alberto Rossel for the interim WBA Light Flyweight belt in Callao, Peru on March 16, 2013. During the later rounds of the fight, Tello came close to getting knocked down various times, but survived all 12 rounds. However, the judges scored the bout 118-115, 118-114 and 117-111, all in favor of the hometown favorite, Rossel.
Tello won his second championship belt when he defeated Erick Flores in Panama City on June 4, 2014 by fifth-round TKO to win the vacant WBC Latino Light Flyweight title. Flores abandoned the fight after an injury to his right shoulder.
Tello traveled to Shanghai to fight Randy Petalcorin for the interim WBA Light Flyweight title. Tello was knocked down in the seventh round with a right hook. Tello rose up, but was knocked down again shortly thereafter by a left cross. After the second knockdown, referee Raul Caiz, Sr. stopped the fight and awarded Petalcorin with the belt.

Professional boxing record

Personal life

Tello is a part-time police officer in his native Panama.