Genaro Hernández

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox boxer

Genaro Hernández (May 10, 1966 – June 7, 2011) was a Mexican American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1998.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nicknamed "Chicanito" Hernandez, he went on to become a two-time super featherweight world champion, having held the WBA title from 1991 to 1995, and the WBC and lineal titles from 1997 to 1998. Additionally, he challenged for the WBO lightweight title in 1995.

Professional career

"Chicanito" Hernández, a Mexican-American, enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional boxer. His debut as a paid fighter came on September 27, 1984, when he beat Dino Ramirez by a decision in four rounds in Inglewood, California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He racked up a record of 13–0 with 6 knockouts and a solid reputation as a future champion around Southern California, when he met former Julio César Chávez world title challenger Refugio Rojas on November 22, 1988. He beat Rojas, who had lasted seven rounds against Chávez, by a knockout in round six. This enabled Hernández to enter the WBA super featherweight rankings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hernandez went on to win seven more fights, four by knockout, including one over former world title challenger Felipe Orozco, and another, in his first professional fight abroad: a three-round knockout over Leon Collins in Tokyo, Japan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

WBA super featherweight champion

Exactly two years after his win over Rojas, Hernández got his first world title try, against Daniel Londas, on November 22, 1991, in Épernay, France. Hernández did not disappoint those who had predicted him to be a future world champion as he knocked out future world champion Londas in nine rounds in front of Londas' hometown crowd, becoming World Junior Lightweight champion by winning the until then vacant title.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1992, he defended his crown twice, knocking out Omar Catari in six rounds and, travelling to Japan once more, defeating challengers Masuaki Takeda and Yuji Watanabe, Takeda by decision and Watanabe by knockout in six.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

His next fight proved historic, albeit for the wrong reasons. Defending on April 26, 1993, once again in Inglewood against former world featherweight champion Raúl Pérez, Hernández had to settle for a first round technical draw. This was the first, and so far only, world title fight in which no punches were landed. Right after the initial bell, Perez headbutted Hernández, and Perez bled profusely from an arterial vein on his forehead. The referee summoned the ring doctor, who decided the fight should be stopped as Perez required immediate surgery.<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive</ref> In the June 28 rematch later that year, Hernández retained the world title by a knockout in round eight. Hernandez then closed the year by defeating Harold Warren by decision to once again keep his title. In 1994, Hernandez retained the title twice, including a victory over Jimmy Garcia, (who would die later after a fight with Gabriel Ruelas). By the end of 1994, Hernández was clamoring for a world title fight against crosstown rival and WBO lightweight champion Oscar De La Hoya.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After eight successful title defenses, Hernández vacated his WBA super featherweight title in order to face De La Hoya in the upcoming year. Hernández began 1995 by beating popular Mexican boxer, Jorge "Maromero" Páez, by a knockout in eight rounds in Inglewood.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

WBO lightweight title challenge

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} On September 9, the highly anticipated encounter between Hernández and de la Hoya took place in Las Vegas. Hernández lost for the first time in his career, retiring from the fight at the end of the sixth round, his nose bloody: He returned to his corner, but without sitting down motioned to his team that he did not want to continue the fight. Reportedly, he had come to the fight with a nose previously injured in a sparring session.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Up until the fight's end, the judges had de la Hoya holding a lead on all three scorecards. After the loss Hernández took some brief time off but by 1996 he was back inside the ring, winning two bouts that year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

WBC and lineal super featherweight champion

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 1997, he fought what almost turned into another controversial fight when he challenged Azumah Nelson in a title bout for the WBC & Lineal super featherweight titles, in Corpus Christi, Texas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ahead on all scorecards at the end of round seven, he was hit in his throat by a Nelson punch after the bell. He needed some time to recuperate from the illegal late hit, and WBC President José Sulaiman came to his corner and informed him that if he could not continue he would be declared winner by disqualification.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hernández told Sulaiman something along the lines of I want to win it like real champions do, and he went back to the fight at the beginning of round eight. The fight ended after twelve rounds and Hernández won the Super featherweight titles by defeating Nelson with a split decision victory.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Hernández went on to defend his crown against such capable challengers as future super featherweight champion Anatoly Alexandrov, Carlos Gerena and another future world champion Carlos Famoso Hernandez, a gym-mate and personal friend who would later become El Salvador's first world boxing champion in history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In what would turn out to be his last fight, on October 3 of 1998 he lost his titles to Floyd Mayweather Jr. by an 8th round retirement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Retirement

In December 1998, after he was diagnosed with a blood clot and a torn cartilage muscle, he announced his retirement with a record of 38 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, with 17 of those wins coming by knockout. He had intended to challenge WBC lightweight champion César Bazán before the diagnosis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Professional boxing record

