Boxing In Puerto Rico: Calderon Defeats Dieppa For WBO Crown

ByAlejandro Tostado

There was a big card at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan last night with the headliner a hotly anticipated showdown between the top two light flyweights in Puerto Rico, Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon and Nelson Dieppa. At stake was the WBO Light Flyweight title held by Calderon since jumping up from minimumweight last year.

37 year old Dieppa had held the title in the earlier part of the decade but had it removed by Mexican slugger Hugo Fidel Cazares in 2005 and failed a year later to reclaim the belt in a rematch. Since then the Vieques natives had gone 1-1 and was looking to right his flagging career with a win over Calderon.

But it was not in the cards last night for Dieppa as Calderon was on point from start to finish, beating the older man to the punch with his fast hands flowing from a southpaw stance. Utilizing cat-quick reflexes and superb footwork, Calderon never let Dieppa in the bout and cruised to a dominating 120-108 verdict on all three scorecards.

33 year old Calderon improves to 31-0 (6) and has now retained the WBO Light Fly belt for the second time after making a four year, 11 defense reign as WBO Minimumweight titlist.

Dieppa has now dropped three of his last four and falls to 25-5-2 (14) during the course of his proud 15 year career.

Also on the bill was a light welterweight battle for the WBO Latino and WBA Fedebol regional titles between prospect Alex de Jesus and veteran Wilfredo Negron. 25 year old southpaw de Jesus moved to 17-0 (11) with a dramatic twelvfth and final round stoppage of 5 foot 11 inch tall Negron, 25-12 (19), who was coming into the bout after having lost contests to Henry Bruseles and Ben Tackie.

Big punching WBA Fedcentro and WBC Latino Flyweight Champion Jose Lopez, 36-7 (30), stepped up to super flyweight and got up off the canvas to win his ninth in a row by stopping WBO Latino titlist Juan Mercedes, 20-2 (14), in the fourth frame.

Ex-WBA Flyweight kingpin Eric Morel, 37-2 (19), won his second in a row after a three year absence from the ring by knocking out Carlos Valcarcel, 9-2-4 (4), in the sixth at super bantam.