CARLOS HERNANDEZ PROFILE

When Carlos Hernandez became El Salvador’s first world champion on February 1, 2003, he said, “This victory is for the people of El Salvador. I had the motivation and strength from my people. This country has suffered a lot, but thank God I am the first champion in El Salvador. I worked hard and my perseverance paid off.”

The President of El Salvador, Francisco Flores, was at ringside in support of Carlos, as well as former world champions and fellow-Central Americans Roberto Duran and Alexis Arguello.

Carlos was a national hero in El Salvador, however, before he won the world title. He had been involved in disaster relief efforts, and fought in the nation’s capital in September, 2001. The fighters on that card donated a portion of their purses to the victims of an earthquake and flood. Carlos said, “I thank God I was able to contribute. That’s one of the nice things about being a fighter. Sometimes you’re able to give back.”

Carlos was trained at the Westminster Boxing Club by Hall of Fame trainer and manager Jackie McCoy until McCoy’s death. He is now trained by Amilcar Brusa, a native of Argentina based in Los Angeles. Carlos said, “I’ve learned so much from Brusa. He is very dedicated. I mean, the man trained Carlos Monzon, so when he talks, I listen.”

Carlos said he got his nickname at a very early age. He said he spent a summer with his grandparents in El Salvador and fought almost every day with the local street kids. After winning all the fights, his grandfather told him, “If you keep this up, someday you’ll be famous for your fighting.”

PROFESSIONAL CAREER RECORD OF KEY FIGHTS

2003

October: Won 1st IBF Junior Lightweight World Title Defence by technical decision against former IBF jr. lightweight world champion Steve Forbes (23-1). Both gave strong efforts. Forbes staggered Carlos in the 4th round, but Carlos outworked Forbes in several rounds. Carlos was cut over the left eye by a clash of heads in the 6th round and over the right eye by another clash of heads in the 10th. The fight was stopped on the cuts and went to the scorecards. Carlos led by scores of 98-92, 97-93, 97-94.

May: Won by TKO against Moises Pedroza (24-5-1) in the 2nd round of a non-title fight.

February: Won IBF Junior Lightweight World Title by a technical decision against David Santos (42-5). The early rounds were close, but Carlos fought aggressively and generally outworked Santos. Carlos scored a knockdown in the 4th round, although replays showed it was from a trip rather than a punch, and Santos’ nose was cut in the 4th round and sustained a cut over his right eye from a clash of heads in the 8th. The ringside doctor stopped the fight on the cut at 2:52 and they went to the scorecards. Carlos led by scores of 78-73, 77-74, 77-74.

2002

June: Won a 10 round unanimous decision against 1996 U.S. Olympic alternate Mark Burse (10-4-1). It was a good, close fight, but Carlos rallied in the late rounds, and won three of the last four rounds on all three scorecards.

March: Won by KO against Douglas Villareal (27-8-1). Carlos knocked Villareal out cold with an uppercut, and the fight was stopped at 2:30 of the 1st round. Villareal was on the canvas for about three minutes before he recovered.

2001

November: Won a 10 round unanimous decision against former British Commonwealth champion and two-time world title challenger Justin Juuko (36-5-1). Carlos gave an impressive performance; he consistently outworked Juuko, landed the harder punches.

September: Won WBC Latin American Super Featherweight Title by TKO against Juan Macias (26-12-1). Carlos dominated the fight and scored two knockdowns in the 8th round. Macias did not answer the bell for the 9th.

May: Lost WBC Super Featherweight World Title Challenge by a 12 round unanimous decision against defending champion Floyd Mayweather (25-0). Carlos pressed forward, but Mayweather was the sharper, more accurate puncher. Carlos bloodied Mayweather’s nose in the 3rd round, and was credited with a knockdown in the 6th when Mayweather grimaced in pain after landing a punch and touched the canvas with his glove. Mayweather said after the fight, “It was one of the toughest nights of my career. He is a very, very tough fighter…”

February: Won by TKO against Sandro Marcos (21-7-2). Carlos scored three knockdowns in the 1st round and three more in the 2nd, and stopped Marcos at 2:42 of the round.

2000

December: Won by KO against Reggie Sanders (9-18-3) in the 5th round.

November: Won by TKO against Angel Aldama (29-20-1) in the 4th round.

May: Won by TKO against Tony Duran (13-23-2) in the 6th round.

1999

November: Won a 10 round decision against Alejandro Jimenez (6-9-1).

April: Won by KO against Javier Lucas (47-12). In a fight with nonstop action; Carlos gradually wore down Lucas, scored a knockdown, and stopped him in the 5th round.

January: Won by TKO against Ernesto Martinez (10-4-1) in the 4th round.

1998

April: Won a 10 round decision against Roberto Avila (15-10-1).

1997

November: Lost WBC Super Featherweight World Title Challenge against defending champion Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez (36-1-1). Carlos started the fight very aggressively and worked hard, but Genaro took control with his sharp and accurate counterpunches and dominated the second half of the fight.

April: Won by TKO against Bernard Harris (11-0-1) at 2:23 of the 8th round.

January: Won a 10 round majority decision against former WBC featherweight champion Goyo Vargas (34-5-1).

1996

July: Won by KO against Isagani Pumar (26-7-2) in the 10th round.

1995

September: Lost a 10 round split decision against former Mexican champion Aaron Zarate (24-4-1).