Genaro Hernandez
Encyclopedia
Genaro Hernández was a Mexican-American boxer
from South Central Los Angeles. Hernández was the former WBC
, WBA
, & Lineal
super featherweight
champion.
. He racked up a record of 13-0 with 6 knockout
s 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. 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.
, on November 22, 1991 at Épernay
, France. Hernández did not disappoint those who had predicted him to be a future world champion as he knocked out world champion Londas in nine rounds in front of Londas' hometown crowd, becoming World Junior Lightweight champion. 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.
His next fight proved historic, albeit for the wrong reasons. Defending on April 26, 1993, once again at 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 arteric vein on his forehead. The referee summoned the ring doctor, who decided the fight should be stopped as Perez required immediate surgery. In the June 28th 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 sadly 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
.
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 another Mexican boxing legend, Jorge Maromero Páez
, by a knockout in eight rounds at Inglewood. The Hernández-Páez fight was overshadowed by another news that rattled the Hispanic world that day: The death of famed Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla.
. Hernández lost for the first time in his career as he was knocked out in six rounds by the younger, heavier De La Hoya. 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.
for the WBC & Lineal
super featherweight
titles, in Corpus Christi, Texas
. 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. 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.
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.
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.
before the diagnosis.
Hernández worked as a boxing instructor at the LA Boxing Gym in Lake Forest, California until early 2011. He helped out in a broadcast of a boxing match in Maywood after that.
|-
|-
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from South Central Los Angeles. Hernández was the former WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
, WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
, & Lineal
Lineal championship
In professional boxing, the lineal championship of a weight class is a notional world championship title. It is initially held at some moment in time by a boxer universally acclaimed as the best in the class. Another boxer can win the lineal championship only by defeating the reigning lineal...
super featherweight
Super Featherweight
Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms....
champion.
Pro career
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 at InglewoodInglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
. He racked up a record of 13-0 with 6 knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
s and a solid reputation as a future champion around Southern California, when he met former Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
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
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
super featherweight rankings. 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.
WBA super featherweight title
Exactly two years after his win over Rojas, Hernández got his first world title try, against Daniel LondasDaniel Londas
Daniel Londas is a former boxer who competed for France in the men's featherweight competition at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. After a first-round bye, he was eliminated in the second round by Soviet Viktor Rybakov .Londas then became a professional, recording 58 wins , 9 losses and 1...
, on November 22, 1991 at Épernay
Épernay
Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in northern France. Épernay is located some 130 km north-east of Paris on the main line of the Eastern railway to Strasbourg...
, France. Hernández did not disappoint those who had predicted him to be a future world champion as he knocked out world champion Londas in nine rounds in front of Londas' hometown crowd, becoming World Junior Lightweight champion. In 1992, he defended his crown twice, knocking out Omar Catari
Omar Catari
Omar Catari Peraza is a former Venezuelan boxer. At the 1984 Summer Olympics he won the bronze medal in the men's featherweight division , alongside with Türgüt Aykaç of Turkey....
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.
His next fight proved historic, albeit for the wrong reasons. Defending on April 26, 1993, once again at Inglewood against former world featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
champion Raúl Pérez
Raúl Pérez
Raúl Pérez is a former boxer from Mexico. He has won world titles in two weight divisions.- Professional career :...
, 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 arteric vein on his forehead. The referee summoned the ring doctor, who decided the fight should be stopped as Perez required immediate surgery. In the June 28th rematch later that year, Hernández retained the world title by a knockout in round eight. Hernandez then closed the year by defeating Harold Warren
Harold Warren
Harold Ray Warren is a professional boxer in the Welterweight division. He's the former NABF Featherweight, WBC International Super Featherweight, and WBO NABO Lightweight champion.-Pro career:...
by decision to once again keep his title. In 1994, Hernandez retained the title twice, including a victory over Jimmy Garcia, (who would sadly die later after a fight with Gabriel Ruelas
Gabriel Ruelas
Gabriel Ruelas, , was a professional boxer.Career=Ruelas turned pro in 1988 and in 1993 challenged WBC Super Featherweight Title holder Azumah Nelson, losing a close majority decision. In 1994 he was able to capture the title by outpointing Jesse James Leija...
). By the end of 1994, Hernández was clamoring for a world title fight against crosstown rival and WBO lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
champion Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
.
