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04/08/2006 Archived Entry: "Chicago Trainer, Jorge Hernandez: 'I'll Put My Money on Floyd!'"
Chicago Trainer, Jorge Hernandez: 'I'll Put My Money on Floyd!'
CHICAGO - As Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Zab Judah prepare in the final moments for their Championship clash over the IBF and Vacant WBO Welterweight Titles tonight at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, experienced trainer and cutman Jorge Hernandez has definite ideas of who's going to win.
Hernandez said, "I'll put my money on Floyd because that man demonstrates--and I've known him personally for many years--he demonstrates poise, he demonstrates confidence, [and] he has the skills. So, yes, you can go talk all you want, [but] you've got what it takes to be champion."
Continuing, he said, "On the other side, Judah he wants to blame somebody else for his misfortunes. That, to me, says he wasn't doing what he was supposed to do. So now you've got to find fault or excuses to blame somebody for what he did or didn't do. Because when he lost to that Argentine guy [Baldomir], he was blaming Don King.
"Hey, you are in control of your own destiny! Grab it by what they call the reins and keep riding that horse, baby! But you don't let nobody tell you what to do or how to break your camp because of this or that. Nah-ah! You say, look at, Don King, I've got to train, I've got to fight! I'll do that interview when I can.
"But if you're the type of guy that somebody else says, 'Come over here, I've got to introduce you to 2 Pak, or 50 Cent or Tyra Banks and your [butt] leaves the gym to see Tyra Banks, you're not a real fighter! Then, you're a publicity seeker.
"There are people that get hooked on being in the spotlight. They want to see their names in the marquee, they want to see their names in the magazines. The one you've got to look out for is the quiet guy that never talks too much in the gym. He comes out and does what he's got to do.
"I like Floyd Mayweather because he backs it up with his skills."
Mayweather, 35-0, 24 knockouts, has been the World Boxing Council title holder at super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight and stopped former IBF Interim and WBA Light Welterweight Champion Sharmba Mitchell in his debut at welterweight in November.
Judah, 35-3 with 25 knockouts, held the IBF Light Welterweight Title in 2001 until Kostya Tszyu stopped him in the second round. He won the WBO Light Welterweight Title in 2003, lost a bid for Cory Spink's welterweight titles in 2004, then took it in a rematch by stoppage in the ninth round in 2005. In January of this year, he lost the WBC belt by unanimous decsion to Carlos Baldomir in a startling upset.
