Genaro Hernandez Passes Away

[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.