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The best I’ve faced: Juan Hernandez Sierra

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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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BrianNorman Jr. prepares his father for a shocking comeback after 14 years

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Norman vs Hackett

Undefeated twenty-four-year-old welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. he has been coached by his father, Brian Norman Sr., since he was seven years elderly. They changed course and Junior is now training Senior for his February 15 boxing match against Greg Hackett in Atlanta, Georgia.

The long-running feud between Brian Sr. and Hackett came to a head in November when the two participated on Coach Malachi’s Tru Media podcast. Things got heated when Norman told Hackett, “As an opponent, you were getting $400 to basically lose. You lose for a living.

Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would lace them up and settle them in the ring. The event will be broadcast live on BLK Prime PPV.

Norman (17-11, 5 KO) from Atlanta and Greg Hackett (3-23) from Philadelphia will decide the result in a six-round lightweight heavyweight fight.

“I’m trained by a world champion who I trained to become that world champion,” Brian Sr. said. “He has the knowledge that I gave him. Now he can see this vision of what he is telling me, which is the same thing I was telling him. At the same time, he can visualize himself through me, observing how I respond to instructions. Ultimately, he helps himself as much, if not more, than he helps me.”

So, Junior, you’re getting him back after everything Dad’s been through all these years?

“Has it been a wonderful journey so far,” Brian Norman Jr. said. “I see a lot of similarities between me and him, mainly the drive for self-determination and the desire. It was a wonderful experience to witness. There were a few times when Dad got tired and wanted to stop and I shouted “no, two more rounds.” I have to push him, you know? We don’t like to lose – we’re both very competitive and I see that in him all day long.

“I like the way this fight turned out and it’s good for boxing,” Hackett said. “There’s no animosity here, but I’m going to hate him for eighteen minutes of our fight. There are many people who say they don’t want to go there, but we will go there. I’ve been training since the day it happened. It’s going to be a good fight. I think he’ll push it because he’s a bigger guy, but skill-wise I’m the better player. I just have to be prepared for whatever he brings to the table and make him pay for his mistakes. I will win this fight, whether by knockout or decision. I will win this fight.”

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Deontay Wilder: Warning against throwing in the towel on the fat suit myth

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Deontay Wilder is preparing to return to boxing this year and will face an opponent who has lost eleven times in Curtis Harper.

Wilder is on a losing streak, winning just once in his last five fights. The first of these four defeats remains a huge bone of contention. Wilder exploded with emotion after a one-sided rematch in February 2020 at the MGM Grand.

The “Brown Bomber” blamed everyone but himself for what happened when Fury beat him and put him through seven painful rounds. WBN witnessed the fight in the smoke-filled Garden Arena. Despite the sight, it was clear that Fury was the much better fighter that night.

Fury brought Steward SugarHill into his corner to make him more aggressive. The tactic paid off brilliantly as he regained the world heavyweight title. However, this was not what became the story of the event. Unfortunately, Deontay Wilder took that away from the “Gypsy King” with his post-fight accusations.

Wilder’s main target under his deal was Mark Breland. His longtime coach threw in the towel when the Tuscaloosa player came under massive fire and stared at his feet. But that’s not where Breland went wrong. Wilder’s problem was that the 1984 Olympic gold medalist ignored his previous instructions and never used a towel to end one of his fights.

That’s why Wilder was so irate, as he later told Brian Custer in “The Last Stand.”

“I have been preaching for five years. Never give up on Deontay Wilder,” said the former WBC champion.

The 36-year-old believed he could detonate on Fury at any time due to his one-punch KO skills.

“Deontay Wilder is never out until this is all over, because of my heart, my will and the strength I have. And yes, I really feel like he was part of it and it’s not my place to explain that to anyone. I said my peace and let out my emotions. I said it. People can believe what they want.”

Another story that got out of hand was the massive suit excuse. Wilder pointed out that he only mentioned something behind the scenes and someone in the media blew it up.

“They actually overheard something in the locker room,” Wilder explained. “I’m not justifying the costume. The costume was a bit massive. But it wasn’t enough to make me feel the way I felt in the ring. It wasn’t enough that I had no legs.

Strangely, however, Wilder blamed this part on someone who potentially gave him a demanding time. He will strive to ensure that the decision never falls on Malik Scott, who replaced Breland as coach.

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Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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