Hernandez Gets Inside, Andrade Gets The Knockout

In the main event of a fight card from Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut, on Friday, February 10. 2012, televised on ESPN 2, ex-United States Olympian Demetrius “Boo-Boo” Andrade knocked out Angel “Toro” Hernandez with a left to the head and a left to the body at 1:39 of round two, winning the IBA Junior Americas championship during a scheduled ten rounder.

Hernandez fought the right fight but did not follow the plan according to the script of ‘take the fight to the inside and throw punches to neutralize the taller opponent with the longer reach’. He did not throw.

Andrade, now 16-0, 11 knockouts, Providence, Rhode Island, probably ended the career of Hernandez, now 30-11 with 17 knockouts, Chicago, Illinois by way of Mexico, who got inside but then allowed the taller opponent to take him out.

Before the bout, Boxing 360 CEO Dr. Mario Yagubi, Hernandez’ contracted promoter and an M.D., expressed concern for the medical condition of Hernandez in a public statement. Hernandez passed all comprehensive medical tests. However, the resulting controversy triggered by Yagubi’s concern may have affected the fighter’s ability to fight with a clear mind.

Hernandez has allegedly been in contractual dispute with Boxing 360 for awhile. Separately, Hernandez reportedly managed to secure a release from Wasfi Tolaymat and Cynthia Tolaymat of Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion LLC, his management group, shortly before accepting this bout.

Former New York State Athletic Commissioner Bob Duffy, formerly associated with Boxing 360 but reportedly recently terminated by Yagubi, contacted SaddoBoxing and expressed concern for both Hernandez and the likelihood of a mismatch in putting Hernandez against Andrade.

When Hernandez took his dogfight to the inside in round one, he did not display the hunger of wanting to win the fight. When he wrestled or fought his way inside, it was like trying to bring the horse to the water and then make him drink. If ‘Toro’ Hernandez had just thrown punches, it would have been a whole different fight. It would have thrown Andrade out of any possible game plan.

At the same time, what started to mess up the shorter Hernandez was Andrade’s southpaw style. Hernandez appeared to not have sparred enough southpaws to justify taking the fight on two days notice.

Hernandez appeared to be in shock when he got inside easily on Andrade. In analytical reflection, Hernandez’ sparring probably entailed situations and scenarios which required him to work hard to get to the inside and punch to the opponent’s body. It appeared Hernandez had not trained for a ‘Plan B’ whereby he had to commence an attack on an opponent who allowed him to get inside.

To the boxing expert, there is no short notice for any fighter. You have to perform to survive. Andrade went into a panic when Hernandez got inside, but then Andrade
saw Hernandez dropped his guard when he went inside, so Andrade took initiative to do what Hernandez should have done. That was throw punches on the inside. Everything was landing for Andrade on the inside. Andrade got inside in round two and turned Hernandez into a punching bag.

To the public eye, it looked like an amateur novice versus a world champion professional. But to the professional eye, whoever trained Hernandez to get inside the way the way he did, it was very well orchestrated because when Hernandez got inside he had Andrade in a maze. But then, Hernandez did not do anything.

Hernandez was pushing Andrade back. Andrade’s corner saw that Hernandez was not doing anything in terms of throwing punches. So at the end of round one, Andrade’s corner told him Hernandez was not doing anything, so then you take the initiative and do what he’s not doing. Throw uppercuts and short hooks. John Schaeffer, in the Hernandez corner, would have told Hernandez to do the same thing, but Hernandez did not execute the fight plan.

The first knockdown of Hernandez in the second round appeared to be from a slip, but it was counted as a knockdown. The second knockdown in the second round brought the bout to a close at 1:32 as referee Steve Smoger decided he had seen enough. ESPN 2 commentator Teddy Atlas had great praise for Smoger’s stopping the bout.

Result: Demetrius Andrade KO 2 Angel Hernandez, Light Middleweights
Andrade wins the Vacant IBA Americas Junior Middleweight Title
Main Event Knockout Time: 1:32 of Round Two / Referee: Steve Smoger

In the preliminary ten round bout to the main event, welterweight Raymond Serrano came off the canvas from a straight counter left in the third round to win a unanimous ten round decision over Kenny Abril. Two cards were big for Serrano. The third scorecard went 95-94 Serrano, though the bout did not appear to be close.

Other Undercard Bouts

Raymond Serrano Win 10 Kenny Abril, Welterweights (Serrano now 17-0, 8 Kayos)
Mike Arnoutis Win 6 Shakha Moore, Welterweights (Mike’s first win in 3 years)
Joseph Perez Win 6 Jamell Tyson, Lightweights
Emanuel Gonzalez Win 4 Jesus Bayron, Lightweights
Charles Foster Win 4 Borngod Washington, Super Middleweights
Jair Ramos Win TKO 2 MIguel Antonio Rodriguez, Light Welterweights (0:53)