At times it seems that Alain “Konan” Hernandez (14-6-2, 7KO) is a fight fan that just took it too far. According to his brother,
Edmundo Hernandez, “Konan” is a boxing historian specializing in Mexican boxers.
“He knows about everybody, you can ask him about any fighter and he can tell you something about him,” Edmundo states proudly.
What started as a whim when the now 30-year-old was nineteen, has turned into a full fledged boxing career.
“I started training as a hobby at Erik Morales’ gym in the Zona Norte and a year later I decided to make a career out of it although I didn’t have my first pro fight until I was twenty three,” Hernandez states. By that time Hernandez had switched to the Ulloa Gym in the Mesa district of Tijuana under the watchful eye of Luis Roman.
Hernandez, who moonlights as a P.E. teacher by day, comes not from a family of fighters, but of writers. His afore mentioned brother Edmundo is a well known boxing columnist, more recently for the popular weekly Zeta which is distributed in Northern Mexico while his father has been a newspaper reporter all his life.
A job that took the family from their native La Paz to Mexico City to Tijuana in the early nineties.
“When I was little and living in Mexico City, my dad used to take us to the legendary Arena Coliseo and then when we got to Tijuana, to the Auditorio to catch, in my opinion, the last great boxing season in Tijuana,” Hernandez states. “My favorite boxer in those times was Javier Lucas who I saw fight many times in Mexico City.”
After a very short amateur career in which “Konan” went 9-1, he decided to go professional in mid 2002 in a bout that he remembers vividly, not because he knocked out his opponent Sergio Lozoya in the first round but because it holds a more profound memory.
“I remember that on my way to the ring, I crossed paths with my mother. Usually before then when I was an amateur, she would get there after I fought since she didn’t like watching me fight but this time she got there right as I was making my ring walk,” Hernandez states quietly.
Hernandez’s mother passed away a couple of years ago in a hard fight against cancer. In her memory, Hernandez tattooed her image to his shoulder.
Since going pro, Hernandez has had a mixture of success coupled with tough fights which he has learned much from.
“I think I have had some tough losses, losses that could of gone my way but I have learned from those fights especially against Jorge Paez Jr. and Vernon Paris,” Hernandez continues. “Those two fighters have a great pedigree and I hung in there with them and I think that if I work a little harder, I can beat them if we ever fight again.”
Those two back to back losses that Hernandez suffered in ’07 were his first since 2005 and he has not lost since amassing a 11-2, 3KO ledger since ’05 including a recent 5 fight winning streak which earned him the 2008’s Tijuana Prospect of the Year award.
“I feel very proud of earning that award and now I feel a bigger responsibility to the people that support me and especially my family.”
Now “Konan” who earned his nickname because of his tenacious nature in the ring, like a mediaval warrior, faces a tough challenge on Thursday, May 21st at the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego.
Hernandez faces unbeaten Mercito Gesta (14-0-1, 5KO) of Cebu City, Philippines in the main event of “Havoc at the Hard Rock’, the maiden voyage of Rogue Boxing Promotions.
“I know that he is a southpaw and quick. I think we are about the same size and he is tough but he is no Pacquiao,” Hernandez states confidently. “Right now Filipino fighters are the fashion because of Pacquiao’s win but Manny is unique.”
“I have trained very hard for this bout and a lack of training is not going to be the reason I lose,” Hernandez continues. “I have been sparring with southpaws and I think I have discovered the key to have my hand raised on the 21st.”
As far as how the fight will develop inside the ropes that night, Hernandez states that he is ready for anything.
“We can go toe to toe or he can try to box, whatever style he wants to do. We can dance in what ever style he wants. It can be at the rhythm he sets or I do, I am ready.”
“I am very motivated to be selected for the main event for this fight and I don’t want to disappoint the fans or Rogue Boxing,” Hernandez states. I am going for the win but the least that the fans can expect is a great fight, I am going to leave it all in the ring.”
“I want to thank my team, my trainer Luis Roman, my corner Ismael Ramirez, Saul Hernandez and my brother Edmundo. I especially would like to thank Mr. Derek Pierce who has treated me well and has given me all of his support.”
For more information and tickets, please visit www.RogueBoxing.com