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02/09/2005 Archived Entry: "Miguel Hernandez Takes Lessons to Heart, Wants Rematch!"
Miguel Hernandez Takes Lessons to Heart, Wants Rematch!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Miguel Hernandez trains his obliques at Dr. Stoxen's Team Doctor's Treatment Center
CHICAGO, IL—Popular Chicago boxer and Illinois State Middleweight Champion, “Macho” Miguel Hernandez, is upset. In his last fight, he made some mistakes. In hopes of clearing those up, he would like to have a rematch that was promised to him at the conclusion of the bout.
His prior opponent was Shay Mobley. In their fight on January 14th, Mobley proved to be the better man; he landed more cleanly and with greater effect, hurting Hernandez several times and appeared on the cusp of a stoppage victory on an occasion or two. By comparison, Hernandez appeared uncharacteristically flat. He struggled to get his punches off effectively.
At the conclusion of their bout, Mobley promised a rematch. Now, he’s talking about a tune-up bout first.
Reflecting on this disappointing bout, Hernandez spoke at length about the bout, what he learned from it and where he wants to go from here.
[Editor's note: For details on Hernandez’ bout versus Mobley, click on the link below:
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/news/archives/00000673.htm ]
Fast forward to February 9th, 2005. Almost a month later, Hernandez is more philosophical about the bout. Here then are his thoughts, as shared with us.
On how he’s feeling:
MIGUEL HERNANDEZ: I’m okay, Man.
On rumors that Hernandez’ running around town, selling tickets, and distracting activities affected his preparations and his focus negatively:
MH: This is a business. I know what I have to do; I train hard. I’m responsible for the tickets that I have, I have to collect the money. That had nothing to do with the fight. If something was wrong with me, and I stepped into the ring, [that’s boxing] and he was a better man that day. I don’t’ want to take nothing away from Shay. I just want him to respect his word.
On reports that a virus and a rib injury affected his fight versus Shay Mobley:
MH: I shouldn’t have fought that day. [But] I don’t want to make any excuses. I wanted a rematch the next match, but they wanted to do something different, and I’m upset.
Once again that’s making excuses for the fight; I was sick, there was a virus going around. I was sparring and I got hit in the rib. But that had nothing to do with it! I stepped into the ring. I really don’t want to talk about it. Had I won the fight, that never would have come up. So, I don’t want to bring that up. I respect anybody that fights.
I don’t want to make any excuses. The people who know how I fight know my punches had no snap on it.
On any deviations in training for his last bout versus Mobley compared to other bouts:
MH: I cheated a little bit—we all cheat a little, sometimes; I wasn’t’ going to [Dr.] Stoxen’s that much [to do core abdominal work]. It helps me, so, like my father says, if it ain’t broke, don’t’ fix it. I should have stayed with it. The one prior to this fight, against Chris Holt [10-3-0 and 7 KO’s at the time, whom Hernandez stopped in the fourth round], I did. It’s hard work, as Stoxen says, you’ve got to make a schedule, you have to have an appointment set; you have to run in the morning. If I stick with it, it will come out good.
On Changes he's making this time around:
MH: I’ve been working out working my ass off with him doing my exercises with him. You don’t realize how much that helps, that strengthening and conditioning! Dr. Stoxen is a good help and a good friend. My training my running, it stays the same, it’s just more strengthening and conditioning.
On his efforts to secure a rematch with Shay Mobley through Mobley’s promoter, Octavius James [of One in a Million Boxing, Inc.]:
MH: After the fight, he [Mobley] said, Miguel whenever you want to fight, I’ll do it again. I just thank you for the opportunity. Then, [later on] he says he wants a tune-up fight in March!
I read something in Cyber Boxing Zone that said he dominated me. If I was so easy, why not fight me again; why would you need a tune-up fight?
I have great respect for Octavius and Shay. I didn’t’ have anything to gain from that fight. If I would have beat him, I had nothing to gain; he had everything to gain. I fought some tough guys that I beat. Not to take away anything from Shay.
I talked with him [Octavius] on the phone. I said if I gave them an opportunity, I wanted a rematch. They said they would talk to Shay.
He won the fight, yes he did and I’m glad they gave him the decision. That shows that there’s no favoritism. But lets’ do it again with more at stake; he’s fighting for a belt. I even made a deal with Octavius: I said, I’ve talked with him plenty of times and I’ve never been cocky. I said that after I win the fight, because I know I will, he can carry the belt for me back to the locker room. They never called me back.
I’m going to fight April 8th; it’s not going to be when he wants’ to fight me; there’s still time to fight me; he doesn’t have to fight March 25th.
I know that rematch with [Chris] Troupe never happened. But this [loss with Shay Mobley] is the only loss I have in my mind. I was man enough to let him [Mobley] fight me on TV and I didn’t have to fight him, but I did. I would like the rematch like he said, and I would like it to be my next fight.
On if Mobley does not accept an April 8th rematch:
MH: I wish him nothing but the best. As a fighter from Chicago, I wish nothing but the best for a fighter from Chicago. This last weekend, I was at my brothers wedding in Florida and it hurt me that David Diaz lost. I never want to fight somebody from Chicago unless someone moves up. I get along with these guys from Chicago. I have three kids. We’re not making nothing out of it.
My thing is that I’m a man and if I give my word, it’s as a man. And Shay Mobley came up to me as a man and gave me his word for a rematch. He said if I wanted a rematch, he would give me a rematch. If we fight again it will benefit both of us; if he wins he gets the title (Illinois State Title).
If it comes down the line and it’s going to benefit me, then great. I’m looking to move up. He moved up because of his fight with me. There are a lot of fighters out there with losses; look at [Ricardo] Mayorga, it doesn’t mean anything. I’ll move on.
On whether a rematch with Mobley is a good move for his career:
MH: He doesn’t seem to think it is. You know, I just feel a rematch would be good. He said he would give a rematch and I would like a rematch. I think I’ll come in the same or better condition as he did and it will be a better fight. Last time he beat me easy, maybe this time he’ll knock me out. I just don’t see why he won’t take it.
On his next fight:
MH: April 8th fight, I’ve got a couple names; I’m going to work it out with my promoter and matchmaker [Editor's note: Hernandez is promoted by Dominic Pesoli/8 Count Productions ]. They told me forget about Shay—he’s fighting March 25th, if he gets cut or hurt, then it’s off. I’ve got to fight. We’ll see what happens.
I wish all the Chicago fighters the best. [For example] Carlos Andre or Andole’—I don't know how to spell it--he just won the title at junior middleweight. To me, he’s a stable mate; we train together at Windy City.
On how his training is coming along:
MH: Just the basics, lots of running, lots of shadow boxing, bag work, pad work and I get sparring in March. February is mostly cardio and March is when sparring starts up.
With Stoxen, I’m doing core ab work lot of reps at a fast pace. It does work! My manager, Ronny Garcia has been able to help me focus more on my workouts.
After the fight with Shay Mobley, some people said a lot of crazy things, like they were wondering what was wrong with me, [knowing] that that’s not the way I fight.
We’ll see April 8th. That’s where I get to prove myself in the ring. You’ve got to let your hands do the talking. Whoever I fight on April 8th, they’ll have their hands full because I’m going in there to win.
Photo by Juan C. Ayllon