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 another Mexican boxing legend, Jorge Maromero Páez
Jorge Paez
Jorge Adolfo Febles Páez is a Mexican boxer, actor and circus performer. Páez is the former WBO and IBF Featherweight champion. Paez is nicknamed " El Maromero", in honor of the acts he performs at the circus. Paez has been a circus performer in his northwest Mexico hometown since he was very young...
, by a knockout in eight rounds at Inglewood. The Hernández-Páez fight was overshadowed by another news that rattled the Hispanic world that day: The death of famed Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla.
Lightweight
On September 9, the highly anticipated encounter between Hernández and de la Hoya took place in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Hernández lost for the first time in his career as he was knocked out in six rounds by the younger, heavier De La Hoya. 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.
WBC super featherweight title
In 1997, he fought what almost turned into another controversial fight when he challenged Azumah NelsonAzumah Nelson
Azumah Nelson , a native of Ghana, is a former professional boxer. He is a three-time world champion in two weight classes.Nelson is the former Lineal and two-time WBC Super Featherweight Champion...
for the WBC & Lineal
Lineal championship
In professional boxing, the lineal championship of a weight class is a notional world championship title. It is initially held at some moment in time by a boxer universally acclaimed as the best in the class. Another boxer can win the lineal championship only by defeating the reigning lineal...
super featherweight
Super Featherweight
Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms....
titles, in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
. 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
José Sulaimán
José Sulaimán Chagnón is a Mexican boxing official of Lebanese-descent. He is the president of the World Boxing Council....
came to his corner and informed him that if he could not continue he would be declared winner by disqualification. 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
Super Featherweight
Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms....
titles by defeating Nelson with a split decision victory.
Hernández went on to defend his crown against such capable challengers as future super featherweight champion Anatoly Alexandrov, Carlos Gerena
Carlos Gerena
Carlos Gerena Allende was a contender in the super featherweight division of boxing. He was nicknamed "El Topo".- Amateur career :*1990 Competed as a Flyweight at 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle...
and another future world champion Carlos Famoso Hernandez, a gym-mate and personal friend who would later become El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
's first world boxing champion in history.
In what would turn out to be his last fight, on October 3 of 1998 he lost his titles to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Joy Mayweather, Jr. is an American professional boxer. He is a five-division world champion, where he has won seven world titles, as well as the lineal championship in three different weight classes...
by an 8th round retirement.
Retirement
In December of 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 BazánCesar Bazan
César Bazán Pérez is a former professional boxer in the Light Welterweight division and is the former WBC Lightweight Champion.-Professional career:...
before the diagnosis.
Professional record
| Result | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss |  Floyd Mayweather Jr. |
RTD | 8 | 1998-10-03 | Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| Win |  Carlos GerenaCarlos Gerena Carlos Gerena Allende was a contender in the super featherweight division of boxing. He was nicknamed "El Topo".- Amateur career :*1990 Competed as a Flyweight at 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle... |
UD | 12 | 1998-05-16 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California |
|
| Win | Carlos Hernandez Carlos Hernandez (boxer) Carlos Hernández is a retired Salvadoran American boxer. He made boxing history by becoming the IBF super featherweight champion by beating David Santos. Carlos Hernández counted in that fight with the backing up of Alexis Argüello, Roberto Durán and the Salvadoran President, all of whom were at... |
UD | 12 | 1997-11-20 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
|
| Win |  Anatoly AlexandrovAnatoly Alexandrov Anatoly Alexandrov may refer to:*Anatoly Nikolayevich Alexandrov , Soviet composer and People's Artist of the USSR*Anatoly Petrovich Alexandrov , Soviet/Russian physicist and academician... |
SD | 12 | 1997-06-14 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas |
|
| Win |  Azumah NelsonAzumah Nelson Azumah Nelson , a native of Ghana, is a former professional boxer. He is a three-time world champion in two weight classes.Nelson is the former Lineal and two-time WBC Super Featherweight Champion... |
SD | 12 | 1997-03-22 | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas |
|
| Win |  Antonio Hernandez |
UD | 10 | 1996-09-28 | Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
|
| Win | Javier Pichardo |
TKO | 5 | 1996-05-08 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California |
|
| Loss | Oscar De La Hoya Oscar de la Hoya Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother... |
