Iván Calderón (boxer)

Infobox Boxer
name=Iván Calderón


realname=Iván Calderón Marrero
nickname=Iron Boy
El Niño De Hierro
height=height|ft=5|in=0
weight=Light flyweight
reach=in to cm|num=63|abbr=yes|spell=American|precision=0|wiki=yes|ft=no
nationality=PUR
birth_date=Birth date and age|1975|1|27|df=y
birth_place=Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
death_date=
death_place=
home=Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
style=Southpaw
total=32
wins=32
KO=6
losses=0
draws=0
no contests=0

Iván Calderón Marrero (born January 27, 1975) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur Calderón represented Puerto Rico in international competitions and attended the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia. On May 3, 2003, he won the World Boxing Organization's minimumweight championship when he defeated Eduardo Marquez by technical decision. He defended this titled successfully fourteen times and was recognized as a "Super Champion" by the organization. On August 25, 2007, he ascended to the light flyweight division when he defeated Hugo Cázares for the WBO's light flyweight championship. Calderón successfully defended this title against Juan Esquer and Nelson Dieppa. Calderón is "The Ring's" light flyweight champion, as well as being ranked tenth on the publication's pound for pound list. [cite web|url = http://www.thering-online.com/ringpages/ratings2.html|title = "The Ring" Ratings|accessdate=2008-02-26|date = 2008-07-09|publisher ="The Ring"]

Personal life

Iván Calderón was born in the municipality of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and currently resides in a sector called "Las Americas" in Bayamón.cite book|quote="Un 29 de agosto hace diez años, luego de un quinceañero, le dije a mi suegra 'me la llevo'. Y aquí estamos juntos", dijo Calderón en una visita de El Nuevo Día a su residencia en la Urbanización Las Americas, en Bayamón|author=Hiram Alberto Torraca |title=Feliz y en paz |date=2007-08-31|publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish] Iván had a troubling childhood surrounded by violence and problems, which according to him has helped him develop more patience which has helped him in his personal life. [cite book|quote=Calderón, quien nunca ha ocultado que tuvo una niñez difícil y rodeada de problemas y violencia, aceptó que esa experiencia la ha llevado a su hogar, pero para evitar que eso ocurra.|author=Hiram Alberto Torraca |title=Feliz y en paz |date=2007-08-31|publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish] Calderón attended middle school in José Nevárez Landrón School, located in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. [cite book| title=Honran a Iván Calderón| publisher=El Nuevo Día|location=Puerto Rico | author=The Associated Press| date=2008-01-28] He is married to Wilma Laguna, the couple have two children, Wilvani and Iván junior.cite book|quote=Lo que pasa es que yo no le caía bien porque como a mí me gustaba siempre estar combinao, ella pensaba que yo era un negrito guillao. Y como yo me pasaba tirándole flores pero ella ni me miraba, yo también pensaba que ella era una orgullosa. Todo cambío cuando un día le dije que no tenia babila para darme un beso y lo hizo. Ahí comenzó todo. Luego de como cuatro meses de relación nos fuimos a vivir juntos", agregó Calderón ante la mirada de su esposa, sus hijos Wilvani e Iván Jr. y su suegra Luz Mercedes Quiñones.|author=Hiram Alberto Torraca |title=Feliz y en paz |date=2007-08-31|publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish] In a interview with "El Nuevo Día" he noted that he engaged Laguna on August 29, 1997 following a "quinceañero" and the couple married on February 5, 1999. According to him the couple had some disagreements when they met, based on some attitudes he presented, he also notes that he felt she was arrogant at first. However, on one day he decided to propose to her and after four months of establishing a relationship the couple moved in together. Calderón expressed that he is "too much of a house man" and claims that as a result of a rule established by his wife any kind of non-familiar activity is prohibited on Sundays. [cite book|quote="Los domingos son para la familia. Ese día es para estar con mi esposa y los nenes", dijo Calderón quien labora en el gimnasio Wilfredo Gómez de Guaynabo. "Ella (su esposa) puso ese término. Los domingos cero actividades", agregó Calderón.|author=Hiram Alberto Torraca |title=Feliz y en paz |date=2007-08-31|publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish] Iván spends the money he earns boxing on properties and he is associated with a company dedicated to satellite vehicle tracking. [cite book|quote=Calderón quien ha invertido su dinero en cinco propiedades y como socio de una compañia que se dedica al monitoreo por satélite de vehículos de motor, también tiene timpo para hacer de todo en el hogar.|author=Hiram Alberto Torraca |title=Feliz y en paz |date=2007-08-31|publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish] He is employed by the City of Guaynabo's Department of Sports and Recreation and has been involved in several youth-oriented charities in his native Puerto Rico, including lecturing in island schools and co-sponsoring a massive gift-giving effort in the town of Loiza's Three Kings festival in early 2006. As a result of his charitable efforts with children that live in poor communities he was awarded a special award at the World Boxing Organization's 2007 annual convention.cite web| url=http://www.wapa.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4182&Itemid=57| title=Calderón y de la Hoya reciben galardones| author=Associated Press| publisher=Televicentro| language=Spanish| date=2007-11-07| accessdate=2007-12-03]

