Talking Boxing with MIGUEL "MACHO" HERNANDEZ
" I just go out there and I train hard and I am always ready to fight"
by
Julius Stecker
1/13 - The co-main event in tomorrow nights Telefutura "Solo Boxeo De Miller" show features a cross-town showdown as Chicagoans
Miguel “MACHO” Hernandez and Shay Mobley square off in a scheduled 8-round slugfest. Hernandez, 14-1 with 9KO's, is currently riding an eight bout winning streak and looks to continue his steady rise in the middleweight class. "I have nothing but great respect for Shay Mobley, but to be honest I was not happy about this fight at first," said Miguel, who is trained by Sam Colona. "To me, us fighters from Chicago should stick together and help each other out, but since we have this fight, a fight is what he is going to get. I train hard for anybody and everybody I fight." Tickets for this showdown are still available by calling 312-226-5800. This is no small feat for Miguel and you wont want to miss him in the ring!
MIGUEL "MACHO" HERNANDEZ
Julius Stecker: How did training go for this fight?
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: Training is going great
Julius Stecker: Are you excited about this fight with Marvelous
Shay Mobley?
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: I have nothing but great respect for Shay Mobley, but to be honest I was not happy about this fight at first. I remember at my last fight he came up to me, asking for me to give him a chance at the state title, and I said to him, ‘Let me enjoy this victory.’
To me, us fighters from Chicago should stick together and
help each other out, but since we have this fight, a
fight is what he is going to get. I train hard for
anybody and everybody I fight. I know Shay is a
strong guy, he was a good amateur, and he is a good
fighter. So I am expecting a tough fight.
Julius Stecker: I know you are not looking past Shay Mobley, but
what are you looking for after this fight if you are
successful?
I would love to fight guys like Jesus
Gonzalez and I would like to fight a guy like Yori Boy
Campas. If those fights came about that would be
great  |
| Miguel Hernandez |
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: I am in this to make some money, it’s a sport,
and it’s a job. I would love to fight guys like Jesus
Gonzalez and I would like to fight a guy like Yori Boy
Campas. If those fights came about that would be
great. You see not everybody comes from a big amateur
background with Olympic accolades. I did not have a
big amateur background, I only had 9 fights, but you
know what, I feel extremely blessed. I have a great
manager in Ronnie Garcia. He is someone who believes
in me and I have great guys supporting me like Sam
Colona and Dominic Pesoli and it is just great for me.
Julius Stecker: You mentioned you had a limited amateur
background, explain to me how your success in the ring
thus far has made you feel?
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: I am living the dream right now. Boxing did not
make me and it is not going to break me. I had 9
amateur fights and to be honest I only won like 5 or 6
of them. You have to realize boxing is a sport where
you have to have a lot of discipline. I have this
opportunity to be a fighter, so let’s see how far I
can take it. I won’t be one of those guys who say,
‘What if’ I am somebody who can say that I went out
and did something.
JS: Why have you decided to be fighter, especially
since you got such a late start?
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: It was always in my heart. My mom passed when I
was 5 years old, and my father worked very hard to raise us. I am not one to say I did not have enough because I did, but I started boxing when I was 27 years old. One day
I took my son to Windy City Gym. Sam Colona came up
to me and asked if I had fought before, I told him no,
then not too far after that I had my first amateur
fight.
I did not let those amateur fights discourage me,
because I have more of a pro style. Really though it
was my son Josh who got me involved, he really
encouraged me to be a fighter. But you see boxing
runs in my family, from my father, and that blood runs
in me too.
Julius Stecker: Tell me about your relationship with your trainer
Sam Colona
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: Sam is like family. People don’t understand how
hard he works. He does a lot of work for a lot of
fighters. I feel trust when I’m around Sam, I feel
comfortable around him. Not to mention he is a great
trainer. There are a lot of trainers, who get more
publicity, but Sam is training 4 or 5 guys and that
says a lot about how much people respect him.
Julius Stecker: Any predictions for this fight against Mobley
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: I don’t do predictions, I am going to go in there
and fight. I don’t worry about predictions. I just
go out there and I train hard and I am always ready to
fight. That is what you can expect this fight.
Julius Stecker: Anything else to add
Miguel “Macho” Hernandez: I want to thank all the Latin People and all my
fans for their support. Without them I would be
nowhere. Also I want to wish a happy birthday to my
son Justin, he will be 4-years old.
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