By Jake Donovan
Not too long after the date was pushed back three weeks for Adrian Hernandez’ next ring appearance, the defending junior flyweight titlist now also has a new opponent.
Hernandez is still set to make the third defense of his second 108 lb. title reign, which now takes place on August 31 in Mexico City after being pushed back from its original August 10 date. The challenger for the Televisa-televised main event will be Mexico’s own Odilon Zaleta, replacing Atsushi Kakutani, who was removed from the show for unspecified reasons.
The second title run for Hernandez (27-2-1, 16KO) has already lasted longer than his first, in terms of length and success. The free-swinging Mexican won his first belt in April ’11, but lost it before year’s end in a 10th round knockout loss to Kompayak Porpramook in their Dec. ’11 thriller in Thailand.
Hernandez emphatically regained the title ten months later, stopping Porpramook in six one-sided rounds in their rematch last October in Mexico. His showdown with Zaleta later this month will mark his third fight of 2013 – all title defenses - and six within a span of just 14 months.
Zaleta (15-2, 8KO) accepts the fight on short notice, returning to the ring for the first time in more than 10 months. The pint-sized puncher has won four of his last five fights, including an 11th round stoppage of Edgar Jimenez in Dec. ’11. His lone loss over that stretch was a 2nd round knockout defeat at the hands of perennial Top 10 flyweight Luis Concepcion last May.
Appearing in supporting capacity, Irma Garcia puts her unbeaten record (7-0-1, 1KO) and bantamweight title on the line in her second title defense. The undefeated southpaw takes on former reality boxing star Jessica Gonzalez in a title fight scheduled for 10 two-minute rounds.
Both fights will air live on Mexico Televisa.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox