Genaro Hernández


Genaro Hernández was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1998. He was a two-time super featherweight world champion, having held the WBA title from 1991 to 1995, and the WBC and lineal titles from 1997 to 1998. Additionally, he challenged for the WBO lightweight title in 1995.

Professional career

Hernández, a Mexican-American, enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional boxer. His debut as a paid fighter came on September 27, 1984, when he beat Dino Ramirez by a decision in four rounds at Inglewood. He racked up a record of 13–0 with 6 knockouts and a solid reputation as a future champion around Southern California, when he met former Julio César Chávez world title challenger Refugio Rojas on November 22, 1988. He beat Rojas, who had lasted seven rounds against Chávez, by a knockout in round six. This enabled Hernández to enter the WBA super featherweight rankings. Hernandez went on to win seven more fights, four by knockout, including one over former world title challenger Felipe Orozco, and another, in his first professional fight abroad: a three round knockout over Leon Collins in Tokyo, Japan.

WBA super featherweight champion

Exactly two years after his win over Rojas, Hernández got his first world title try, against Daniel Londas, on November 22, 1991 at Épernay, France. Hernández did not disappoint those who had predicted him to be a future world champion as he knocked out world champion Londas in nine rounds in front of Londas' hometown crowd, becoming World Junior Lightweight champion. In 1992, he defended his crown twice, knocking out Omar Catari in six rounds and, travelling to Japan once more, defeating challengers Masuaki Takeda and Yuji Watanabe, Takeda by decision and Watanabe by knockout in six.
His next fight proved historic, albeit for the wrong reasons. Defending on April 26, 1993, once again at Inglewood against former world featherweight champion Raúl Pérez, Hernández had to settle for a first round technical draw. This was the first, and so far only, world title fight in which no punches were landed. Right after the initial bell, Perez headbutted Hernández, and Perez bled profusely from an arteric vein on his forehead. The referee summoned the ring doctor, who decided the fight should be stopped as Perez required immediate surgery. In the June 28 rematch later that year, Hernández retained the world title by a knockout in round eight. Hernandez then closed the year by defeating Harold Warren by decision to once again keep his title. In 1994, Hernandez retained the title twice, including a victory over Jimmy Garcia,. By the end of 1994, Hernández was clamoring for a world title fight against crosstown rival and WBO lightweight champion Oscar De La Hoya.
After eight successful title defenses, Hernández vacated his WBA super featherweight title in order to face De La Hoya in the upcoming year. Hernández began 1995 by beating another Mexican boxing legend, Jorge Maromero Páez, by a knockout in eight rounds at Inglewood. The Hernández-Páez fight was overshadowed by another news that rattled the Latino world that day: The death of famed Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla.

WBO lightweight title challenge

On September 9, the highly anticipated encounter between Hernández and de la Hoya took place in Las Vegas. Hernández lost for the first time in his career, retiring from the fight at the end of the sixth round, his nose bloody: He returned to his corner, but without sitting down motioned to his team that he did not want to continue the fight. Reportedly, he had come to the fight with a nose previously injured in a sparring session. Up until the fight's end, the judges had de la Hoya holding a lead on all three scorecards. After the loss Hernández took some brief time off but by 1996 he was back inside the ring, winning two bouts that year.

WBC and lineal super featherweight champion

In 1997, he fought what almost turned into another controversial fight when he challenged Azumah Nelson in a title bout for the WBC & Lineal super featherweight titles, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Ahead on all scorecards at the end of round seven, he was hit in his throat by a Nelson punch after the bell. He needed some time to recuperate from the illegal late hit, and WBC President José Sulaiman came to his corner and informed him that if he could not continue he would be declared winner by disqualification. Hernández told Sulaiman something along the lines of I want to win it like real champions do, and he went back to the fight at the beginning of round eight. The fight ended after twelve rounds and Hernández won the Super featherweight titles by defeating Nelson with a split decision victory.
Hernández went on to defend his crown against such capable challengers as future super featherweight champion Anatoly Alexandrov, Carlos Gerena and another future world champion Carlos Famoso Hernandez, a gym-mate and personal friend who would later become El Salvador's first world boxing champion in history.
In what would turn out to be his last fight, on October 3 of 1998 he lost his titles to Floyd Mayweather Jr. by an 8th round retirement.

Retirement

In December 1998, after he was diagnosed with a blood clot and a torn cartilage muscle, he announced his retirement with a record of 38 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, with 17 of those wins coming by knockout. He had intended to challenge WBC lightweight champion César Bazán before the diagnosis.

