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09/26/2007 Archived Entry: "Miguel Hernandez Speaks Out on his experience on ‘The Contender’"
Miguel Hernandez Speaks Out on his experience on ‘The Contender’
By Juan C. Ayllon
Hernandez (right) with David Estrada following a bout in Chicago several years ago
Chicago’s popular super middleweight, “Macho” Miguel Hernandez, had some things to say on the heels of losing a rousing battle to Wayne Johnsen on ESPN’s boxing reality show, The Contender.
Jarring Johnsen several times, he nevertheless lost by unanimous decision over five rounds. Hernandez' record now stands at 20-6 with 10 knockouts, while Johnsen advanced to 16-1 with 9 knockouts.
On being back in Chicago:
I’m just working and training same old thing. I got a lot of phone calls after yesterday. A lot of people were happy. They were going to show the whole fight in its entirety later on this week without no editing. I haven’t seen any of the fights (yet).
On his experience on “The Contender”:
I went into the show an underdog. Basically, my whole career was like that. I didn’t (really) have an amateur career. Anyone from the Blue Team was supposed to knock me out.
When the Gold team won the first fight, they gave us the power of choice [of whom they would fight]. Jaidon Codrington won the first fight. He beat Brian Vera. So that gave us power of choice. The second fight was Sam Soliman against Max Alexander.
Buddy McGirt said when Sam Soliman wins his fight, I was going to pick Wayne Johnsen. As a team, we had already decided who we were going to fight. I ended up having to fight Wayne Johnson. I was glad because he ended up coming in first in the Sparq Test.
Everyone on the Blue Team thought I was an easy victory. And come fight night, I proved ‘em wrong. I felt I had Wayne Johnson hurt in the third and the fifth round. It was a hell of a fight. You know, one more round, I woud have knocked him out.
Everyone that’s seen me fight [knows] that’s my problem—I’m a slow starter. Going into the fourth round, I was getting warmed up. I have no regrets. I wish Wayne Johnson all the best. I wish them all the best. We’ll see what happens. People should keep watching; it’s a great show.
I want to thank Belt Railway of Chicago. And I also want to thank Cicero Auxiliary Police, and Larry Dominic, the mayor of Cicero for all their support.
And I also want to thank Dominic [Pesoli] for letting me train at JABB [Boxing Gym]. I'm grateful for all he's done for me!
