By Jake Donovan
The search lasted long enough to force Alejandro 'Payasito' Hernandez to delay his next ring start by two weeks, but an opponent has finally been sought for his August 7 headliner at Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City. The bantamweight contender and local favorite faces countryman Humberto Morales in a 10-round bout topping the summer season finale of Boxeo Telemundo.
The pairing pits two fighters each with 11 career losses, but both providing proof that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Hernandez (29-11-2, 15KOs) has won four of his past five starts, including a 10-round decision over Martin Casillas this past March, having also aired live on Telemundo in the very same hosting venue as his upcoming August 7 headliner. The 29-year old fighting pride of Mexico City enjoyed a huge bounceback year in 2014, scoring upset wins over title hopefuls Marvin Mabait and Daniel Rosas to eventually land his own title shot.
That moment came last November, falling short in a competitive affair with then-unbeaten bantamweight titlist Tomoki Kameda in their Showtime-televised clash in Chicago, Illinois.
Morales (14-11-4, 8KOs) is in the midst of one of the more bizarre unbeaten streaks in recent memory. The 25-year old from Veracruz had lost five straight at one point, but has managed to avoid defeat in each of his past seven starts.
However, he has only managed four wins over that stretch, boasting a record of 4-0-2-1NC (1KO) since last February. His most recent start came in February, fighting to a 10-round draw with countryman Edgar Jimenez.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox