Comments Thread For: Ivan Calderon: Puerto Rico's 'Iron Boy' is Not Done Yet

[ny123]

Tito wasn't 100% mentally into the Hopkins fight so he felt if he came in 100% focused he may have won. He won a few rounds versus Hopkins. Winky shut him out and he never looked for a rematch. Tito was 100% focused and fighting at his best weight of 154 lbs and had no answers for Winky.

At least for Hopkins he could say that he was distracted

Tito was arguably at his best at 147 and if we are talking about being at his best we definitely cant say that after a 2 year layoff and a fight with a punching bag that he was anywhere near that against Wright. I dont think he beats Wright or Hopkins in any time of his career btw.

[killakali]

Not at all. Brawling can be inevitable inside the ring.

you can't have it both ways. Calderon never brawled before Segura...not inevitable.

Juanma and WV2 look for brawls. It isn't some inevitable brawl that they fall into. They look for it. Just like Rocky does. You are starting to sound like a simpleton (as you and toby lee called fans of the brawling style of boxing) who likes brawls when before you just liked the art of the "sweet science".

It sounds like you just like any rican fighter regardless of his style in the ring. Why don't you just admit that?

[JmH Reborn]

Hopkins was a worse loss and a more difficult opponent so your reasoning for Tito not wanting a rematch with Wright isnt really valid imo.

For Tito, I don't think Hopkins is a harder fight for Tito than Winky. I would always give Tito a chance against Hopkins, but I would never give Tito a chance against Winky.

[BTL]

Ivan is way too small..

[ny123]

For Tito, I don't think Hopkins is a harder fight for Tito than Winky. I would always give Tito a chance against Hopkins, but I would never give Tito a chance against Winky.

I disagree

[killakali]

I would say that Calderon isn't TOO far removed from traditional Rican boxing. He deviates a little because his lack of power, so his style is more finesse and movement, but I think by large, Rican style is a more of a boxing/brawler combo. There are certainly a large component of boxing mixed in with every Puerto Rican I believe. I do not believe that a majority of Puerto Ricans fit into the Tito paradigm.

Calderon is close but still runs more than the tradition Rican boxing. I agree with you but that is the "old" traditional Rican boxing. Tito changed that 100%. When Calderon and to a lesser extent Quintana are gone what do you have left? Juanma, Cotto, Jonathan Gonzalez, Rocky Martinez, etc. Benitez they are definitely not. These guys didn't grow up watching Benitez. They grew up on Tito and some on Cotto and emulate that style. You get what I am saying?

Just like after Chavez had the famous hook to the body what is now the Mexican "signature punch"? Things evolve and change.

[Hallaqsillaq]

you can't have it both ways. Calderon never brawled before Segura...not inevitable.

Juanma and WV2 look for brawls. It isn't some inevitable brawl that they fall into. They look for it. Just like Rocky does. You are starting to sound like a simpleton (as you and toby lee called fans of the brawling style of boxing) who likes brawls when before you just liked the art of the "sweet science".

It sounds like you just like any rican fighter regardless of his style in the ring. Why don't you just admit that?

Sure buddy, whatever helps you sleep at night. I don't like Cintron, and I don't like Calderon. I may respect him for his accomplishments, but I don't really care for his fights. I think he's been done since the Mayol fights, maybe even before.

I appreciate boxing for what is is, but I don't glorify pure prawlers in the way some people do, that is all. they may be exciting to watch, as fighters, but this is boxing, not street fighting.

[JmH Reborn]

Calderon is close but still runs more than the tradition Rican boxing. I agree with you but that is the "old" traditional Rican boxing. Tito changed that 100%. When Calderon and to a lesser extent Quintana are gone what do you have left? Juanma, Cotto, Jonathan Gonzalez, Rocky Martinez, etc. Benitez they are definitely not. These guys didn't grow up watching Benitez. They grew up on Tito and some on Cotto and emulate that style. You get what I am saying?

Just like after Chavez had the famous hook to the body what is now the Mexican "signature punch"? Things evolve and change.

I can agree with that, except for Cotto. Cotto is a wonderful boxer and certainly isn't one-dimensional like Tito.

The real shame is that Calderon isn't in a 'prime' weightclass like LW, WW or something, where he could have shined in the spotlight.

Oh well, I guess I prefer my 'old' style. But this stuff is cyclical. Tito did change things and help popularized a style that is prevalent in Mexican boxing, but I think eventually the natural athleticism will bring back the boxer/brawler into PRican boxing ala Cotto. Believe, if he beats Margarito and goes out against Pacquaio or Martinez or whomever, them young boys will be back wanting to be boxers first, fighters second. To a lesser extent, if Calderon can go into enemy territory and get that title back, it'll reinforce the fact that being a boxer first is always the best course of action

[killakali]

Tito was arguably at his best at 147 and if we are talking about being at his best we definitely cant say that after a 2 year layoff and a fight with a punching bag that he was anywhere near that against Wright. I dont think he beats Wright or Hopkins in any time of his career btw.

154 was Titos best weight by far. If u feel he was best at 147 u are in the minority and fightinmg Hopkins at 160 would further solidify my point because that is even farther from 147 than the Winky fight. The fact that he asked for a rematch with hopkins and not Wright tells you that he felt he had a better chance to beat hopkins than Winky.

[killakali]

I can agree with that, except for Cotto. Cotto is a wonderful boxer and certainly isn't one-dimensional like Tito.

The real shame is that Calderon isn't in a 'prime' weightclass like LW, WW or something, where he could have shined in the spotlight.

Oh well, I guess I prefer my 'old' style. But this stuff is cyclical. Tito did change things and help popularized a style that is prevalent in Mexican boxing, but I think eventually the natural athleticism will bring back the boxer/brawler into PRican boxing ala Cotto. Believe, if he beats Margarito and goes out against Pacquaio or Martinez or whomever, them young boys will be back wanting to be boxers first, fighters second. To a lesser extent, if Calderon can go into enemy territory and get that title back, it'll reinforce the fact that being a boxer first is always the best course of action

Cotto is a good boxer but since the Margarito fight he got away from that. I do see Steward trying to bring that back. I don't know if being a boxer 1st is always the best course of action. Depends on your strengths. Tito and Chavez Sr. Had great careers as brawlers. Brandon Rios had his way against "boxers" like Acosta and Peterson. Segura took Calderon's legs away by brawling. It all depends and being that Cotto is almost done and Juanma is getting the torch I see more brawlers coming out of PR.


Cotto loses and loses badly to Martinez or Pacquiao. Those aren't good looks for him at all. Once Cotto starts to fight going backwards he is done.