Amateur career

Calderón lost to Brian Viloria once during his amateur boxing career, but defeated him three times before turning professional. In addition, Calderon competed as an international amateur in several tournaments, including the following:

* 1999 3rd place as a Light Flyweight at Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. Results were:
** Defeated Wilfrido Valez (Colombia) points
** Defeated Mendeo Winston (Dominican Republic) points
** Lost to Maikro Romero (Cuba) points
* 2000 represented Puerto Rico as a light flyweight at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Result was:
** Lost to Masara La Paene (Indonesia) points

Professional career

After turning professional, Calderón was frequently showcased on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" show. On July 1, 2001, Calderón defeated José Manuel Ramírez by unanimous decision. During this fight, he suffered an open wound over his right eyebrow, which required surgery. On May 3, 2003, Calderón became a world champion for the first time, defeating Eduardo Marquez by a technical decision in nine rounds at Las Vegas, as part of the de la Hoya-Campas undercard, to win the World Boxing Organization's world Strawweight title. [cite web| url=http://www.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/may09-03/ivan.htm| title=Ivan Calderon: Puerto Rico's New World Champion | author=Fiona Manning| publisher=La Prensa San Diego| date=2003-05-09| accessdate=2007-12-20] He had dropped Marquez twice before the end of the fight. Calderón retained his title by a 12 round decision in his first defense, on September 5, over Lorenzo Trejo of Mexico, at Caguas, Puerto Rico. In his second defense, held at Bayamón, he defeated former world champion Alex Sanchez by a unanimous twelve round decision. On March 20, 2004, he retained the championship with an eleventh round knockout win over former IBF world champion Edgar Cardenas, in Guaynabo. Before that fight, Calderón obtained his high school credit diploma. [cite web| url=http://www.zonai.com/noticia_mainm.asp?PH:681F496CFA5F42A686DD542D3DC4FC92&pos=m&title=BOXEO&catid=26| title=Iván Calderón repitió en la cima| author=Carlos González| publisher=Zonai| language=Spanish| date=2004-01-28| accessdate=2007-12-03]

On July 31, 2004, as part of the Morales-Hernandez undercard in Las Vegas, he retained his title once again, with a twelve round decision win over former world champion Roberto Leyva. [cite web| author=Luis Escobar| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2004/040731morales_hernandez.html| title=Morales Unifies Titles Defeats Hernandez| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2004-07-31| accessdate=2007-09-14] On November 23 of that year, he made his fifth defense, defeating Nicaraguan Carlos Fajardo by a twelve round unanimous decision. As part of the Barrera-Morales III undercard. His fight with Fajardo was shown live on HBO's Pay per view. On April 30, of 2005, he retained the title with an eighth round knockout victory over Noel Tunacao, a member of the Tunacao boxing family of the Philippines. [cite web| url=http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=346708| title=Calderón noqueó a Tuñacao en el octavo| publisher=Univision| date=2005-05-01| accessdate=2007-09-14] On September 25, he retained his title for the seventh time, with a twelve round unanimous decision over Mexico's Gerardo Verde, at Atlantic City, New Jersey. [cite web| author=John Gregg| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2005/050625mayweather_gatti.html| title=Mayweather Grinds Down Gatti In Six| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2005-06-25| accessdate=2007-09-14]

