Tweet
By Jake Donovan - It's widely agreed upon that undefeated strawweight Ivan Calderon will face an uphill battle this weekend when he moves up to face the world's best and biggest junior flyweight in Hugo Cazares.
But never before this past weekend did anyone truly realize just how much Calderon would be forced to overcome. Or perhaps how much Cazares is willing to sacrifice.
A 7-day safety check pre-fight weigh-in was held last weekend for both fighters, in accordance with the rules the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission. According to the rule, initially implemented by the World Boxing Council but since adopted by several boxing commissions, fighters competing in a world title fight must weigh no more than 5% of the contracted weight 7 days prior to the fight.
Calderon, who campaigned at the 105-lb limit his entire career, weighed in at 111 lb, well within the 5% acceptable limit ( 113.4) for the 108-lb. division. Cazares not only missed the mark; at 121 lb, his weight exceeded even the 10% limit reserved for the 30-day checkpoint. To put such weight difference in proper perspective, the equivalent would be flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire fighting junior featherweight king Israel Vazquez.
Already giving away 6" in height, Calderon is now realistically giving away 10 lb. of natural body weight heading into what is easily the biggest fight of both fighters' careers.
A slick southpaw boxer, Calderon possessed minimal power at strawweight, with just 6 KO's in 28 professional fights. A mere three have come since March 2002, with 16 bouts going the distance including his last – a shaky split decision against fringe contender Roberto Barrera in the latter's native Colombia.
In Cazares, he faces the polar opposite. At 5'6", the Mexican is huge for a junior flyweight; in fact bigger than most bantamweights, where he probably belongs (a move to flyweight is already being considered for his immediate future). Since losing back to back fights, Cazares has won 16 straight (including a 4-0 record in Puerto Rico). Thirteen of his wins in that stretch have come inside the distance including his last five. [details]
But never before this past weekend did anyone truly realize just how much Calderon would be forced to overcome. Or perhaps how much Cazares is willing to sacrifice.
A 7-day safety check pre-fight weigh-in was held last weekend for both fighters, in accordance with the rules the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission. According to the rule, initially implemented by the World Boxing Council but since adopted by several boxing commissions, fighters competing in a world title fight must weigh no more than 5% of the contracted weight 7 days prior to the fight.
Calderon, who campaigned at the 105-lb limit his entire career, weighed in at 111 lb, well within the 5% acceptable limit ( 113.4) for the 108-lb. division. Cazares not only missed the mark; at 121 lb, his weight exceeded even the 10% limit reserved for the 30-day checkpoint. To put such weight difference in proper perspective, the equivalent would be flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire fighting junior featherweight king Israel Vazquez.
Already giving away 6" in height, Calderon is now realistically giving away 10 lb. of natural body weight heading into what is easily the biggest fight of both fighters' careers.
A slick southpaw boxer, Calderon possessed minimal power at strawweight, with just 6 KO's in 28 professional fights. A mere three have come since March 2002, with 16 bouts going the distance including his last – a shaky split decision against fringe contender Roberto Barrera in the latter's native Colombia.
In Cazares, he faces the polar opposite. At 5'6", the Mexican is huge for a junior flyweight; in fact bigger than most bantamweights, where he probably belongs (a move to flyweight is already being considered for his immediate future). Since losing back to back fights, Cazares has won 16 straight (including a 4-0 record in Puerto Rico). Thirteen of his wins in that stretch have come inside the distance including his last five. [details]
Comment