After his recent knockout loss to Moses Fuentes, former two division champion Ivan Calderon announced his retirement according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
“This was difficult because (boxing is) something I love, but I want to say that I’m doing this not because I’m old or tired. I’m doing this because I want to work with the kids and youth, bringing them my knowledge and tips,” Calderon said at a ceremony attended by his family, trainers Jose “Cheche” Sanchez and Felix Pagan Pintor, Guaynabo mayor Hector O’Neill, WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel and several top Puerto Rican fighters, including junior lightweight titlist Roman “Rocky” Martinez and former titleholders Juan Manuel Lopez and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.
“I want to be an example for all my fellow boxers that when it is time (to retire) it is time, no matter if we are rich or poor. The health is what matters. I want to thank all (the fans).”
“For a few years he was the best boxer in boxing,” said Calderon’s co-promoter Bob Arum. “I think he’s a Hall of Famer. I think he certainly is. His accomplishments match another fighter I promoted who was a little guy, Michael Carbajal, who is a Hall of Famer, and rightly so. And I think Calderon should be also.”
“He was a delight because he took pride in his skills,” Arum said. “In other words, he was somebody who loved boxing for the sport. When you talk about the sweet science, he was a practitioner. He wasn’t a big puncher. His whole ability was to be this absolutely super incredible boxer and he gloried in that. He was a small guy, but there was an appreciation of him for his art of boxing.”
