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Hernandez Ready For War With Jantuah
By David A. Avila (March 12, 2003)
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BIG BEAR, California — It wasn't a vacation for the Chicago-based fighter, but Big Bear mountain proved to be a metamorphosis for junior middleweight contender Angel Hernandez.
"It was the best experience of my life," Hernandez said.
After losing a close but decisive fight against Juan Carlos Candelo at Pechanga Resort and Casino last December, Hernandez flew to California for the first time in his life to train in the California skies.
It was a move made to correct some flaws in his technique and training. A tune-up bout waited for the muscular 154-pounder.
But the semi-main event fell through on the Mar. 15th fight card in Chicago to be shown on Showtime and the Saturday show was severely weakened. Chicago promoter Bobby Hitz, who promotes Hernandez, looked to his fighter to help save the card. Now the fighter known as "El Torito" will be facing super tough Kofi Jantuah (17-3, 10 KOs) in a NABF title elimination bout.
"The plans are changed. Antwun Echols was supposed to fight in this card but he pulled out," Hernandez (24-3, 16 KOs) said.
Echols, the hard-hitting super middleweight contender, was unsatisfied with his purse and waved off the fight. With several promoters bankrolling the ambitious 14-fight card at the University of Illinois at Chicago, they needed a sterling semi-main event to support the Acelino Freitas-Juan Carlos Ramirez junior lightweight title bout.
They turned to Hernandez.
"Angel is one of the most loyal guys around," said Mike Diggins, his manager. "Right now he is in terrific shape."
He will need to be when he faces Jantuah, a Ghanaian fighter who was able to knockout Daniel Santos, the current WBO junior middleweight title-holder.
When Hernandez and Jantuah face each other, it will be like looking in the mirror. Both are heavy-handed warriors who are known for their ability to put the cold in knock out.
"Angel hits hard," said Lee Espinoza, who trained Hernandez for this fight. "I didn't get to spend too much time with him."
Hernandez was supposed to fight an easy eight round fight to help him adjust to his new trainer and new training grounds. Instead, he faces one of the most competitive fights in his career.
"It's a very important fight for him," said Diggins. "But if he wins, it's like winning three fights against other guys."
Hernandez, who sparred with Julio Diaz and other speedy fighters in the pine-covered mountains of the San Bernardino Mountains, is confident and willing to take the challenge.
"They want me to be the co-main event," said Hernandez, whose biceps resemble a light heavyweight's more than a junior middleweight. "It's going to be for the number two spot in the IBF."
Anxious to regain the momentum after losing to Candelo, Hernandez wants a chance to show off the new stamina attained from running in the 6,000 feet altitude.
"Every day we run five miles, but none of us can run with Angel," said Diaz, who is preparing for a showdown with Jose Luis Castillo in a lightweight elimination bout on Mar. 22. "He's too fast. Even when he was over weight he was too fast for the rest of us."
Weight had always been a problem for the Chicago Mexican. It hurt him against Candelo when they fought at Pechanga.
"He was eight pounds overweight when he arrived in California for that fight," said Diggins. "He has always had a problem with his weight."
Needing to run five miles on the day of the weigh-in and spend another two hours in the sauna, Hernandez lost the fight before entering the ring.
"The reason I lost was I was feeling weak and couldn't do nothing about it," said Hernandez, who had beaten Candelo 11 months earlier in Las Vegas. "He won the fight. But if we fought again he would have to be real careful because I would be real ready for him."
Running five miles every day, sparring 10 rounds with speedsters like Diaz and Jose Aguiniga, the bull-like fighter Hernandez has been at his fighting weight since last week.
"I've never seen him look that good," said Diggins.
"Right now he's at 153 pounds," said Espinoza.
While sparring with Diaz, the heavy-handed Hernandez was able to keep up with Diaz's flashy moves and lightning combinations. Then he would deliver crushing lefts and rights.
"Every time they got into an exchange I would have the blood drain out of me," said Espinoza.
The California fighters all agreed that Hernandez was one heck of a fighter.
"He looks real good," said Aguiniga, a fast-rising bantamweight who is also preparing for a fight at the end of the month. "In his next fight you're going to see a different fighter."
Diaz looked at Hernandez as he hit the heavy bag, causing huge ripples to appear on the bluish canvas.
"He works hard. That's the way he is," said Diaz. "It helps me out. I feel special to be working out with him."
Hernandez, who doesn't seem tired after running, sparring and several rounds of medicine ball toss that no one else can do more than one round, smiles as he looks around at his surroundings.
"This is the first time I've been to the mountains," he said. "And this has been one of the best experiences of my life."
He's looking to add to the feeling with a win over Jantuah, one of the better junior middleweights in the world.
"I love to fight those guys," said Hernandez.
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