Calderon confident vs Pinoy challenger Mayol

MANILA, Philippines – He knows little about his Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol but undefeated WBO light-flyweight champ Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico is confident he would emerge from their title fight this Saturday in New York (Sunday in Manila) victorious. Interviewed Monday on the boxing site 15rounds.com, the 34-year-old Calderon (32-0-0, 6KOs) expressed belief his usual boxing style and ring IQ would be sufficient against his unfamiliar foe. “I don’t know too much about him (Mayol) except that he is 5’4 and he has a strong left hand," Calderon admitted. As such, Calderon said his plan would be “to fight my normal game and box intelligently round by round." And if the opportunity presents itself, Calderon said he would go for a KO as well. Should he get past Mayol, Calderon would like to take on IBF light-flyweight champion Brian Viloria or WBO flyweight king Omar Narvaez or even undefeated WBC strawweight boss Roman Gonzalez. Calderon and Mayol will duke it out in the undercard of the showdown between welterweight kings Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey at the Madison Square Garden. Calderon is making his fourth title defense and first outing since suffering from a lacerated forehead in his August 2008 defense against Hugo Fidel Cazares. For Mayol (25-3-0, 19 KOs), this will be his third crack at the world title after unsuccessful tries in 2006, losing a controversial decision to WBC minimumweight king Eagle Den Junlaphan, and in 2007, getting knocked out in eight by then IBF 108-lb holder Ulises Solis. In a previous interview on DZSR, the 27-year-old Mayol had vowed to go all out against Calderon, believing this would probably be his last chance to become a world champion. Mayol reported he has had great training at the Wild Card Gym in LA, getting valuable support from pal Manny Pacquiao who even sent his buddy and trainer Buboy Fernandez to help whip him into tip top shape. The Pacman, himself, is set to be at ringside to cheer for Mayol and inspire the world title prospect. - GMANews.TV