By Ben Jacobs

Despite no official announcement as yet, it is understood that Hank Lundy (25-4-1, 12 KOs) will fight Mauricio Herrera (21-5, 7 KOs) on July 11 in an intriguing junior welterweight clash.

Lundy was last seen this past December in which he dropped what most would consider a close decision to Thomas Dulorme despite having hurt the Puerto Rican on more than one occasion.  Herrera is looking to rebound from yet another controversial loss, this time to José Benavidez Jr, a fight several observers scored for the California man.

BoxingScene.com reached out to ‘Hammerin’ Hank to get his early thoughts on the important encounter.

“You’ve got two warriors who are willing to step in the ring and put it all on the line,” he stated via telephone.

Lundy was due to face Russia’s Petr Petrov on short notice but ultimately could not make the lightweight limit.  Is he frustrated at the gap between fights?

“It’s the game, you know?  I’ve stayed in the gym and continued to work.  Good things happen, everything happens for a reason.

“At junior welterweight I’m stronger.  I can make lightweight, but I had nine days notice.  I came down from 157 and I came in at 138.  I felt they should have given me some credit for trying to make it and for taking the fight.  I had nine days notice. If there’s a world title opportunity I’ll go back down but if not there’s no use going down there.

“This fight right here is for the NABF title and that could lead to a world title.  I’m coming to put on a show.”

Lundy was not surprised that his former foe Dulorme was handily knocked out by Terrence Crawford.

“I gave everyone the blueprint on how to beat him,” Hank explained.

“The strategy I used, I fought in a brawler mode and I dominated the second half of the fight.  If it were one more round he would have been knocked out.”

Lundy’s fellow Philadelphian, Danny García, won a hotly disputed decision against Herrera in Puerto Rico and, Hank is one of many people who saw the fight differently to the judges. 

“I’m not gonna lie, I tell it like it is.  He gave Danny a hard time, on the scorecards I had him winning,  but that’s Danny García.  I give him (Herrera) his props. He does well against brawlers who can punch.  Now, I can box, use angles, I’m fast and can punch.  He’s in trouble.”

Lundy has opted to return to his roots in Philadelphia for training camp after previously preparing in Washington D.C.

“I feel as though Philadelphia is the boxing capital.  Whenever I train here I get good work.  I’m now back with my old coach. 

“After this fight we should look to get back in there in September.  I’ve got James Prince as my manager and we’re looking to get big fights.”