"I think we should fight Rios again right away because this is also a business and, I don't know, everybody makes such a big deal about things today opposed to what they used to be. My whole thing is this is what they do. One of the worst things you can do for these boxers is they give these fighters so much time off...let's go ahead and do it again. They are meant for each other, they fight good against each other ,and it was a good fight. Yeah, they got cracked, but what are they supposed to do. It's a fight and this is what they do. I'm 100% in favor of whatever they decide to do, whether it's to go against somebody else or go right back in there with each other," stated world-class trainer Rudy Hernandez, who shared his thoughts on Mike Alvarado's winning performance against Brandon Rios, their future plans, and much more. Check it out!
PC: Congratulations on the win over Brandon Rios. What a hell of a fight.
RH: Thanks man. I really appreciate it.
PC: In rematches, it's usually who can make the best adjustments from fight one to fight two. Mike Alvarado was able to do that and walk away with the title. What was the game plan going into the rematch?
RH: You saw it executed on Saturday. That's what we had worked on. One of the things that we did was we practiced on staying controlled and focused, which was really important. He stuck to the game plan and he got the win.
PC: I know you clarified the situation a little bit, but I wanted to let you clear the air because a lot of people think that mid-fight, you took over the corner and that wasn't the case. Could you clarify what happened a little bit?
RH: I always believed that we gotta give credit where credit is due, right? I was brought in as a cutman before his fight with Prescott. And for this fight, I was given the opportunity to be the head coach. I was not only gonna be his cutman, but I was gonna be his trainer as well. What I did was bring experience and my knowledge, because I have been around boxing for so long. I changed things up a little and we executed a plan that we had and that we had trained for and we got the result that we wanted. But Mike wouldn't be here today if Shan hadn't trained him all of those years and his manager got him where he's at today. So I just came in to enhance his style.
PC: You only have a minute in between rounds to not only work on his face and take care of his cuts and abrasions, but to also give him advice of what you see going on during the fight. Was that a difficult thing or something that is second nature for you?
RH: It just comes natural to me. To me, it comes easy. I feel like I'm not that old and I'm not that young, but it just comes easy to me. It's natural. Most guys get into either one or the other. I'm very fortunate that I'm able to do both. In the early 90's, I saw Nacho Beristain, who of course is Juan Manuel Marquez's trainer, and I saw him do it and I was like, I want to be just like that guy right there, man, because he doesn't depend on anybody else. One time, I was with my brother Genaro when he was fighting and we weren't sure if our cutman was gonna make it because he was snowed in in Chicago. He made it, but I remember saying that I never want to be put in that position again, so I started learning how to be a cutman and I do it all now.
PC: You do a great job at it all too my man. Mike did go to the hospital afterwards for a CT scan. How is he doing?
RH: It was just a routine thing that they do now, but he is good. Mike is a little older now and you can't get older in boxing and not feel the effects of those punches. It comes with the time.
PC: Everyone is screaming for a trilogy. Would you like to see Mike fight someone else before he fights Rios or you want to go right back at it against Rios?
RH: I think we should fight Rios again right away because this is also a business and, I don't know, everybody makes such a big deal about things today opposed to what they used to be. My whole thing is this is what they do. One of the worst things you can do for these boxers is they give these fighters so much time off. "He had such a hard fight; we can't fight him. We are gonna give him 6 months." What are you doing? You know what kind of damage is done to a boxer and his body in 3 or 4 months? If you see a fighter who hasn't been in the gym for 3 months, he gets fat and they are always battling to make weight and they get lazy. That hurts them more than being in the gym. They need to stay in the gym; that's where they need to be.
PC: I couldn't agree more. We have definitely gotten soft as a sport. I remember when Jermain Taylor was stopped in consecutive fights and people were saying he should retire and I was like, retire? That was crazy for me to hear people say that.
RH: Yeah! Look at howÂ…if you don't mind me asking you, how old are you?
PC: I'm 32.
RH: You are still one of the younger ones. When you look at a guy who is 20 years old today, his upbringing is different than yours, and my upbringing was completely different than yours. It seems like the younger generation continues to get weaker and weaker. And I say that because how many kids can get on the bus right now by themselves at the age of 10 or 12?
PC: Not very many.
RH: Oh, God forbid, man. That's child endangerment. Get the hell out of here. We are at the age where we are raising nothing but chumps and quitters. Look at Victor Ortiz. I will give you a perfect example. This is a guy who claimed to be raised in the streets and homeless. Get the fuck outta here with that bullshit. That's nothing but bullshit.
PC: Exactly. He doesn't behave like that. You're right though, my son is 12 years old and they are out of school for spring break and I go jogging through my subdivision and when I got home, I told him, "I think I saw 3 kids outside." And that's sad. We used to have to be told when to come inside.
RH: Exactly! That's what it has come to, man, but you are right.
PC: But I don't think you put them in with anyone else. You let them remind the fans of what they just witnessed right away in my opinion.
RH: Yeah! My whole thing is let's go ahead and do it again. They are meant for each other, they fight good against each other ,and it was a good fight. Yeah, they got cracked, but what are they supposed to do. It's a fight and this is what they do. I'm 100% in favor of whatever they decide to do, whether it's to go against somebody else or go right back in there with each other. I'm okay just as long as he is back in the ring. Let's just put them back in with each other because these are the types of fights and fighters that keep boxing fans coming back.
PC: Although adjustments were made, we still got a helluva fight and most think an even better one than the first. Is that because stylistically these two will just always make for that kind of fight?
RH: Yes, because at the end of the day, there is going to come a point where they are going to stop and they are going to fight. One is going to take the initiative or one is going to be looking to counter and the other will attack. These two guys, fighting each other, they could never be in a bad fight. They can't disappoint, regardless of what they do.
PC: Man, I appreciate your time. Congratulations again and good luck with whatever is next for you guys. Is there anything else you want to add?
RH: No, man; just anytime you need an opinion also, I'm here. I will make a fight out of any topic. I don't care. I like to argue (laughing).
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