Pumping 'Iron Boy'
Interview with Ivan Calderon; talks about unification, legacy & rematch

Interview by Lee Bates
Photos byJosé I. Pérez Cabrera, PR Best Boxing Promotions

The intriguing rematch between WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon (31-0,6 KOs) and the former world champion Hugo Cazares (26-4-1,19 KOs) is just days away.

Calderon will be making the third defense of his title he won a year ago from Cazares. The bout will headline the "Latin Fury 6" pay-per-view telecast, and will take place at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Recently, Calderon discussed why it is currently difficult for him to unify world titles in boxing, why he has no plans of slowing down at 33 years of age, and why he is fighting the dangerous punching Cazares again.

How well did you do in the Puerto Rican version of dancing with the stars?

First place. I gave a percentage of my winnings to the two runner-ups so they could donate to any charity they wanted. I donated the remainder of the winnings to three different charities.

Popular Puerto Rican legends such as Wilfredo Gomez and Felix Trinidad fought a much different style than yours yet your still very popular with the fans. Why do you think that is?

Like Trinidad I'm very accessible to the fans and they really appreciate that. Even when Trinidad lost his fans always remained loyal. I'm also an undefeated world champion. Puerto Rican fans are very loyal and support their world champions.

Do the legendary Puerto Rican fighters share their past experiences with you and offer you advice?

Whenever I get together with former Puerto Rican legendary fighters they always share with me the bad experiences. They do this because they don't want me to make the same mistakes that they made.

You have been a world champion at 105 pounds as well as 108 pounds. What has made it difficult for you to unify at either weight?

When your a world champion you can't be another world champion's mandatory. Meaning other world champions at my weight will never be obligated to fight me as long as I'm a world champion. So basically the risk usually has to be worth the reward for a unification to happen. I want to make it clear that I never have avoided fighting another world champion for a unification fight. I've always wanted to unify.

You seem to be in your prime while fighters generally your age are slowing down. How have you been able to do this?

I always keep myself in very good condition and live a clean life. Having turned professional at 26 years of age, I don't have a lot of wear and tear on my body. I'm also very fortunate that my promoters Top Rank & PR Best Boxing Promotions (Ivan & Peter Rivera), have always kept me active, which is very important. I feel that as long as I'm winning at the elite level there is no need for me to think about slowing down.

Do you feel you have to make any major adjustments in your rematch with Cazares?

Prior to getting knocked down in the eighth round I was fighting my fight. My plan is to box with intelligence as I always do.

Having fought the hard punching Cazares and defeated him why fight him again?

Cazares is the biggest fight out there for me. I'm a true champion and want to be involved in the biggest fights.

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"Latin Fury 6" will be co-promoted by Top Rank & PR Best Boxing Promotions (Ivan & Peter Rivera). The event will be aired live on Pay Per View Saturday August 30, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST. The card will be shown on Pay Per View for cable and DirecTV customers. The televised undercard will also include Roman "Rocky" Martinez, (19-0-1 11 KOs) vs. Santos Benavides (14-1-1 12 KOs), for the WBO NABO junior lightweight title; and former world champion Eric Morel, (38-2 20 KOs), vs. Heriberto Ruiz, (39-6-2 23 KOs), for the NABO bantamweight title. Tickets for the card are $25, $50, $100, $125, $200 and $300.