Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez is set for a hero’s welcome back home.
The former title challenger is due to fight in his Mexico City hometown atop a January 17 ESPN Knockout/Televisa show from Alcaldia Cuauhtémoc. An opponent was not yet named for the occasion, though BXSTRS Promotions confirmed the event will kick off its official business for the new year.
“Boxing returns to the Cuauhtémoc Mayor's Office, CDMX,” BXSTRS announced via social media on Tuesday. “We open this 2026 with the homecoming of @ERockyHernandez in an event with international broadcast by @espnknockout and #Boxtelevisa at the @AlcCuauhtemocMx.”
Hernandez, 37-2 (33 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since a lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision win over countryman Rene Tellez Giron. Their February 28 clash took place in Gatineau, Canada, in conjunction with a newfound partnership between Matchroom Boxing – Hernandez’s co-promoter at the time – and locally-based Yvon Michel.
The win was the third in a row for Hernandez, since his heartbreaking 12th round knockout loss to WBC 130lbs titlist O’Shaquie Foster in their October 2023 thriller in Cancun. He was on course to re-enter the title mix, as he was ordered to face Mark Magsayo in a title eliminator.
Both parties hoped to move forward with the fight, but the matter was tabled when medical experts couldn’t agree on the status of a previous eye injury.
A medical review by the WBC expressed concern that he would not be cleared to fight in a timely fashion. Hernandez’s own doctor’s visit provided a far more optimistic timeline, which has left his team in search of a third opinion and a medical split decision in his favor.
That ruling never came, as Hernandez has been sidelined for the balance of 2025 – though also for other and since resolved matters.
Hernandez has regularly fought in his home country, but not in Mexico City since a July 2018 knockout win over Marlyn Cabrera.
The upcoming appearance will mark Hernandez’s 11th in his hometown.
Per BXSTRS, also confirmed for the show are:
- Gabriel Jimenez, 12-1 (8 KOs) vs. Daniel Sanchez, 13-11-1 (10 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round, junior welterweight battle.
- Raymundo Rojas, 15-2 (11 KOs) vs. Juan Salvador Hernandez, 8-5-2 (2 KOs) in a featherweight contest also scheduled for 10 rounds.
