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11/05/2006 Archived Entry: "Miguel Hernandez to Fight Yuri Foreman December 2nd in Atlantic City!"
Miguel Hernandez to Fight Yuri Foreman December 2nd in Atlantic City!
Interview and photo by Juan C. Ayllon
Hernandez (left) clowns with Jonathan Corn as his son is hoisted up behind him following his win in April 2005
CHICAGO –“MACHO” Miguel Hernandez is back in town inspired and in shape after a rousing training camp in Las Vegas. There, he served as sparring partner for Enrique Ornelas (25-2, 15 KO’s), who will be fighting Sam Soliman (32-8, 13 KO’s), a contender who went 12 rounds with one of boxing’s best, Ronald “Winky" Wright.
Experience aside, this is good, because on December 2nd, Hernandez will travel to Atlantic City to tackle undefeated middleweight Yuri Foreman, a native Belarussian by way of New York. Standout trainer Tommy Brooks trains Foreman. At 5’ 11” and 21-0 with 8 knockouts, Foreman looks to be a formidable challenge.
Hernandez is a popular fighter in Chicago. However, at 32 years age and 19-5 with 9 knockouts, Hernandez is nearing the twilight of his career. He won the World Boxing Council USA Middleweight Title over Ryan Davis on February 10, 2006 by majority decision, but has lost his last two fights since then inside the distance to ex-world champions Raul Marquez and Yory Boy Campas.
Hernandez-Foreman will be featured on a fight card that features two world championships: Antonio Margarito defending his WBO Welterweight Title against Joshua Clottey and Miguel Cotto versus Carlos Quintana for the vacant WBA Welterweight Title.
Hernandez shared his thoughts on the fight card, training camp, and facing Yuri Foreman.
On the fight card:
MIGUEL HERNANDEZ: Cotto-Quintana is going to be a hell of a fight because Quintana upset Joel Julio this last year. I’m just happy to be on that card.
On training camp:
MH: I had a great training camp. It was very tricky out there. We did a lot of running. They took me to the Mayweather fight afterwards.
The ‘Pocket Rocket,’ Wayne McCullough (who trains Ornelas) is a hell of a trainer! He was nothing but helpful to me. He pushed me. He said, ‘C’mon, Miguel, pick it up! Let’s go!’ He did hand pads training with me. It was a learning experience. Wayne McCullough made me feel at home out there and said I’m welcome to train out there anytime. That meant a lot to me.
I tell it like it is. Juan, it’s a whole different world. If you get a chance to do something, do it! It’s not about the money. Everyone knows that I don’t make much money on this. It’s about doing something that means something to you. I’m living the dream.
I want to thank Al Hayman, he’s Enrique Ornelas’ manager. He the one that got me tickets for the Mayweather-Baldomir fight and made me feel at home.
Special thanks to Enrique Ornelas for all the good advice and the hard sparring. I learned a lot from him. I know he's going to win this fight! He's humble and real polite. They treated me very well, like I was part of their camp.
I also want to thank Pablo. I sparred with Pablo my last day. It was a war! He pushed me and I pushed him.
I want to thank Francisco, who’s an up and coming undefeated fighter. I sparred with Francisco.
I want to thank Jason Papillion for his advice. Jason’s a veteran who’s been in there with Winky Wright, Bronco McCart and was the NABF Junior Middleweight Champion.
On helping others:
MH: My kids see how hard I’m working. I want to be able to help other fighters when I’m not fighting.
On his thoughts on coming back to Chicago to train, as well as his thoughts on his fight versus Foreman:
MH: I know I’m going to have a good one here, too! I’m looking forward to seeing my training partners.
I was homesick. I missed my family. I missed my boys!
At this weight, I feel I’m going to be stronger. I’m coming down in weight. I’m going to try to be at 154. The weight is going to be at 156. That’s the contract weight. My goal is to come down to 154 and stay there.
I’m just excited to be fighting. I’m living the dream. There’s no other way to put it.
I want to train hard to represent Chicago. He’s the undefeated guy! He’s got more to lose. Everyone expects him to win. He’s got all the pressure on him. I have nothing to lose.
If I win this fight, they’ll have to start paying me (the big bucks).
I hope everything turns out. If not, I have nothing to hang my head about.
When I came into the gym (in Las Vegas) and said I was 32 years old, they said, ‘No way! You have a baby face.’
* * *
If all goes as planned, on the evening of December 2nd, Yuri Foreman will be thinking the same thing as he watches Miguel’s hand being raised.
