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Best I Faced: Ivan Calderon

Left to right: Felix "Tito" Trinidad, Juan Manuel Lopez and two-division world titlist (and former RING junior flyweight champion) Ivan Calderon. Photo credit: Joel Colon/PR Best Boxing
Fighters Network
29
Sep

For much of his pro career Ivan Calderon was lauded for his considerable boxing skills, labeled as one of the best pure boxers in the sport.

During his career, he won the WBO strawweight and junior flyweight titles, becoming a firm favorite of the Puerto Rican people.

Calderon was born and raised in the municipal of Guaynabo in the north of Puerto Rico and, from a young age, he was involved in trouble.

“I did a lot of street fighting and, one day, my brother invited me to a gym.” Calderon told RingTV.com. through Aleudiro Rosario. “He quit and I stayed. I recognized that I was born to box. At the age of 17, I decided to get serious about my career in boxing.”



The diminutive southpaw enjoyed a successful amateur career – medaling at the Pan-American and Central American games – going 110-20. His amateur days culminated with an appearance at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, disappointingly losing in the opening round.

Calderon embarked on his pro career debuting in February of 2001, on the undercard of Erik Morales-Guty Espadas Jr.

A little over two years later, he won the WBO 105-pound strap, unseating Eduardo Ray Marquez, winning a ninth round technical decision on the undercard of the HBO Pay-Per-View between Oscar De La Hoya-Yori Boy Campas.

 

 

All told, “El Niño De Hierro” (“Iron Boy”) made 11 successful defenses of his crown, spanning over four years, fighting in Puerto Rico, the United States and Colombia, besting compatriot and former champion Alex Sanchez, Mexican Roberto Carlos Leyva and former IBF 105-pound champion Daniel Reyes.

In the summer of 2007, Calderon elected to challenge himself, stepping up to junior flyweight where he met WBO kingpin Hugo Cazares. A close battle ensued, with Calderon eking out a split decision over his much larger adversary.

Every fighter has a night when everything comes together. For Calderon it was in his second title defense.

“I consider my best performance was with Nelson Dieppa,” he said. “I won all 12 rounds.”

After his boxing clinic against Dieppa, the Puerto Rican granted Cazares a rematch. After seven nip-and-tuck rounds, Calderon was ahead before an accidental headbutt opened a deep laceration on his forehead, curtailing the fight. Calderon was awarded a technical decision.

An unfortunate two-fight series followed against Rodel Mayol, both ending from clashes of heads in the mid-rounds, the first a draw, the second a Calderon win.

Calderon’s final championship victory, a wide points decision over Jesus Iribe, took place at Madison Square Garden, New York. It was Calderon’s 18th successful world title fight, the most of any Puerto Rican boxer, surpassing the legendary Wilfredo Gomez and Felix Trinidad. In total, Calderon engaged in 22 world titles fights, going 18-3-1 (2 knockouts).

Though he would win world titles at 105 and 108, Calderon wished he had been able to win another world title: “Something that I didn’t achieve that I wish I had was to fight and become a three-weight champion.”

Calderon craved a unification with former amateur rival Brian Viloria, who he held a 3-1 advantage over. Unfortunately the pair never met as professionals.

“The person I did not fight was Brian Viloria. I wanted to fight him because he was the WBC champ at 108 pounds and I wanted to unify the titles. I never fought him because he lost his title.”

With age catching up on him, losing three of his final four bouts, Calderon retired in 2012 with a very respectable mark of 35-3-1 (6 KOs).

“Now that I am retired from boxing, I work as an administrator at the Felix Pagan Pintor Gym run by the City of Guaynabo,” he said. “I help train about 40 to 50 young boxers.”

 

Ivan Calderon (left) trains with Jonathan Gonzalez. Photo credit: Joel Colon/PR Best Boxing

Ivan Calderon (left) trains with Jonathan Gonzalez. Photo credit: Joel Colon/PR Best Boxing

 

Calderon, 41, is married to Dennisse Maldonado; the couple have a young baby and he also has two children from his first marriage.

He graciously took time to speak to RingTV.com about the best he fought in 10 key categories.

 

BEST JAB

Rodel Mayol: As for the best jabber that I fought, it was Rodel Mayol at 108 pounds. His jab was long and straight.

BEST DEFENSE

Alberto Rossel: The best defense boxer was Alberto Rossel (a former world titlist at 108 pounds). Albert Rossel’s defense was so good because he knew how to block himself and not give me the opportunity to outpunch him.

FASTEST HANDS

Gerardo Verde: Gerardo Verde was a boxer with the fastest hands. They were everywhere.

FASTEST FEET

Verde: When I think about who had the fastest feet, I must say that it was me. I moved around the ring from left to right, right to left, and my opponents could not catch me. I didn’t have the height, reach or punch my opponents had but, with my movements, I frustrated them. Hit without getting hit, that was my model. (But of my opponents, I would say) Mexican Gerardo Verde, in 2005. He was a difficult rival. He had very good movement.

 

Former RING/WBA/WBO junior flyweight champion Giovani Segura (left) and Ivan Calderon. Photo credit: Joel Colon/PR Best Boxing

Former RING/WBA/WBO junior flyweight champion Giovani Segura (left) and Ivan Calderon. Photo credit: Joel Colon/PR Best Boxing

 

BEST CHIN

Giovani Segura: The best chin was Giovani Segura. I hit him with everything and he did not budge.

SMARTEST

Roberto Leyva: The smartest fighter I fought was myself. I was the smartest fighter! I think it was (Roberto) “Mako” Leyva. He came in good shape and fought a good fight. I had to use plan A, B, C, all the plans in that fight.

STRONGEST

Segura: As for the strongest boxer, it was Giovani Segura.

BEST PUNCHER

Hugo Cazares: Hugo Cazares was the best puncher I faced. His punches really rocked me.

BEST SKILLS

Leyva: What was so impressive about Leyva’s boxing skills was that he knew how to cut the ring and he knew how to block my punches.

BEST OVERALL

Leyva: The best overall and best boxer I faced was Roberto Carlos Leyva. I fought him at 105 pounds. This was my fourth title defense. He had everything a boxer should have. He had punch, speed, skills and malice. In the fifth round, I thought I died. But I survived and won unanimously!

Aleudiro Rosario helped coordinate this feature. RingTV.com appreciates his assistance.

 

 

Former RING/WBA/WBC junior welterweight champion/current WBC welterweight titlist Danny Garcia (left) and Ivan Calderon. Photo credit: Xavier Garcia

Former RING/WBA/WBC junior welterweight champion/current WBC welterweight titlist Danny Garcia (left) and Ivan Calderon. Photo credit: Xavier Garcia

 

 

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright.

 

 

 

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