28.05.08 – By Joseph Boyle: Ivan Calderon has not had it easy. He had a tough upbringing in an even tougher environment, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. But when you only stand 5 feet tall, some might say the only way to go is up. Well ‘Iron Boy’ has certainly bought into that and, since the Sydney Olympics in 2000, he has climbed higher and higher with each passing chapter of his extraordinary life and career.
Calderon had a good amateur career, qualifying for the aforementioned Olympics only to lose his first encounter in the light-flyweight division. Having said that, a notable scalp of his as an amateur was none other than his team-mate in Sydney, Miguel Cotto. They once fought at 107 pounds (can you imagine Cotto being that small?!), with Cotto later admitting that his now best friend had ‘kicked his ass’! Praise indeed..
On turning pro, hopes were high among Puerto Ricans that Calderon could emulate men like Carlos Ortiz, Wilfred Benitez, Hector Camacho and Felix Trinidad (to name but a few), and become yet another Puerto Rican World Champion. He didn’t disappoint. In his 16th pro outing, he defeated Eduardo Marquez to snatch his WBO Strawweight Title. However, this was no mugging. It was a thorough demolition of an opponent who had sizable reach and height advantages, which is the norm in any fight featuring Iron Boy. Marquez was stopped on cuts, demoralised, bloodied and left to wonder how he had been penned in to fight a boxer like Calderon in his first defence. Calderon was ecstatic at the end, left without a sign of battle on his face, and received his first call of congratulations from ‘Tito’ himself. Calderon defended his Strawweight title 11 times between 2003 and 2007, fighting on the undercard’s of men such as Barrera, Morales and Oscar De La Hoya. Hungry for a new challenge, he decided to move up to the Light-flyweight division.
For those of you who believe in the notion that the better boxer, and not the bigger puncher, will always carry the day, look no further than Bayamon, PR on the 25th of August 2007. The scene was set, the WBO and ring titles at Light-Flyweight were at stake, and the two men met in the centre of the ring. Hugo Fidel Cazares, the defending champion, stared down at his opponent from a full half a foot away. I frantically studied Calderon to see did he have a slingshot at the ready to slay this giant, but ‘Iron Boy’ had other ideas. Standing in the pocket, he would fire combinations with unrivalled hand speed, while avoiding Cazares’ retaliating bombs. By the mid to late rounds, Calderon controlled the fight on the scorecards, but started to tire. Cazares gave Calderon all the trouble he needed, scored a knockdown in the 8th, and was planting his feet as he threw his punches. The hometown crowd watched and waited for the killer blow to land, but Calderon proved to be too canny for the champion, and held on until the end. There were no complaints when an incredible split decision victory was announced for Calderon, who had accomplished a great feat. Cazares will get the chance to avenge his loss later this year. ‘Iron Boy’ has defended his title twice since, beating Juan Esquer and then going on to comprehensively outbox compatriot Nelson Dieppa last month. Needless to say, both men were 4 inches taller than Calderon.
It is not for me to criticise the acknowledged greatest fighter in the world, Floyd Mayweather Jr., nor will I do so here. However, he is recognised as the pound for pound greatest boxer today by The Ring magazine. Calderon does not feature in the top ten. See what I’m getting at? I am of the opinion that there is not a boxer in the world today that can match Calderon for pure pugilistic skill. Why? The aim of the game is to hit and not get hit, preferably being able to hurt your opponent when you perform the former. The problem for Calderon is that he does not pack a punch, and is consistently under-sized against every opponent he has faced. Ask yourself this question, ladies and gentlemen, how would Floyd fare if he frequently fought men that 6’1, 6’2 or even 6’3?
Ivan Calderon is now 33, and about to face a man intent on revenge who is a full 6 inches taller than he. It is my hope that he would win, or should he lose, not to get hurt. Knowing ‘Iron Boy’, he will give us all another timely reminder of why boxing is a test of mind more than of body, of brains more than of brawn.
P.S. Spare a thought for Miguel Canto, the legendary Mexican Flyweight, who stood an inch taller than Calderon. Canto was one of the great defensive masters, outpointing his opponents in many a title fight, much like Calderon. However, Canto is not as fondly remembered in his home country as men like Carlos Zarate and Ruben Olivares, your quintessential all-action Mexican banger. How he must envy national hero Calderon. If there is a lesson to be learned in this, it is to never overlook the David’s of the boxing world, sometimes they are the biggest men of all.