LAS VEGAS – Former WBC and WBA superfeatherweight champion Genaro (Chicanito) Hernandez ripped Oscar de la Hoya for fooling the fans by claiming he fights for the people.
Hernandez, a Los Angeles-born fighter of Mexican descent like De la Hoya, said he was ecstatic Manny Pacquiao scored a convincing technical knockout over the fabled Golden Boy before the start of the ninth round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila).
“Oscar’s a big liar,” said Hernandez who ended his career in 1998 with a loss on points to Floyd Mayweather. “He claims he gives money to the poor but all he does is put money in his pockets. If he’s a real champion, why didn’t he fight (Antonio) Margarito or (Miguel) Cotto? Instead, he picked a small guy to beat up and it backfired.”
Hernandez had no love lost for De la Hoya. In 1995, they faced off and De la Hoya won via a stoppage in the sixth round. Hernandez said he started the fight with a broken nose and it forced his surrender. He wouldn’t give De la Hoya credit for the win.
As for De la Hoya’s loss to Pacquiao, Hernandez said the Golden Boy deserved a beating.
“You can’t be a businessman and a fighter at the same time,” continued Hernandez, now a TV commentator. “Oscar would retire and unretire if he felt like it and sometimes wouldn’t fight for a long time. The inactivity killed him. He showed nothing against Pacquiao and I’m happy for the Filipino people.”
Hernandez said he’d like to visit the Philippines someday and see for himself the country that has produced several outstanding fighters. The closest he was to coming to Manila was when he halted challenger Yuji Watanabe in Tokyo in 1992.
As for De la Hoya’s future, Hernandez said the beating he took from Pacquiao should end his ring career for good.
Hernandez, 42, said he’s battling cancer of the lymph nodes around his neck and it’s a fight he intends to win.
“This is a rare type of cancer that usually strikes young kids,” said Hernandez. “I actually have a tumor near my nose, connected to the lymph nodes in my neck. I hope the Filipino people who prayed for Pacquiao to win also prays for me. I think the Filipino people’s prayers are very powerful.”
Hernandez turned pro in 1984 and retired in 1998 with a record of 38-2-1, with 17 KOs. – Joaquin Henson