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

Template:Abbr Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
41 Template:No2Loss Template:Nowrap Floyd Mayweather Jr. RTD 8 (12), Template:Small Oct 3, 1998 Template:Small Template:Small
40 Template:Yes2Win 38–1–1 Carlos Gerena UD 12 May 16, 1998 Template:Small Template:Small
39 Template:Yes2Win 37–1–1 Carlos Hernández UD 12 Nov 20, 1997 Template:Small Template:Small
38 Template:Yes2Win 36–1–1 Anatoly Alexandrov SD 12 Jun 14, 1997 Template:Small Template:Small
37 Template:Yes2Win 35–1–1 Azumah Nelson Template:Abbr 12 Mar 22, 1997 Template:Small Template:Small
36 Template:Yes2Win 34–1–1 Antonio Hernández UD 10 Sep 28, 1996 Template:Small
35 Template:Yes2Win 33–1–1 Javier Pichardo TKO 5 (10), Template:Small May 8, 1996 Template:Small
34 Template:No2Loss 32–1–1 Oscar De La Hoya Template:Abbr 6 (12), Template:Small Sep 9, 1995 Template:Small Template:Small
33 Template:Yes2Win 32–0–1 Jorge Páez TKO 8 (10) Mar 31, 1995 Template:Small
32 Template:Yes2Win 31–0–1 Jimmy Garcia UD 12 Nov 12, 1994 Template:Small Template:Small
31 Template:Yes2Win 30–0–1 Jorge Ramirez TKO 8 (12), Template:Small Jan 31, 1994 Template:Small Template:Small
30 Template:Yes2Win 29–0–1 Harold Warren UD 12 Oct 11, 1993 Template:Small Template:Small
29 Template:Yes2Win 28–0–1 Raúl Pérez KO 8 (12), Template:Small Jun 28, 1993 Template:Small Template:Small
28 Template:DrawDraw 27–0–1 Raúl Pérez Template:Abbr 1 (12), Template:Small Apr 26, 1993 Template:Small Template:Small
27 Template:Yes2Win 27–0 Yuji Watanabe TKO 6 (12), Template:Small Nov 20, 1992 Template:Small Template:Small
26 Template:Yes2Win 26–0 Masuaki Takeda UD 12 Jul 15, 1992 Template:Small Template:Small
25 Template:Yes2Win 25–0 Omar Catarí UD 12 Feb 24, 1992 Template:Small Template:Small
24 Template:Yes2Win 24–0 Daniel Londas TKO 9 (12), Template:Small Nov 22, 1991 Template:Small Template:Small
23 Template:Yes2Win 23–0 Pedro Arroyo Template:Abbr 10 (10) Feb 11, 1991 Template:Small
22 Template:Yes2Win 22–0 Rodolfo Gomez KO 5 (10), Template:Small Dec 6, 1990 Template:Small
21 Template:Yes2Win 21–0 Ben Lopez TKO 6 (10), Template:Small Sep 22, 1990 Template:Small
20 Template:Yes2Win 20–0 Richard Abila KO 3 (10), Template:Small Aug 27, 1990 Template:Small
19 Template:Yes2Win 19–0 Leon Collins KO 3 (10) May 10, 1990 Template:Small
18 Template:Yes2Win 18–0 Felipe Orozco UD 10 Jul 31, 1989 Template:Small
17 Template:Yes2Win 17–0 Ed Pollard UD 10 May 15, 1989 Template:Small
16 Template:Yes2Win 16–0 Refugio Rojas KO 6 (12) Nov 22, 1988 Template:Small Template:Small
15 Template:Yes2Win 15–0 Jose Mosqueda UD 10 Jul 25, 1988 Template:Small
14 Template:Yes2Win 14–0 Juan Manuel Vega TKO 9 (10) Apr 25, 1988 Template:Small
13 Template:Yes2Win 13–0 Kenny Wyatt UD 10 Aug 31, 1987 Template:Small
12 Template:Yes2Win 12–0 J L Ivey PTS 10 Dec 12, 1986 Template:Small
11 Template:Yes2Win 11–0 Lupe Miranda PTS 10 Sep 12, 1986 Template:Small
10 Template:Yes2Win 10–0 Terry Baldwin TKO 7 Jul 21, 1986 Template:Small
9 Template:Yes2Win 9–0 Jorge Valdez TKO 3 Apr 28, 1986 Template:Small
8 Template:Yes2Win 8–0 Larry Villarreal UD 6 Mar 31, 1986 Template:Small
7 Template:Yes2Win 7–0 Terry Baldwin KO 2 (6), Template:Small Feb 24, 1986 Template:Small
6 Template:Yes2Win 6–0 Pablo Montano Template:Abbr 2 (6) Feb 17, 1986 Template:Small
5 Template:Yes2Win 5–0 Jose Maytorena Template:Abbr 1 Dec 12, 1985 Template:Small
4 Template:Yes2Win 4–0 Randy Archuleta PTS 6 Oct 29, 1985 Template:Small
3 Template:Yes2Win 3–0 Dino Ramirez UD 6 Jun 24, 1985 Template:Small
2 Template:Yes2Win 2–0 Martin Escobar Template:Abbr 4 Nov 17, 1984 Template:Small
1 Template:Yes2Win 1–0 Dino Ramirez Template:Abbr 4 Sep 27, 1984 Template:Small

Life after boxing

Hernández worked as a boxing color commentator on television, broadcasting several fights including the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Diego Corrales fight on January 20, 2001. He was a boxing instructor at the LA Boxing Gym in Lake Forest, California until early 2011. He also assisted with regional boxing broadcasts in California.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Illness and death

After retiring from boxing Hernández was diagnosed with stage four rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck, a very rare form of cancer, and one which Hernández' insurance would not cover for treatment. Although Hernández collected several large purses in his career, including $600,000 for his final fight against Mayweather,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he was not able to afford his expensive treatments and benefits were held to assist in paying what insurance would not cover. Bob Arum, of Top Rank Promotions, who promoted Hernández, footed Hernandez' bills for chemotherapy for a number of years, until Hernandez died, also having him brought to and from the chemotherapy sessions. In mid 2009 it was reported that Hernández' cancer was in remission<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but in early 2010 the cancer had returned and Hernández was undergoing treatment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On June 3, 2011, it was announced that Hernández would stop chemotherapy treatment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hernández died from cancer on June 7, 2011, at the age of 45.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Floyd Mayweather paid for Hernández's funeral expenses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Accolades

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Pay-per-view bouts

Date Fight Billing Buys Network
Template:Dts De La Hoya vs. Hernandez The Rivals 220,000<ref name="About.com History">Pay-Per-View History Template:Webarchive at about.com</ref> HBO

See also

References

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