The scourge of any fighter is the dreaded “short notice” fight. Nothing tests the resolve of a fighter like their ability to overcome such adversity. Fort Worth’s own Jose “El Loco” Hernandez is no stranger to such adversity. Though, given the trials and tribulations of “El Loco’s” life, a fight on short notice is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Last night Hernandez was again the victim of being brought in to fight on short notice. In this case Hernandez had two weeks to prepare for one of the most difficult fights of his career as he traveled to Puerto Rico to fight the very much ballyhooed Michelangelo Perez on the Miguel Cotto Promotions fight card televised on Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo telecast.
Fight fans here in North Texas are quite familiar with Hernandez’s talents. Fortunately for the amiable young boxer, following his bout with Perez last night, the boxing community will now stand up and take notice. Despite being given such a daunting task on a mere two weeks notice Hernandez wasted little time in taking the battle to Perez. It was a beautiful display of heart and tenacity, one rife with back and forth action that had the sold out Samuel Rodriguez Coliseum whipped into a frenzy. Hernandez’s constant pressure brought the fight out of Perez and the true winners where the fight fans who tuned in to see such a tremendous fight.
Unfortunately, in the end the judges gave this closely contested fight to the hometown Perez via a split decision verdict. Scores were 78-74, 77-75 for Perez, and 78-74 for Hernandez. I won’t go so far as calling the decision dubious, but one does have to wonder what the scores would have been like in a more neutral site.
Additionally, this fight was immediately declared “Fight of the Year” by the Puerto Rican Professional Boxing Commission.
Photo © Enrique Vazquez/Promociones Miguel Cotto, Inc.
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