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10/08/2006 Archived Entry: "‘Macho’ Miguel Hernandez Responds to Mike Michaels & Donovan George Interview"
‘Macho’ Miguel Hernandez Responds to Mike Michaels & Donovan George Interview
By Juan C. Ayllon
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Miguel Hernandez after winning his World Boxing Council USA Middleweight Title last year
CHICAGO –Popular Windy City middleweight Miguel Hernandez had a few things to say in response to Donovan George and Mike Michael’s interview last Thursday.*
Speaking by cell phone, he shared his thoughts as follows:
Well [it’s] not really to Donovan George, but to Mike Michael because Donovan didn’t really say nothing to me.
First, I want to say something that’s bothering me. Why would I even want to fight Donovan? People out there know Donovan as “Da Bomb,” a cocky fellow who struts around and poses after a fight. The Donovan that I know is very respectful, shakes your hand, gives you a hug and talks to your kid.
I talk to his father, Pete. They’re good people. I don’t need to fight Donovan. He’s a good fighter. He’s going to gain a lot in boxing. He’s got a lot to learn, but he’ll be a good fighter. And even his manager, Mike, he’s doing his job. He’s being a manager. His job is he’s managing George. He’s going to try to pump his fighter up.
I started fighting at an age that guys are ending their careers. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I won two titles, I got a world title. Everything he wants to do for Donovan, I’ve accomplished it.
To fight Donovan for no money, that wouldn’t make any sense. I see his father in the gym and I look up to that. If my sons, Joshuah, Jeovani, and Justin decide they want to fight, I want to be there for them. It means a lot to see Donovan’s dad there for him.
This is ridiculous. It bothered me at first. But later, I laughed. (Mike Michael) is a character. He talks a lot of (expletive) and he knows to get under peoples skin. And if I was just starting off and at the beginning of my career with nine fights, sure I would have taken that fight because it’s a good fight!
Let me take that back. I would never want to fight somebody from Chicago. I don’t think of Chicago as my town. I believe Chicago belongs to all the fighters from Chicago. No disrespect towards Donovan, but I don’t think he even lives in Chicago.
I bust my butt off in this game and I’ve earned the respect of a lot of people in Chicago. I’m living the dream, I train hard and I don’t know how long I’ll be boxing. Right now, I’m looking for an opportunity to make some money. There are a lot of good boxers here in Chicago. For example, I have to take my hat off to David Estrada, David Diaz, Rudy Cisneros, Mike Mollo, Rita Figueroa, Michael Walker, Jermaine Sanders, and to all the other fighters I left out. There’s a lot of fighters and we look out for each other.
Donovan is a lucky kid. The way Mike Michaels talks, he’s got a lot of money. He better have a lot of money, because he’s going to have to send him out of Chicago to find sparring or pay them to spar him, because he’s calling everybody out here in Chicago and now guys are going to want to get paid to spar Donovan.
I get sparring here in Chicago who are world ranked, but I don’t charge a dime!
Mike Michael’s very good for the sport. He knows what he’s doing. I don’t agree with everything he says, but obviously he knows what he’s doing. I don’t agree with him calling out guys, but that’s his job.
If Donovan becomes a champion, I’ll be happy for him, because I know the kid and I know how hard he works for it. If ANYBODY from my gym becomes a champ, I’m going to be happy for them!
My thing is that I’m looking to get a couple wins and hopefully land a good payday down the line
Donovan’s father called me up because my trainer, Sam Colonna, helps Pete and Donovan in the corner. Pete’s a good friend. He tries to give me advice on what I’m doing in the gym. He called me when the interview came out and we talked. I have nothing but respect for Pete and his son. He is a good fighter.
But, there is a lot of good fighters here, in Chicago, as well.
Like I said, a lot of people were upset with the interview with Donovan George and Mike Michaels. But I say life is too short to be upset with anybody.
That fight between Donovan and me is not going to happen. He has nothing that I want. He needs me. I don’t need him.
And, if he ends up fighting here in Chicago, I’m one of his biggest fans and I’ll be cheering him on, like I’ll be for all my other Chicago fighters, you know?
I want to thank my trainer, Sam Colonna and ALL the fighters here from Windy City and all the gyms in Chicago—JABB Gym, Garfield Park—and I want to thank all the fighters who were there for me when I was training. And I’ll be there for them, too.
I’m not getting any younger and I want to lead by example for my son that when people talk (expletive), you don’t always have to retaliate. You can be respectful. You live a happier life that way, you know?
*You can read this interview by clicking on this link:
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/news/archives/00002521.htm
