After coming close to winning WBC gold last October, super featherweight Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez returns to action on a DAZN doubleheader on May 11 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Hernandez (34-2, 31 KO) is effortless to root for. He’s an incredibly entertaining fighter who bounced back from a 2019 defeat that could have derailed his career and fought his way to a title shot. His first bout for gold saw him overwhelm O’Shaquie Foster for much of the fight and gained an insurmountable lead heading into the championship rounds, but he ultimately succumbed to a stoppage with less than 30 seconds on the clock.
The first stop on the road to his return will be his fight against Daniel Lugo (27-2-1, 18 KO), who also fell brief of a career-defining victory when he opted for a majority draw with Mauricio Lara last month. He’s a solid test for Hernandez as he has the courage and fortitude needed to stand up to a formidable puncher, and I’m glad he’s getting another chance after likely getting kicked out.
“People haven’t paid attention to me since I lost,” Hernandez said. “On May 11, I will make a statement: ‘Rocky never left.’
“First of all, I would like to thank God, Matchroom, Paco Damián and my team for another amazing opportunity,” Lugo said. “We are back in the gym, working strenuous and preparing for war. Rocky Hernandez is one of the best fighters in my category, but I’m ready for the challenge.
“I know how significant this fight is, a victory over Rocky Hernandez will open up many great opportunities. We will show the Mexican War to all boxing fans who watch DAZN.
In this collaboration, WBA super bantamweight champion Erika Cruz (17-2, 3 KO) will face mandatory challenger Nazarena Romero (13-0-1, 7 KO), one of a seemingly endless number of standout Argentine women hiding in the lower importance of the activity. Cruz had three fights in 2023, where she lost to Amanda Serrano for fight of the year, bounced back after a pliable touch in Tijuana, then dropped down to 122 pounds and beat Mayerlin Rivas for the belt last November.
For her part, Romero had fought Rivas to a technical draw five months earlier.
“I step into the ring not just to defend the title, but to win it,” Cruz said. “Romero may be the must-see opponent, but I’m focused on bigger dreams. Yamileth Mercado, Ellie Scotney, Segolene Lefebvre – I’m going for all stripes. Romero won’t be the one to stand in the way of my destiny. Viva Mexico!”
“I think it’s my time,” Romero said. “Nothing in my life has been, is or will be effortless. I was born for this and I feel like the best of all. I prepare like a champ; I think like a champion and I have to live like a champion.”