Iván Calderón Turned Two Small Divisions Into a Hall
Iván “Iron Boy” Calderón became a two-division world champion on August 25, 2007, outpointing Hugo Cázares for the WBO light flyweight belt. The Puerto Rican southpaw had already made twelve successful defenses of the organization’s minimumweight championship.
Career highlights
Calderón represented Puerto Rico at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before turning professional in February 2001. He won the WBO minimumweight title in his sixteenth professional fight, stopping Eduardo Ray Márquez in the ninth round in Las Vegas on May 3, 2003.
His move from the 105-pound division to 108 pounds brought the victory over Cázares and another sustained championship run. Six successful defenses followed before Giovani Segura knocked him out in the eighth round in August 2010.
From champion to trainer
Calderón retired in 2012 with 35 wins, three losses and one draw, including six knockout victories. He then worked with young boxers in Guaynabo. His achievements across two divisions earned induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024.
His amateur record included victories over future professional champions Brian Viloria and Miguel Cotto, along with a New York Golden Gloves title in 1995. As minimumweight champion, he outpointed Alex Sánchez and Daniel Reyes and stopped Miguel Téllez. Those results illustrate the depth of the championship run that preceded his move up in weight.
Sources
- World Boxing Organization: Calderón’s career and retirement
- International Boxing Hall of Fame: Calderón’s biography and 2024 induction
