Hernandez Aims To Rough Up Cuban Star Lara

This Saturday, June 30, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., Gary Shaw Productions' hard hitting Junior Middleweight contender, Freddy Hernandez (30-2, 20 KOs) and Golden Boy Promotions' Erislandy Lara (16-1-1, 11 KOs) will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round bout.

Hernandez, who hails from Mexico City, is coming off an impressive win against former world champion Luis Collazo (31-5, 16 KOs), is determined to show the world that he has a lot of fight left in him. Many thought Collazo would come out victorious, but Hernandez proved them wrong with his spectacular performance. Hernandez promises to go to war with Lara, and push him to limits he's never experienced.

"I'm going to make this a rough fight for Lara," Hernandez said. "I was scheduled to fight Yudel Jhonson (12-1, 8 KOs) recently but had to pull out because of a minor injury. I'm in great shape and will be 100 percent ready to go this Saturday."

"Don't count Freddy out," promoter Gary Shaw said. "Everyone has Lara as the favorite to win this fight, but Hernandez is a hungry fighter who just pulled off an upset against Colllazo. Everyone knows Mexican fighters leave everything in the ring and Freddy has upset on his mind. The fans are going to see a great fight when these two warriors step in the ring."

Talks of Lara facing Saul "Canelo" Alvarez have gotten back to Hernandez and he feels the Cuban fighter is looking past him.

"Lara keeps talking about a potential fight with Canelo, but he's forgetting that he must get past me first," Hernandez said. "Victor Ortiz found out the hard way that you can't look past anyone at the top level and I'm going to show Lara what a real Mexican fighter is all about. The Mexican fans will see a hungry fighter when we step in the ring this Saturday. It's going to be a war!"

The fight will be televised live on ShoBox: The New Generation on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) as part of their tripleheader, featuring IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion Cornelius "K9" Bundrage defending against Cory "Next Generation" Spinks and Gary Russell Jr. against Christopher Perez.

Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are on sale at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.