RTD | 6 | 1995-09-09 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| Win | Jorge Paez Jorge Paez Jorge Adolfo Febles Páez is a Mexican boxer, actor and circus performer. Páez is the former WBO and IBF Featherweight champion. Paez is nicknamed " El Maromero", in honor of the acts he performs at the circus. Paez has been a circus performer in his northwest Mexico hometown since he was very young... |
TKO | 8 | 1995-03-31 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California |
|
| Win |  Jimmy Garcia |
UD | 12 | 1994-11-12 | Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico |
|
| Win | Jorge Ramirez |
TKO | 8 | 1994-01-31 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win | Harold Warren Harold Warren Harold Ray Warren is a professional boxer in the Welterweight division. He's the former NABF Featherweight, WBC International Super Featherweight, and WBO NABO Lightweight champion.-Pro career:... |
UD | 12 | 1993-10-11 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win | Raul Perez Raúl Pérez Raúl Pérez is a former boxer from Mexico. He has won world titles in two weight divisions.- Professional career :... |
KO | 8 | 1993-06-28 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Raul Perez Raúl Pérez Raúl Pérez is a former boxer from Mexico. He has won world titles in two weight divisions.- Professional career :... |
TD | 1 | 1993-04-26 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
||
| Win |  Yuji Watanabe |
TKO | 6 | 1992-11-20 | Metropolitan Gym, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win | Masuaki Takeda |
UD | 12 | 1992-07-15 | International Center, Fukuoka, Japan |
|
| Win |  Omar CatariOmar Catari Omar Catari Peraza is a former Venezuelan boxer. At the 1984 Summer Olympics he won the bronze medal in the men's featherweight division , alongside with Türgüt Aykaç of Turkey.... |
UD | 12 | 1992-02-24 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win |  Daniel LondasDaniel Londas Daniel Londas is a former boxer who competed for France in the men's featherweight competition at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. After a first-round bye, he was eliminated in the second round by Soviet Viktor Rybakov .Londas then became a professional, recording 58 wins , 9 losses and 1... |
TKO | 9 | 1991-11-22 | Complex Sport le COMEP, Épernay, Marne, France |
|
| Win | Pedro Arroyo |
DQ | 10 | 1991-02-11 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win | Rodolfo Gomez |
KO | 5 | 1990-12-06 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win | Ben Lopez |
TKO | 6 | 1990-09-22 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win | Richard Abila |
KO | 3 | 1990-08-27 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win |  Leon Collins |
KO | 3 | 1990-05-10 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win | Felipe Orozco |
UD | 10 | 1989-07-31 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win |  Ed Pollard |
UD | 10 | 1989-05-15 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win | Refugio Rojas |
KO | 6 | 1988-11-22 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
| Win | Jose Mosqueda |
UD | 10 | 1988-07-25 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | Juan Manuel Vega |
TKO | 9 | 1988-04-25 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | Kenny Wyatt |
UD | 10 | 1987-08-31 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | J L Ivey |
UD | 10 | 1986-12-12 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| Win | Lupe Miranda |
UD | 10 | 1986-09-12 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| Win | Terry Baldwin |
TKO | 7 | 1986-07-21 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | Jorge Valdez |
TKO | 3 | 1986-04-28 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | Larry Villarreal |
UD | 6 | 1986-03-31 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | Terry Baldwin |
KO | 2 | 1986-02-24 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | Pablo Montano |
TKO | 2 | 1986-02-17 | Phoenix, Arizona |
|
| Win | Jose Maytorena |
KO | 1 | 1985-12-12 | Fairgrounds, Bakersfield, California |
|
| Win | Randy Archuleta |
UD | 6 | 1985-10-29 | Stockton, California |
|
| Win | Dino Ramirez |
UD | 6 | 1985-06-24 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California |
|
| Win | Martin Escobar |
UD | 4 | 1984-11-17 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
|
| Win | Dino Ramirez |
UD | 4 | 1984-09-27 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California |
|
Life after boxing
After retiring from boxing Hernández was diagnosed with fourth-stage cancer of the head and neck, a very rare form of cancer, and one which Hernández' insurance would not cover for treatment. Although Hernández has collected several large purses in his career, including $600,000 for his final fight against Mayweather, he was not able to afford his expensive treatments and benefits were held to assist in paying what insurance would not cover. In mid 2009 it was reported that Hernández' cancer was in remission but in early 2010 the cancer had returned and Hernández was undergoing treatment. On June 3rd, 2011, it was announced that Hernández would stop chemotherapy treatment.Hernández worked as a boxing instructor at the LA Boxing Gym in Lake Forest, California until early 2011. He helped out in a broadcast of a boxing match in Maywood after that.
Death
Hernández died from cancer on June 7, 2011 at the age of 45.|-
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See also
- List of Mexican boxing world champions
- List of super featherweight boxing champions
- List of WBC world champions
- List of WBA world champions