IVAN CALDERON SAYS HE DOESN'T GET EASY TITLE FIGHTS ANYMORE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 Jun 2010
WBO light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon says he doesn?t get any easy title fights anymore, although many fight fans believe he is going downhill and that is why the fights get harder and he keeps avoiding the toughest contenders.
The undefeated Calderon (33-0-1, 6 KO?s) defends his title against Mexico?s Jesus Iribe (16-6-5, 10 KO?s) at New York?s Madison Square Garden on Sunday Manila Time instead of an earlier announcement made both by the WBO and Calderon himself that he would defend the crown against hard-hitting, undefeated 20 year old Filipino Johnreil Casimero (14-0, 8 KO?s).
Inexplicably Casimero was taken off the Madison Square Garden card and replaced by Iribe while Casimero was lined up against tough Ramon Garcia Hirales (12-1-1, 8 KO's) on July 3 in La Paz, Mexico.
Casimero earned the title shot at Calderon with a spectacular 11th round TKO over highly-fancied Colombian KO artist Cesar Canchilla who had an impressive record of 28 2 with 22 knockouts, dropping him five times en route to the stoppage. In the process Casimero won the WBO Interim title.
Iribe was beaten last August by then IBF flyweight champion Brian Viloria who in turn lost the title to Carlos Tamara of Colombia by a 12th round TKO after which Tamara lost the title to 39 year old Luis Lazarte of Argentina.
Iribe scored a 6th round TKO over Valentin Leon last December 11 although boxrec.com reported that the 30 year old Leon had a record of 20 losses against 19 wins with 3 draws and only 8 knockouts to his name.
Calderon told a pre-fight press conference ?I don?t get easy fights anymore. Every challenger fights hard. The big honor for me is fighting at Madison Square Garden on the eve of the Puerto Rican parade.?
The bigger challenger Iribe said he expects Calderon to run which he is known for considering he lacks punching power and seeks to outbox his opponents but that he (Iribe) would catch him. The Mexican challenger said ?I am in top condition for a reason. I am fighting for the world title and I am expecting him to run from me. I will catch up and beat him. I will be such a big hero in Mexico.?
Meantime, Casimero who will be accompanied by trainer Danny Bactol is scheduled to leave for Los Angeles next week to continue training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach.
Top photo: Caderon (L) and Iribe during the presscon in New York.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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