Catching up with “Chicanito” a month after his benefit dinner
Guest list total: 600 plus
Weeks since the event: 4
Miles to San Bernardino: 64
Amount of funds raised: $33,000
Number of WBC belts presented: 2
Hope and prayers for Genaro: Infinite
Memories from the night: PRICELESS
The Smile on “Chicanito’s” Face: TRULY PRICELESS!
Hard to believe it’s already been a month since the World Boxing Council (WBC) Legends of Boxing Museum (LBM) held a fundraising dinner for Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez who continues to fight his battle against cancer that was first diagnosed in October.
This year has just flown by! So I got in touch with Genaro (38-2-1, 17 KOs) to see how he’s been doing in the four weeks since his memorable event that took place on the grounds of the American Sports University in San Bernardino on January 17, and to share these new photos with all of his fans. He told me how impressed he was that so many people came out and how thankful he is for the support. I will have this new interview with “Chicanito” in my next posting.
For now here is a tribute to the wonderful benefit dinner that not only raised funds for Genaro but most importantly helped raised his spirits!
The dinner was hosted by the WBC’s “Team Hernandez” members led by Rudy Tellez, Jill Diamond, Jaime Ochoa, Angel Ochoa, Vinnie Johnson and Eric Casillas.
Everyone came together to support this well-respected and beloved champ–this was a community effort in the truest sense of the word.
Each pitched in to make this a successful fundraising gala and ensured a smooth and festive evening in honor of Genaro. Fighters Israel Vazquez and Mia St. John both participated in the live auction, donating their time to help raise money for the Hernandez family, WBCares’ Jill Diamond was an amazing force–overseeing both the live and silent auctions and so much more, local beauty queens helped serve dinner and dessert to the attendees, Rudy Tellez called out the winning raffle ticket numbers with his daughters helping out with the prizes, Jimmy Lennon Jr. and Danny Valdivia donated their always first-class emcee skills, and female fighter Katarina De La Cruz was the impromptu spokesmodel for the live auction.
These are just some of the boxing personalities that lent a helping hand during the festivities. There is a very long list of other generous volunteers and sponsors who dedicated their time and services at this poignant benefit dinner for the champ.
Just one of the individuals that gave his all at the fundraiser was trainer Tony Rivera, who assisted WBC LBM Secretary Bonnie Martinez at the check-in table as a steady line of attendees, VIP guests and WBC dignitaries patiently waited to enter the banquet hall in the Fox Theater. A longtime cornerman for Marco Antonio Barrera and a WBC Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Rivera was one of the first to arrive and the last to leave. He stepped in and did whatever it took to help out in this fundraising evening for Genaro. He said of the champ, “His spark is still there. This is so hard for him, but he’s just acting like he’s got a cold or something!” Rivera was happy to have his best friend Ernie Aguirre lending support too.
While a few tears were shed, there was also a feeling of positive energy that permeated the room as the outpouring of support, enthusiasm and affection for “Chicanito” was overwhelming. The sold-out gala included a hilarious performance by Improv comedian Richard Villa, fight highlights and interview footage with Genaro, and several award presentations with all the boxers in attendance joining Genaro on stage.
“Chicanito” received a bronze statue inducting him into the WBC LBM Hall of Fame and also received a WBC championship belt. Super bantamweight warrior Israel Vazquez was given a Champion Emeritus belt as the audience applauded these two heroes in and out of the boxing ring.
Genaro, a WBC former super featherweight champion, shared the spotlight with a huge group of family members including his brother Rudy, father, Joe, wife Liliana, daughter Amanda, 17, and son Steven, 9, and sister-in-law Adriana.
The venue was packed with so many familiar faces from the sport. WBC Vice President Mauricio Sulaiman, fighters Israel Vazquez, Alfredo “Perro” Angulo, Timothy Ray Bradley, Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon, Paul Banke, Alfonso Gomez, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Mando Muñiz, Paul Gonzales, Michael “Lil Warrior” Franco, Manuel “Mantecas” Medina, Mia St. John, cutman Miguel Diaz, trainers Tony Rivera, Bennie Georgino, referee Raul Caiz Sr., announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., manager Frank Espinoza, promoter Ken Thompson, matchmaker Alex Camponovo, manager Jackie Kallen, and several World Boxing Hall of Fame Directors all came out to cheer on “Chicanito” as he wages this war against cancer.
For many of the fighters, it was their chance to catch up and visit with fellow boxers, trainers, promoters that they hadn’t seen in years. It was also a great opportunity for youthful new stars of boxing to meet yesterday’s pugilistic superstars. Boxing creates a rare brotherhood among fighters and I saw instant bonds formed when the current generation of boxers crossed paths with champions from earlier decades.
Alfredo “Perro” Angulo had just found out that his fight was going to be held in Florida and that was the first thing he excitedly told me when he and his trainer, Clemente Medina, arrived at the dinner. The young undefeated boxer was thrilled to chat with two-time champ Bobby Chacon and the two playfully mugged for the cameras.
Chacon shared a table with ring veteran Paul Banke and fighter Alfonso Gomez, who retired Arturo Gatti. All were honored to take their place on stage next to “Chicanito.”
“I got to talk to Genaro twice and I talked to his brother Rudy,” former super bantamweight champ Paul Banke told me after the dinner. He was honored to take part in the event which was both entertaining and sentimental. “It was emotional. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor. It hit me hard to see my brother–Genaro’s like a brother to me–like this. But I don’t want to feel sad for him because he’s such a tough guy!”
In the weeks following the benefit not a day goes by without somebody emailing me or calling me to reminisce about the incredible event or to ask how “Chicanito” is doing. The feeling is mutual that each person who attended the fundraiser knows that they were part of something very special with memories from this once-in-a-lifetime night that will remain with them for a long, long time. The boxing circle is a strong one and when a champ is down, everyone is willing to get him back on his feet.
“I think Genaro went through a lot of emotions,” said Hassan Chitsaz, the first Iranian-American champion to capture a belt. The heavyweight boxer lent his support because, “It feels good to help people. We all have to care in this world; It can happen to anyone. It touched me in my heart and anything I can do for him, I’ll do it.”
A big personal thank you to Hassan, auctioneer Jonathan Holiday, Frank Martinez and Ricardo Lopez for helping me find my camera that I “lost” when I was running around pinning the special boxing-themed cancer awareness ribbons on the fighters and celebrity guests! You guys were heroes.
And while there were countless other heroes that also shined that night–he biggest hero, the biggest champion was Genaro Hernandez.
This was his night to shine the brightest–and it certainly was a “priceless” experience for everyone there.
Photos courtesy of Michele Chong and Steve Harpst: Genaro and Rudy Tellez; Israel lends me his belt; Alfredo Angulo with trainer Clemente Medina and Bobby Chacon; Genaro’s wife Liliana and son Steven; Tim Bradley gets pinned; Tony Rivera and Ernie Aguirre; ; cutman Miguel Diaz; The Hernandez family