Ivan Calderon: #6 in Boxingscene pound 4 pound list

6) Ivan Calderon (32-0, 6 KO)

Age: 34

Current Title: World Jr. Flyweight/108 lb. Champion (2007-Present)

Career Titles: Additional alphabelts at 105 & 108 lbs.

Last Five Opponents: Hugo Cazares (twice), Nelson Dieppa, Juan Esquer, Ronald Barrera, Jose Luis Varela

Next Opponent: June 13, 2009 vs. Rodel Mayol (25-3, 19 KO)

The Take: You’ll read from many a knowledgeable scribe that this diminutive Puerto Rican champion ‘might be the best pure boxer in the sport.’ Calderon can do it all in the ring short of knock opponents dead, making his inability to lose thus far all the more remarkable. His game is all skill with just enough thrill (usually) to make his fights worth watching; this is no Sven Ottke. After years as the uncrowned king at 105 lbs., Calderon outboxed and outgutted a much larger (at the opening bell) Cazares in August 2007 to cement his foothold among the game’s elite by capturing the World title at 108 lbs. The similarly small Ricardo Lopez was marvelously underrated for years of his prime; no need to make that mistake twice with Calderon facing the near end of his. Over the last year, it appeared his biggest challenge could come from Ulises Solis but the rousing upset of Solis by former titlist and U.S. Olympian Brian Viloria for the WBC belt has changed the state of the class. If Calderon gets by the rugged Rodel Mayol, and he should, Calderon-Viloria is the biggest money fight at 108 lbs. in a long time.