Calderón and Martínez 30 day weigh-in

Guaynabo, P.R.- Ring Magazine Jr. Flyweight Champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderón and WBO Super Featherweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martínez (138lbs of 149.5) were at hand today for their first weigh in prior to their upcoming defenses. Calderón (118lbs of 124.2 with clothes on) is set to take once again on Filipino Rodel “Matang Mandaue” Mayol with whom he fought to a six round technical draw on the undercard the Cotto vs. Clottey event while Martínez is preparing for the first defense of his title against Michael Lozada of Mexico City, Mexico.

For Calderón, sporting a record of 32-0-1 with only six knockouts the fight means a chance to prove he has shaken off the rust he accumulated after the second fight with Hugo Cázares. In that fight the Iron Boy suffered a bad cut on his forehead which eventually led to an absence from the ring of close to a year. By his own admission, he didn’t look good against Mayol on June of this year. Many observers thought Mayol had done enough to win the fight which was stopped due to a different cut on Calderon’s forehead.

The five feet tall Puerto Rican told 15rounds.com that the six rounds had in fact helped him and was now feeling more like his old self. Already having sparred several rounds, he feels his speed and ring movement is back. Calderón’s trainer, José Sánchez, also commented on the upcoming bout and expressed his confidence in victory. When asked about going up against top rated and highly sought trainer Freddie Roach, Sánchez said that Roach will again loose against the Puerto Rican team.

This fight will mark the third title bout to take place between Filipino and Puerto Rican fighters in Puerto Rico in the past year and the second one involving a fighter trained by Roach (the other fight was Gerry Peñalosa’s loss to Juan Manuel López). It also represents a developing rivalry between the countries which to date has produced some great fights.

As for Martínez (22-0, 13KO’s), the super featherweight champion from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, he is going to face an experienced veteran in Lozada (31-5-1, 24KO’s) who also happens to carry some pop in his fists. Even though Lozada has lost when he has step up in quality of opposition against names like Edwin Valero (KO by 1), Jose Armando Santacruz (KO by 4) and Jorge Luis Teron (TKO by 6), Martínez says he will not underestimate him. A wise decision since the biggest name on his resumé is Nicky Cook, the man he took the belt from; and he had to pick himself up from the canvas before stopping him in the fourth round.

Rocky commented on improving his defense, speed and movement with trainer Dennis Rivera. He admitted he gets hit more often than he would like and he knows that is something he must improve for future fights. About those future fights, the name he put on the top of the list was that of WBC titlist Humberto Soto. Still he did agree that it is a fight for the future and two or three more fights could come before that.

The bout is set to take place September 12th of 2009 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, P.R. and is promoted by PR Best Boxing. Tickets can be acquired through Ticket Pop.