Boxing
'This will be a true Mexican war' - Eduardo Hernandez and Rene Tellez Giron ready for super featherweight clash
Watch Hernandez vs. Giron live Feb 28 on DAZN
Eduardo 'Rocky' Hernandez and Rene Tellez Giron have promised to deliver explosive action when they clash at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec on Friday night, live worldwide on DAZN and in association with Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM).
Matchroom present their first event in Canada and Hernandez and Giron are set to heat things up in the sub-zero temperatures, in a critical clash for Rocky as he hunts another shot at world title honors.
KO artist Hernandez (36-2 32 KOs) is back after an accidental head clash in his showdown with Thomas Mattice caused a cut to his left eye in Hermosillo back in September, ending a contest that was bubbling nicely with a technical decision win.That was a second win for ‘Rocky’ in his rebuild after his thrilling world title fight with O’Shaquie Foster in October 2023, and the WBA Continental Americas and IBF USBA super featherweight titles are on the line when he takes on Giron (20-4 13 KOs), the fiery Mexican who gave future world title challenger Floyd Schofield a real scare when he floored him in the 11th round of their clash in Las Vegas in November in a spirited performance.
“Both Rene’s style and my style are confrontational,” said Hernandez. “Neither of us want to lose, we both seek victory.
“This started as a child’s wish, and is turning into something bigger than what the child dreamed of. We train 3,200 meters above sea level and we’re going in there with all the attitude and conditioning for the fight. This is heavy training for the fight because we know it won’t be easy. Rene is a strong fighter.
“I believe Mexican boxing is synonymous with sacrifice, with war, the simple fact of saying I am a Mexican boxer, is that we’re going to put on a great show and I believe that this will not be the exception.
“My wife and for my children, this sacrifice I make day to day is for them, they know how much I love them and that I will never give up for them, they give me the impulse and every time I am falling, they give me a lift to keep working and putting in effort. I have confidence, the work I put in gives me that, we are going to put on a great fight and I will come out with my hand raised.”
“This will be a true Mexican war,” said Giron. “One of the two of us is going to be left standing because we are going to give it our all.
“I consider myself a brawler, but I am also a boxer who wears down opponents round after round.
“It doesn’t matter where you train as long as you train 100 per cent. Fights are always won in training.
“People usually call me ‘El Bravo’ because I always go all out, give everything I can and more, so from there the nickname Bravo stuck because they think I am brave, and well yes, I am brave.
“My family and my partner have always been my motivation. In the end, everything I do is for them to have a better life tomorrow, and here we are with the crazy dream of one day being world champion.”
Hernandez and Giron top the bill in Canada where unbeaten hometown heavyweight Alexis Barriere (11-0 9 KOs) returns to action for the first time since landing his ninth KO win in his 11th pro outing in October 2023, and a fourth inside the opening round.
The 29-year-old southpaw and former Team Canada man was one of Tyson Fury’s sparring partners for his two fights with Oleksandr Usyk in May and December, and now the Sugar Hill Steward-trained Quebec puncher will be looking to get back in the groove and make an impact on the world rankings against Ubaldo Ilagor (13-1 12 KOs) over ten rounds, and Barriere’s fellow unbeaten Canadian Derek Pomerleau also in action over eight rounds at middleweight against Nathan McIntosh (14-3-1 1 KO), and the action is kicked off on DAZN at 8pm ET by former world champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (42-12-2 19 KOs) meeting Italian Jessica Bellusci (6-3 2 KOs) over eight rounds at featherweight.