Life after boxing

After retiring from boxing Hernández was diagnosed with stage four rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck, a very rare form of cancer, and one which Hernández' insurance would not cover for treatment. Although Hernández collected several large purses in his career, including $600,000 for his final fight against Mayweather, he was not able to afford his expensive treatments and benefits were held to assist in paying what insurance would not cover. Bob Arum, of Top Rank Promotions, who promoted Hernández, footed Hernandez' bills for chemotherapy for a number of years, until Hernandez died, also having him brought to and from the chemotherapy sessions. In mid 2009 it was reported that Hernández' cancer was in remission but in early 2010 the cancer had returned and Hernández was undergoing treatment. On June 3, 2011, it was announced that Hernández would stop chemotherapy treatment.
Hernández worked as a boxing instructor at the LA Boxing Gym in Lake Forest, California until early 2011. He helped out in a broadcast of a boxing match in Maywood after that.

Death

Hernández died from cancer on June 7, 2011, at the age of 45.
Floyd Mayweather paid for Hernández funeral expenses.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
41Loss38–2–1 Floyd Mayweather Jr.RTD8, 3:00Oct 3, 1998 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC and lineal super featherweight titles
40Win38–1–1 Carlos GerenaUD12May 16, 1998 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Retained WBC and lineal super featherweight titles
39Win37–1–1 Carlos HernándezUD12Nov 20, 1997 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC and lineal super featherweight titles
38Win36–1–1 Anatoly AlexandrovSD12Jun 14, 1997 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC and lineal super featherweight titles
37Win35–1–1 Azumah Nelson12Mar 22, 1997 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Won WBC and lineal super featherweight titles
36Win34–1–1 Antonio HernandezUD10Sep 28, 1996 Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
35Win33–1–1 Javier PichardoTKO5, 2:10May 8, 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
34Loss32–1–1 Oscar De La Hoya6, 3:00Sep 9, 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBO lightweight title
33Win32–0–1 Jorge PáezTKO8 Mar 31, 1995 Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
32Win31–0–1 Jimmy GarciaUD12Nov 12, 1994 Plaza de Toros, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBA super featherweight title
31Win30–0–1 Jorge RamirezTKO8, 2:35Jan 31, 1994 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
30Win29–0–1 Harold WarrenUD12Oct 11, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
29Win28–0–1 Raúl PérezKO8, 2:11Jun 28, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
28Draw27–0–1 Raúl Pérez1, 0:28Apr 26, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title;
TD after Pérez was cut from an accidental head clash
27Win27–0 Yuji WatanabeTKO6, 0:59Nov 20, 1992 Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA super featherweight title
26Win26–0 Masuaki TakedaUD12Jul 15, 1992 Convention Center, Fukuoka, JapanRetained WBA super featherweight title
25Win25–0 Omar CataríUD12Feb 24, 1992 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBA super featherweight title
24Win24–0 Daniel LondasTKO9, 1:07Nov 22, 1991 Complex Sport le COMEP, Épernay, FranceWon vacant WBA super featherweight title
23Win23–0 Pedro Arroyo10 Feb 11, 1991 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
22Win22–0 Rodolfo GomezKO5, 2:00Dec 6, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
21Win21–0 Ben LopezTKO6, 2:06Sep 22, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
20Win20–0 Richard AbilaKO3, 2:18Aug 27, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
19Win19–0 Leon CollinsKO3 May 10, 1990 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
18Win18–0 Felipe OrozcoUD10Jul 31, 1989 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
17Win17–0 Ed PollardUD10May 15, 1989 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
16Win16–0 Refugio RojasKO6 Nov 22, 1988 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won vacant California super featherweight title
15Win15–0 Jose MosquedaUD10Jul 25, 1988 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
14Win14–0 Juan Manuel VegaTKO9 Apr 25, 1988 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
13Win13–0 Kenny WyattUD10Aug 31, 1987 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
12Win12–0 J L IveyPTS10Dec 12, 1986 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
11Win11–0 Lupe MirandaPTS10Sep 12, 1986 Sahara Hotel, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0 Terry BaldwinTKO7Jul 21, 1986 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
9Win9–0 Jorge ValdezTKO3Apr 28, 1986 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
8Win8–0 Larry VillarrealUD6Mar 31, 1986 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
7Win7–0 Terry BaldwinKO2, 2:13Feb 24, 1986 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
6Win6–0 Pablo Montano2 Feb 17, 1986 Graham Central Station, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
5Win5–0 Jose Maytorena1Dec 12, 1985 Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield, California, U.S.
4Win4–0 Randy ArchuletaPTS6Oct 29, 1985 Stockton, California, U.S.
3Win3–0 Dino RamirezUD6Jun 24, 1985 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
2Win2–0 Martin Escobar4Nov 17, 1984 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1Win1–0 Dino Ramirez4Sep 27, 1984 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Professional debut