Ivan Calderon seeks revenge vs Giovani Segura
The flashy Ivan Calderon who fights in the same style as Floyd Mayweather Jr. will not get a warm reception in Mexico.
Three local boxers involved in the most important matches of their career.
April 2, former WBO and The Ring light flyweight champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon will be coming to Mexicali to seek revenge against the only man ever to defeat him, current 108-pound king Giovani “El Guerrero Azteca” Segura, in their highly-anticipated rematch at Auditorio del Estado in Mexicali, B. C., Mexico. To say this is going to be one of the biggest extravaganzas to ever hit Mexicali, is an understatement.
“La Revancha: Segura-Calderon 2,” presented by Zanfer Promotions and PR Best Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 6 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view for a suggested retail price of $39.95.
Prior to fighting Segura, Calderon appeared to be invincible having ruled the 108-pound division as the WBO light flyweight champion for more than three years (six successful title defenses), as well as the 105-pound WBO minimum-weight division (11 successful title defenses) from 2003 until he moved up in weight in 2007. Calderon is currently rated #3 by the WBO.
He had taken on and defeated the best light flyweight and minimum-weight world champions and challengers, to include: Rodel Mayol, Reyes, Higo Fidel Cazares (twice), Nelson Dieppa, Issac Bustos, Roberto Carlos Leyva, Ednar Cardenas, Alex Sanchez and Eduardo Ray Marquez.
“Everything has been real good and I’m already at 110 pounds,” Calderon said from his Puerto Rico-based training camp. “I’m working hard in training to make sure I do better than I did in the first fight against Segura. My fans will be in Mexico with me in spirit. I know a lot of people will be booing me there, but I know how to control that and remain focused in the ring. My first loss has me hungrier and I’m training differently. For the first time in 10 years I’m not living at home with my family. I stay at camp and live in my trainer’s house; it’s just me and him, none of my family around. I’ve also been doing more work with weights to strengthen my arms and legs.”
Giovani Segura, who lives and trains in Bell, Ca., has had the majority of his fights here in Southern California.
The 28-year-old Segura (26-1-1, 22 KOs), fighting out of Bell, CA. by way of Altamirano, Guerrero, Mexico, captured the WBO and WBA Super light flyweight titles last October, when he knocked-out the previously unbeaten champion Calderon (34-1-1, 6 KOs) in the eighth round in Puerto Rico. At the time of the stoppage, Segura was leading (69-64, 68-65, 67-66) on all scorecards.
“I didn’t train right for our first fight,” Calderon added. “My leg muscles were injured. I couldn’t run and training days were suspended in the gym. I usually spar 100 rounds but all I had was 45 for the last fight. No excuses, he did the job, but that wasn’t the Ivan everybody knows. I need to be able to move my legs to control the fight. I couldn’t move because of my legs and he worked my body good. I had to go toe-to-toe with him. He controlled the fight.
“He’s not a good technical fighter, but he’s strong and keeps pressure on his opponent. He did hurt me with body shots. He’s not a real 105-pound fighter; he’s a natural 112-115 pounder. He was real hungry to knock me out and he did the job.
“I believe this fight will be different because I will box more. I will leave Mexico with my belt. Mexicans don’t like to watch my style of boxing but I don’t care if they yell or boo. I will fight my fight and make the judges love my style, so I get the decision.”
Ricardo "Piola" Castillo lives just across the border in Mexicali, B.C., Mexico
The co-feature matches Mexican featherweight champion and three-time world title challenger, Ricardo “Piola” Castillo (39-9-1, 26 KOs), against former WBC Continental Americas super featherweight titlist 24 year-old Joksan “El Torito” Hernandez (21-3, 14 KOs) of Ensenada, B.C., Mexico in a 10-round bout. Castillo is the younger brother of two-time world lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo.
The partisan crowd will want to see boxing Mexican style and that's the only style that fighters like Joksan "El Torito" Hernandez knows. Photo: Art Garcia
The undercard also includes:
A pair of former world title challengers, Jorge “Baby Face” Lacierva (38-7-6, 26 KOs) facing Fernando “Wary” Beltran, Jr. (35-4-1, 19 KOs), in an IBF 12 round featherweight eliminator.
Also, undefeated, super bantamweight Ramon “Cobra” Maas (24-0, 15 KOs) taking on Enrique “Duende” Bernache (15-2, 7 KOs) in a 10 rounder.
Plus 18-year-old, super lightweight Jose Benavides (10-0, 9 KOs), another hot prospect from the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
