Genaro Hernandez Passes Away

[marbleheadmaui]

I was expecting this pretty soon after I posted that thread the other day. I didn't think it would be 4 days. A real shame, he was such a great guy & a real nice fighter. I have to say it's always bugged me that he's not even had his name on the ballot for Canastota. I'm not saying everyone should vote for him (although I would), but he deserved a nomination imo.

I don't know if anyone has seen those Mayweather After Dark things on FightHype (basically At Home With Floyd would have been a better name). His house is full of stuff of him & Genaro. He's got the belt he won from him in pride & place. There's a seemingly never-ending array of photos of the two of them. He has a real genuine warmth about Genaro that doesn't come across when talking about any other person apart from his mother. Both he & Bob Arum, two of boxing most isolated & self-interested figures, have between them paid for medical treatment & helping support his family since he first got the disease. I think that as much as anything else tells you how great a guy he was.

RIP Champ

Every young fighter should have to watch how Hernandez responded to that late shot to the throat by Azumah Nelson. Genaro takes a vicious hook after the bell and goes down. He is given five minutes and if he declines to continue he wins the lineal 130 crown by DQ. What does Genaro do? He gets up and wins the damn title in the ring.

Exemplary.

[Violent Demise]

I saw him defend his title for the first at Great Western Forum as a kid. Against Omar Catari. It went the distance. I was like 10 or 11 years old. I was with my dad and uncle (both now deceased). We were able to meet him afterwards. He wasn't the first fighter I met. But he was the first fighter I shook hands with. He was hella cool. Real down to earth. Didn't seem to mind the million questions coming from my drunk dad and uncle. Seemed to answer them all. I remember they were waiting for him. But he still took the time to acknowledge us. He said being champion was great. But that champion was still only just a word. He's no different than any other person. News of his death saddens me. But I'm glad his suffering is finally over. Hope the next news i hear of him is him being inducted into the Hall of Fame

[JazMerkin]

I saw him defend his title for the first at Great Western Forum as a kid. Against Omar Catari. It went the distance. I was like 10 or 11 years old. I was with my dad and uncle (both now deceased). We were able to meet him afterwards. He wasn't the first fighter I met. But he was the first fighter I shook hands with. He was hella cool. Real down to earth. Didn't seem to mind the million questions coming from my drunk dad and uncle. Seemed to answer them all. I remember they were waiting for him. But he still took the time to acknowledge us. He said being champion was great. But that champion was still only just a word. He's no different than any other person. News of his death saddens me. But I'm glad his suffering is finally over. Hope the next news i hear of him is him being inducted into the Hall of Fame

Great story man & the part in bold sums up exactly how I feel. If Barry McGuigan, Jeff Fenech & Ingemar Johansson are there, then Chicanito more than deserves to be.

[marbleheadmaui]

I saw him defend his title for the first at Great Western Forum as a kid. Against Omar Catari. It went the distance. I was like 10 or 11 years old. I was with my dad and uncle (both now deceased). We were able to meet him afterwards. He wasn't the first fighter I met. But he was the first fighter I shook hands with. He was hella cool. Real down to earth. Didn't seem to mind the million questions coming from my drunk dad and uncle. Seemed to answer them all. I remember they were waiting for him. But he still took the time to acknowledge us. He said being champion was great. But that champion was still only just a word. He's no different than any other person. News of his death saddens me. But I'm glad his suffering is finally over. Hope the next news i hear of him is him being inducted into the Hall of Fame

Great story man & the part in bold sums up exactly how I feel. If Barry McGuigan, Jeff Fenech & Ingemar Johansson are there, then Chicanito more than deserves to be.

I think those comparisons are on the money. Of course I think all three were mistaken inductions, but what the hell do I know.

I think Genaro shares something more important with McGuigan and some other HOFers as well as men who aren't in the hall like John Conteh and Tony DeMarco and Howard Winstone and Virgil Hill. That is a near universal admiration for the way they conducted themselves both in and out of the ring. They brought integrity and honor and class to a sport that is too often rife with corruption and sleaze. In doing that they earned the undying respect and thanks of boxing fans, not just for their boxing accomplishments, but for who they were as men.

[Spicoli]

This one hurts man. It really does.,dammit.

I'll be watching some tapes tonight, thumbing through yellow score sheets and remembering a class Champion. That smile man, always huge and never forced,. Saying a prayer for his family. Thank you for the memories Genaro. Be at peace Champion.

[Violent Demise]

I saw him defend his title for the first at Great Western Forum as a kid. Against Omar Catari. It went the distance. I was like 10 or 11 years old. I was with my dad and uncle (both now deceased). We were able to meet him afterwards. He wasn't the first fighter I met. But he was the first fighter I shook hands with. He was hella cool. Real down to earth. Didn't seem to mind the million questions coming from my drunk dad and uncle. Seemed to answer them all. I remember they were waiting for him. But he still took the time to acknowledge us. He said being champion was great. But that champion was still only just a word. He's no different than any other person. News of his death saddens me. But I'm glad his suffering is finally over. Hope the next news i hear of him is him being inducted into the Hall of Fame

Great story man & the part in bold sums up exactly how I feel. If Barry McGuigan, Jeff Fenech & Ingemar Johansson are there, then Chicanito more than deserves to be.