On December 10 of that year, Calderón once again retained the title, this time with a twelve round unanimous decision over former world champion Daniel Reyes. [cite web| url=http://www.elvoceromi.com/news.php?nid=8454| title=Iván Calderón retuvo su cetro sin problemas| publisher=El Vocero Hispano| language=Spanish| date=2005-12-16|accessdate=2007-09-14] Calderón began 2006 by defending his title successfully on February 18, with a twelve round unanimous decision over Isaac Bustos in Las Vegas. [cite web| author=Luis Escobar| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2006/060218margarito_gomez.html| title=Margarito Crushes Gomez In One| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2006-02-18| accessdate=2007-09-14] He would defend his title successfully twice in 2006 after his fight with Isaac Bustos. On April 29 against Miguel Tellez winning the fight by technical knock out thus gaining his sixth knock out victory. [cite book| author=Rey Colón| chapter=Deportes| title=Supercampeón Iván Calderón| publisher="El Vocero"| language=Spanish] He finished his boxing year on October 21 by defeating Jose Luis Varela of Venezuela by unanimous decision. [cite web| author=The Associated Press| url=http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=493711| title=De principio a fin| publisher=ESPN Deportes| date=2006-10-21| accessdate=2007-09-14] Following this fight the World Boxing Organization recognized him as a WBO Super Champion for reaching ten successful title defenses. [cite web| url=http://www.wbaonline.com/news/primera100907b.asp| title=El Campeón Tiene Su Corona| publisher=World Bpxing Association| language=Spanish| accessdate=2008-04-28] On his first fight of 2007 that took place on March 28 in Baranquilla, Colombia Calderón defeated Ronald Barrera by split decision. [cite web| author=The Associated Press| url=http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?chid=4&schid=1018&secid=1025&cid=850923| title=Calderón defendió con éxito cetro mínimo| publisher=Univision| date=2007-05-02| accessdate=2007-09-14] Following his fight against Barrera Calderón announced that he was interested in changing weight and challenge one of the champions in the Light Flyweight division thus finishing his minimum weight run after twelve successful defenses of the division's title. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/boxeo/accion_deportiva/nunca_me_tuvo/134280| title=“Nunca me tuvo en problemas”| author=José Ayala Gordián| publisher=Primera Hora| date=2007-12-03| accessdate=2007-12-03]

Light Flyweight division

On August 25, 2007 Calderón defeated Hugo Cázares by split decision to become the World Boxing Organization's Light Flyweight Champion. Calderón entered the ring accompanied by a display of fireworks, before a crowd that included several media personalities including Oscar de la Hoya. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26] The size difference between both pugilists was evident since the moment that they stood next to each other prior to the beginning of the fight. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26] Early in the fight Calderón's tactic consisted of connecting fast consecutive combinations while avoiding Cázares' punches. With this strategy he managed to stun Cazares with uppercuts and straight punches. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26] During the fight the crowd displayed support for Calderón, at one point chanting "Olé" when his adversary's punches missed. In the third round Cázares displayed a more fluid offensive, but in the fifth he presented a strategy that consisted of only throwing power punches which seemed to benefit Calderón. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26] In the seventh round Ivan's offensive pace slowed which benefited Hugo who improved on the offensive aspect. In the eighth round Cázares connected several hard punches which led to Calderón to rely on holds to slow his offense, in this round Cázares scored a knockdown. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26] In the ninth he was in a defensive stance, and during the last rounds he continued this pattern and only connected solidly in the tenth round while Cázares missed several of the punches he threw. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26] At the conclusion of the fight the judges awarded scores of 116-111 for Cázares and 115-112 twice for Calderón. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26] With this victory Iván became the eleventh Puerto Rican boxer to win multiple world championships and unified this championship with the minimum divion's one until he vacated it following the announcement that he was going to continue in the light flyweight division. [cite book| quote=| language=Spanish| title=Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| author=José A. Sánchez Fournier| pages=118-119| date=2007-08-26]

Calderón was successful on his first light flyweight title defense when he defeated Juan Esquer in a card that took place on December 1, 2007 in New Mexico. [cite book|quote=Iván 'Iron Boy' Calderón salió airoso anoche de su primera defensa de de su primera defensa de su título de las 108 libras de la OMB, al vencer por desición unánime al mexicano Juan 'Panterita' Esquer en la cartelera efectuada en Albuquerque, Nuevo México.|author=Staff |title=Amplia desición para Iván |date=2007-12-01 |publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish |pages=157] During the course of the fight Esquer was more active offensively. [cite book|quote=Esquer llevó la ofensiva toda la noche, lanzando múltiples 'barrecampos'.|author=Staff |title=Amplia desición para Iván |date=2007-12-01 |publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish |pages=157] During the first four rounds of the match Calderón used his boxing skills to avoid being hit by the punches thrown by Esquer. [cite book|quote=Calderón, en esos asaltos, apenas contra-restaba la desorganizada ofensiva de Esquer.|author=Staff |title=Amplia desición para Iván |date=2007-12-01 |publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish |pages=157] From the fifth round onwards Calderón proceeded to exchange combinations of punches with Esquer, eventually gaining control of the fight's tempo. [cite book|quote=Pero a partir del quinto asalto, Calderón dejó de retroceder y se detuvo a intercambiar golpes con Esquer. Con combinaciones, Calderón empezó a llegarle a Esquer en los restantes asaltos del combate para tener control de la pelea.|author=Staff |title=Amplia desición para Iván |date=2007-12-01 |publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish |pages=157] The fight lasted twelve rounds and Iván won the fight by unanimous decision with the judges awarding scores of 116-112, 118-110 and 115-113. [cite book|quote=Las votaciones de los jueces fueron de 116-112, 118-110 y 115-113 para que Calderón mantuviera su invicto en 30 combates.|author=Staff |title=Amplia desición para Iván |date=2007-12-01 |publisher="El Nuevo Día"|location=Puerto Rico |language=Spanish |pages=157] Calderón's second defense in the light flyweight division took place on April 4, 2008, where he defeated Nelson Dieppa by unanimous decision.cite web| url=http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=665581&s=box&type=story&campaign=rss&source=ESPNdeportesPortada| title=No hay quién lo pare| publisher=ESPN Deportes| language=Spanish| date=2008-04-06| accessdate=2008-04-28] The three judges awarded him identical scores of 120-108.

