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R.I.P. - Genaro Hernández
Genaro Hernández, a former super featherweight champion, died today after a
lengthy battle with cancer.
The Mexican-American, who turned 45 on May 10, debuted in 1984, and retired in
1998, after dropping a decision to Floyd Mayweather. His record stood at
38-2-1, with 17 KOs.
He beat Daniel Londas to capture the vacant WBA super featherweight crown in
1991. He held that title until 1994, when he vacated it to move up in weight. A
title shot against Oscar De La Hoya came up short in 1995, but Hernandez
triumphed over Azumah Nelson in 1997, and "Chicanito" took his WBC super
featherweight crown.
The Los Angeles-based fighter battled the invader in his body hard. He had
tumors on his shoulders, on his thigh, on his neck and three on his back.
Hernandez will be remembered as a classy pugilist, one who used both hands to
good effect, moved smartly, used his height wisely...all told, he was a well
rounded boxer who had superior command of all the basics, and then some.
Some recall that he could have taken the easy way out against Nelson in 1997.
Nelson dropped Hernandez after the seventh round ended, and Genaro could have
opted out of continuing, as Nelson would have been disqualified. Hernandez said
heck with that, I want to continue. He valued honor, and doing the right thing.
He showed his toughness going in to the fight with De La Hoya. Shane Mosley
broke his nose in sparring a week before the opportunity of a lifetime.
Hernandez didn't pull out of the fight,however, and Oscar targeted it, and
broke it into 22 pieces.
Hernandez was hit hard in the 2001 stock market crash, largely because he
invested in Enron, which went belly up because of fraud. He needed a hand up
battling the cancer, and got it. Promoter Bob Arum helped financed many of his
treatments, so part of the boxer's legacy will be showing, or reminding people,
that the ********* fraternity isn't only populated by cads.
Condolences out to his wife Liliana, and children Amanda, and Steven.
Written by Michael Woods
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