I'm not gonna lie. Part of the reason I would like to see him inducted into the HOF is cuz of my experience with him and the fact that he's a Los Angeles guy like myself. But to leave it at that would be selling him short. The man had a very good career. He only lost twice. And both loses were to 2 future HOF fighters and potential ATG's (De La Hoya and Mayweather). Both fighters were in there prime. He was holding his own against De La Hoya. But like Jaz said Oscar did the smart thing and targeted the nose. Mayweather dominated him. But by that time Hernandez was passed his prime. He saw the writing on the wall. And did the smart thing. He walked away. And stayed away. He was honest with himself. He knew his championship days were over. Mayweather had just dominated him for the WBC. To much speed, skill and youth. The WBA kingpin was Casamayor. Another one with to much speed and skill. Not to mention a southpaw. The WBO was run by Acelino Freitas and Diego Corrales ruled the IBF. Two monster punchers. For all his skills, power was never Hernandez forte. So fuck it. If he can't be a championship fighter why stay in the game? He could of used a couple of more good names on his resume. But overall it was a good career. I see no reason he can't have a spot next to McGuigan and Ingo Bingo

[killersheep]

RIP champ, Hernandez should be a role model for future fighters to come, not a prima donna just an honest fighter.

You will be missed, thanks for the story VD, I expect this hits you extra hard.

[rjj tszyu]

RIP Chicanito

[blegit]

May God bless Genaro and his family.

[JazMerkin]

I'm not gonna lie. Part of the reason I would like to see him inducted into the HOF is cuz of my experience with him and the fact that he's a Los Angeles guy like myself. But to leave it at that would be selling him short. The man had a very good career. He only lost twice. And both loses were to 2 future HOF fighters and potential ATG's (De La Hoya and Mayweather). Both fighters were in there prime. He was holding his own against De La Hoya. But like Jaz said Oscar did the smart thing and targeted the nose. Mayweather dominated him. But by that time Hernandez was passed his prime. He saw the writing on the wall. And did the smart thing. He walked away. And stayed away. He was honest with himself. He knew his championship days were over. Mayweather had just dominated him for the WBC. To much speed, skill and youth. The WBA kingpin was Casamayor. Another one with to much speed and skill. Not to mention a southpaw. The WBO was run by Acelino Freitas and Diego Corrales ruled the IBF. Two monster punchers. For all his skills, power was never Hernandez forte. So fuck it. If he can't be a championship fighter why stay in the game? He could of used a couple of more good names on his resume. But overall it was a good career. I see no reason he can't have a spot next to McGuigan and Ingo Bingo

I remember hearing him on a TR international broadcast a few years ago where he said almost that exact thing. He said 'I always boxed because I wanted to be the best, in that fight I realized I wasn't the best no more & why would I lie to myself & the fans when I knew that'.

He deserves to be in there for me. Part of that is that he's part of the last generation of fighters, where you saw guys make their way to the top thanks to great technique & understanding of the sport rather than off having great athleticism & a clever promoter.

[No Contest]

RIP Chicanito, solid fighter, he was also a very straight shooter. The guy told it like it was and was, and was very humble. Nobody can ever talk shit about him, gave it his all and won some great fights. I would vote him into the HOF for sure. Held the title for about 4 years, I dont know exactly what the criteria for the hall is but he would not shame it in any way if he was inducted. Also a very good commentator, who wouldnt show bias during his calls.

[marbleheadmaui]

I saw him defend his title for the first at Great Western Forum as a kid. Against Omar Catari. It went the distance. I was like 10 or 11 years old. I was with my dad and uncle (both now deceased). We were able to meet him afterwards. He wasn't the first fighter I met. But he was the first fighter I shook hands with. He was hella cool. Real down to earth. Didn't seem to mind the million questions coming from my drunk dad and uncle. Seemed to answer them all. I remember they were waiting for him. But he still took the time to acknowledge us. He said being champion was great. But that champion was still only just a word. He's no different than any other person. News of his death saddens me. But I'm glad his suffering is finally over. Hope the next news i hear of him is him being inducted into the Hall of Fame

Thanks for the story.

[JazMerkin]

I was expecting this pretty soon after I posted that thread the other day. I didn't think it would be 4 days. A real shame, he was such a great guy & a real nice fighter. I have to say it's always bugged me that he's not even had his name on the ballot for Canastota. I'm not saying everyone should vote for him (although I would), but he deserved a nomination imo.

I don't know if anyone has seen those Mayweather After Dark things on FightHype (basically At Home With Floyd would have been a better name). His house is full of stuff of him & Genaro. He's got the belt he won from him in pride & place. There's a seemingly never-ending array of photos of the two of them. He has a real genuine warmth about Genaro that doesn't come across when talking about any other person apart from his mother. Both he & Bob Arum, two of boxing most isolated & self-interested figures, have between them paid for medical treatment & helping support his family since he first got the disease. I think that as much as anything else tells you how great a guy he was.

RIP Champ

Every young fighter should have to watch how Hernandez responded to that late shot to the throat by Azumah Nelson. Genaro takes a vicious hook after the bell and goes down. He is given five minutes and if he declines to continue he wins the lineal 130 crown by DQ. What does Genaro do? He gets up and wins the damn title in the ring.

Exemplary.

Totally agree. Or how about when a week before the De La Hoya fight, Shane Mosley broke his nose in sparring. How many people would have pulled out of the fight at that stage or asked to reschedule? Instead, he refused to short-change fans or his opponent & went in. I still had Genaro winning 2 rounds, but Oscar targeted the nose & broke it in an additional 22 pieces forcing the stoppage.