Boxing
The best I’ve faced: Juan Hernandez Sierra
Juan Hernandez Sierra (right) poses alongside his longtime rival Oleg Saitov — Photo courtesy of Geraldo Saldivar
Cuban legend Juan Hernández Sierra was one of the top welterweights on the amateur circuit in the 1990s. During that time, he won two Olympic silver medals and four world championship gold medals.
Hernández, one of three brothers, was born on March 16, 1969 in the town of Guane, Pinar del Río, in the very west of Cuba.
“I had a very uncomplicated life as a child, but a content one,” Hernández told The Ring via Gerardo Saldivar. “Both of my parents worked challenging. My father worked as a food warehouse worker, and my mother worked as a cleaner in a hospital.
“My brothers and I hung out after school and played sports. I started out as a footballer as a center back.”
When he was around 11 or 12 years ancient, he saw boxing for the first time and it quickly became his chosen career path.
“I remember watching my cousin, Jose Luis Hernandez, on TV and that caught my attention,” he said. “He was a source of inspiration and I wanted to be like him.
Juan Hernandez Sierra (right) poses alongside his longtime rival Oleg Saitov – Photo courtesy of Geraldo Saldivar
“I was selected for the talent program and at a juvenile age I went to study at EIDE (Sports Institution School) in my province and then moved to ESPA (Excellence Training School) and then to the national team. I went from grassroots to elite level between 1987 and 2000. I was part of the national team and I am really proud of that.”
He has won nine national titles, no compact feat considering the enormous talent pool on the island. During his tenure with the national team, he boxed all over the world and represented Cuba in numerous tournaments.
Unfortunately for him, he had to settle for silver at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, losing to Michael Carruth 13:10, and also in Atlanta in 1996, where he lost to his great rival Oleg Saitov 14:9.
However, it was at the World Championships, where he won top prizes in 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1999, as well as bronze in 1997, that he managed to come to the fore.
“I was always well prepared for the Olympic Games, but at the world championships I was luckier,” he said.
After losing in the quarterfinals to eventual gold medalist Yermakhan Ibraimov at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Hernandez ended his boxing career with a record of 360-36.
Despite his amateur achievements, he claims that professional boxing did not appeal to him.
“Not exactly. At that time, there was no professional boxing in Cuba,” he explained.
Since then he has used all the extensive experience gained during his own boxing career.
“I am the coach of the national Olympic team, I am taking care of Saidel Horta, whom I want to teach how to move in the ring,” he said. “I have also been the coach of Kevin Brown, Emmanuel Reyes and David Morrell. The Cuban boxing school is unique, one of the best in the world and has adapted to the times, this fresh generation is different from our times. The integration into professional boxing has made our boxing improve.
“My goal is to utilize my experience in the national team and win one or more Olympic gold medals.”
Hernandez, now 55, lives in Havana.
He took time to talk to The Ring about the best fighters he has fought in the 10 most critical categories.
BEST JAB
Daniel Santos: “World Championship ’95 in Berlin. In the first fight I had to figure out how to get in and avoid his quick punch.”
BEST DEFENSE
Oleg Saitov: “The movement of his upper body was especially challenging and treacherous, because he could get into a position to counterattack.”
BEST HAND SPEED
Freddy Dominguez: “Agile and like ghost hands that you couldn’t see where they came from.”
BEST FOOTWORK
Damian Austin: “The way he walks around the ring is like dancing.”
THE SMARTEST
Saitov: “He had a masterful technique. We fought four times, I beat him at the World Championships in Berlin in 1995, and then he beat me three times.”
STRONGEST
Leonard Bundu: “The Italian at the World Championships in Houston. He always came forward, his style was complicated.”
BEST PUNCHERS
David Reid: “He’s the hardest boxer I’ve ever faced. He hit me in the chin and I felt like a doll flying through the air. I felt bad and had to get up and go back, then he hit me in the forehead again, I felt like I was off the floor and that was the only and first time I’ve ever been to Canvas twice. I’ve searched the internet for that fight with no luck. I wish I could watch it again.”
BEST BEARD
Bundu: “He was the physically stronger boxer.”
BEST BOXING SKILLS
Saitov: “He beat me three times. What can I say, great technique and boxing skills, nothing but respect.”
BEST OVERALL
Saitov: “Saitov has mastered the upper body technique and also has powerful punches, and it was challenging to figure out his style when we faced each other.”
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