On paper, this is one of the most evenly matched bouts in years. Both fighters suffered an early career learning loss to OK opposition. Both lost in title shots against Floyd Mayweather in 2001; Hernandez by a clear unanimous decision (although forcing the first count of Mayweather’s career when a stumble led to Pretty Boy's glove scraping the floor), and Chavez by stoppage in nine (a compassionate withdrawal by Chavez's corner as he was getting busted up in his pursuit of Floyd). Both fighters are similar in age, thirty-three for Hernandez and thirty-two for Chavez, meaning that this is a must win situation for them both.

Both are tough, honest, fighters who rely on pressure, toughness and heart more than skill, with neither one having a knockout punch although they have both scored a decent knockout ratio (twenty-four knockouts in forty-one wins for Hernandez and twenty-eight in forty for Chavez). Both fighters won versions of the super featherweight title in 2003 only to lose them to Erik Morales in 2004, Hernandez, once again, by clear decision with two of the judges only giving him one round - Chavez suffered an equally clear loss but injured his shoulder in the second round and also staggered Morales on more than one occasion.

Hernandez is known as “El Famoso” and this is certainly true in his parents home country of El Salvador where he is their number one sportsman.
Chavez’s nickname is “El Matador,” although “El Toro” would be a more apt moniker considering the way he bulls his way into his opponent.

While Hernandez is feted in Los Angeles and El Salvador, Chavez traveled a rockier route, being unable to fight in America between 1997 and 2001. Chavez was born in Mexico and moved to Chicago at the age of seven, though he was never registered as a citizen and a brush with the law caused his three-year hiatus from The States.

So we have two old school pro's who have both worked their way to the top the hard way, neither one with quite enough to beat the upper echelon although both steamroller lesser opposition. In such an evenly matched bout, it seems a shame to have to pick a loser but I am going to go with Hernandez after a close battle as he will be roared on by a hometown crowd to a split decision victory.

Rupert Wricklemarsh can be reached at taansend@yahoo.com

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