Champion vs Champion!

August 24, 2007

By Miguel Planas

In the event titled as Campeon vs Campeon (Champion vs Champion) reigning WBO Strawweight champion Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon (28-0, 6 KOs) will be taking a big step when he faces the reigning WBO Jr. Flyweight champion Hugo "Increible" Cazares (25-3-1, 19 KOs) Saturday night at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico for Cazares' 108 pound title.

For many of the local boxing experts, Calderon will be facing an uphill battle against the stronger Cazares. El Increible (The Incredible) is not the typical Mexican fighter. Cazares can brawl as well as box and tends to switch stances during his fights. He also has an advantage in height, reach, punching power and overall strength over the smaller Calderon, whose advantages are speed, ring generalship and excellent boxing ability.

For Calderon, Cazares' advantages do not intimidate him "I know there's a lot of people who think I can't win but that is what motivates me," he says. "I will prove them wrong."

Hugo Cazares is no stranger to the Puerto Rican fan base. It will be his fifth time fighting on the island. Cazares won his title against then champion Nelson Dieppa and then successfully defended it in a rematch. He has also defended his title against former WBO Strawweight champion Alex "El Nene" Sanchez by a stoppage.

It is now up to Calderon to bring the title back to his country, or at least that is the way he feels. Calderon, who has successfully defended his strawweight title on eleven occasions, was offered the fight because of the lack of opponents available at 105 pounds. For some time Team Calderon has been calling out the other champions at his division but no one has answered the call. "They are scared of me, that's why when they offered me the fight with Cazares I decided to accept," said Calderon.

But this fight was not quickly signed. Various terms had to be reached before the deal was done, among them Cazares will not be allowed to be over the 118 pound limit on fight night. Cazares has been known to jump to a whopping 126 pounds. Team Cazares was not all too eager about the idea but signed on as Cazares sees the fight as a big opportunity. It also motivates him to try to knock out Calderon. "I will knock him out before the seventh," Cazares has said repeatedly to media.

Many experts think that Hugo Cazares' overall strength would overwhelm the smaller Calderon, while others think Ivan Calderon's proven boxing ability will prevail. In all, it will a classic puncher vs boxer showdown and a great fight to witness between two of the best fighters of the lighter weights.