It wasn?t that long ago when little men such as WBO Mini-flyweight Champion Ivan Calderon and Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol were completely ignored in the US, especially here on the east coast. HBO wasn?t quite ready to add them to the telecast of the Cotto-Clottey fight, but the fact that all those Puerto Rican fans who were there primarily for Miguel Cotto, were raising the Madison Square Garden roof for 106 ? pound Calderon who is of Puerto Rican decent too, was an indication that boxing fans are growing in sophistication. Maybe they won?t need to watch two ponderous heavyweights. Maybe a classy, speedy boxer can put on a great show too; maybe, just maybe.
The first four rounds belonged to Calderon. He didn?t dominate, but he did do what he said he would do; he hit without being hit back. Mayol did land but much of what he threw just missed its target. He tried to initiate the action but it was the unbeaten champion who won most of their encounters. It was too bad that they did not get a chance to show New York what these mini-flyweights could do. They fought hard throwing fast combinations with Calderon appearing to have an advantage in skill that kept him from being hit too often. He landed many punches but few had any sting behind them. Little Ivan has only six knockouts scattered among his 32-0-1 record. He is slick, hard to hit, but no power to speak of. On the other hand, Rodel Mayol, 25-3-1 (19), has power, but found it difficult to catch Calderon with anything significant.
Suddenly in the fifth round of the scheduled twelve rounder they bang heads with Calderon walking across the ring in obvious distress. After the ring doctor looked at the damage he allowed the fight to continue. Then later in the same round they clashed heads again with similar results. After the second incident Calderon was fired up and began throwing punches as though he intended to make it seven KO?s. The fight was on and the Garden crowd reacted to it, but it was not to be for very long.
In the fateful sixth Calderon could not see well enough to continue and the fight was stopped at 1:50 of the round. . It went to the scorecards because the cut, which was high on the forehead of Calderon was caused by an accidental head butt.
The Judges scored it 58-56 each and 57-57 a draw. So it goes into the books as a technical draw.