Following a protest, the World Boxing Organization named Cázares the mandatory challenger for the championship. The event was scheluded for August 30, 2008. In the early stages, the fight's pattern was similar to the first meeting. Calderón relied on counter punching while boxing to avoid Cázares' offensive.cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/boxeo/acciondeportiva/calderon_retiene_luego_de_cabezazo_accidental/225450| title=Calderón retiene luego de cabezazo accidental| author=Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón| publisher="Primera Hora"| language=Spanish| date=2008-08-31| accessdate=2008-09-01] Late in the first round, the challenger fell following a combination, but the referee declared that it was an accidental slip. In the following rounds, Cázares tried preassuring in the offensive, but Calderón continued boxing and held his opponent if approached. The challenger was momentarily stunned by a uppercut in the final seconds of the third episode. Cázares' technique in the next two rounds consisted of throwing punches to the body, while his offensive to the head was being stopped by his opponent's forearms. In the sixth round, Calderón focused on his defense, slowing the pace of his offensive. In the seventh episode, an accidental head clash opened a laceration in Calderón's forehead. Who was examined by the ringside doctor, after expressing that he was feeling disoriented. The physician recommended stopping the fight. Due to the circumstances, the outcome was decided by the judges' score cards, which favored Calderón 67-66 and 68-65 twice. Following the event, he announced his intention to participate in an unification match against one of the other light flyweight champions. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/boxeo/accion_deportiva/ivan_desea_unificar/225575| title=Iván desea unificar| author=Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón| publisher="Primera Hora"| language=Spanish| date=2008-09-01| accessdate=2008-09-01] Due to the nature of this injury, the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission prohibited Calderón participation in any card within 120 days. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/boxeo/accion_deportiva/vacaciones_forzadas_para_el_iron_boy/225845| title=Vacaciones forzadas para el "Iron Boy"| author=Carlos González| publisher="Primera Hora"| language=Spanish| date=2008-09-02| accessdate=2008-09-02] Two weeks after the contest, the wound was reopened and he underwent plastic surgery to prevent reinjury.cite book| title=Su herida ya suma 43 puntos| author=Raymond Pérez| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| language=Spanish| chapter=Deportes| date=2008-09-14] On September 23, 2008, Peter Rivera announced that Calderón was expected to return between January and February 2009. Rivera noted that the fight would be against one of the other light flyweight champions, most likely César Canchila, citing that although both Ulises Solís and Edgar Sosa were approached, with both claiming to be available, neither one actually pursued serious negotiations. [cite web| url=http://vocero.com/noticia-2430-para_febrero_el_posible__regreso_al_ring_de_ivn.html| title=Para febrero el posible regreso al ring de Iván| author=Rey Colón| publisher="El Vocero"| language=Spanish| date=2008-09-23| accessdate=2008-09-23] He subsequently stated that negotiations had been extended to Solís' representatives, but that those of Sosa still declined, citing that " [He] is a fighter that has always refused to fight with Iván. His managers don't want to sacrifice him and prefer to keep him in Mexico competing in soft fights."cite book| title=Iván Calderón unificará en el 2009| author=Omar Marrero| publisher="El Nuevo Día"| language=Spanish| chapter=Deportes| date=2008-09-27]

Professional championships

See also

*List of current world boxing champions
*List of famous Puerto Ricans

*Boxing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
*List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions

References

External links

*
* [http://www.fightfan.com/interviews/0807-Calderon.html Iván Calderón Video Interview @ FightFan.com]