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RUDY HERNANDEZ ON ALVARADO FIGHTING PACQUIAO: "IT WOULD BE ABOUT MIKE'S BOXING"

By Percy Crawford | April 26, 2013
RUDY HERNANDEZ ON ALVARADO FIGHTING PACQUIAO:

"Who doesn't want to fight Manny Pacquiao? It's a money-maker, that's for sure. And given the opportunity, of course we would go in it with the intention of beating Manny Pacquiao because that would open up an even bigger opportunity...It wouldn't be so much of us trying to impose size on him. It would be about Mike's boxing. He would have to resort to boxing skills more than his size and strength. I don't know if he could beat Manny with size and strength," stated world-class trainer Rudy Hernandez, who talked about the possibility of Mike Alvarado facing Manny Pacquiao and much more. Check it out!

PC: Congratulations! You have had a great few weeks. Of course with Mike Alvarado first, and then on Friday Night Fights, your guy Rustam Nugaev knocking out and giving Jonathan Maicelo his first loss. Did you feel that if Nugaev could stand up to that initial surge, he could pull it off?

RH: I have known Rustam for a number of years now and I know what he is capable of doing and his style and the potential fighter that he is. He is always in condition and in shape. So I was asked to work with him that Monday. I saw a video on Jonathan and I saw he was bigger and stronger and had the advantages, so I felt he had the edge on him.

PC: He began to wear down Maicelo and started finding a home for that right hand. What were your instructions to him in between rounds?

RH: One of the things that I told Rustam at the weigh-ins was that he had size and strength and he was going to use it. One of the things that I wanted him to do was commit to the body. And not just throw punches, but commit to the body punches and use his punching power to slow him down, and by the 4th round, I had a feeling he was going to break him down and stop him in the later rounds and pretty much that's how it played out.

PC: That was actually one of my questions was could you sense him slowing down, because on television, it was obvious he was, but I wasn't sure if it was so apparent live. But you say you did sense it?

RH: Well, anytime you are dealing with a guy that has a lot of body movement, you kill the body and the head dies, right? Well, that's exactly what we did. That was the plan and we took it to him and made him fight 3 minutes of every round, and in the end, it paid off.

PC: The rumor is that Mike Alvarado's next fight could be against Manny Pacquiao. Obviously that's a fight you guys would take in a heartbeat I'm sure.

RH: Yes! Who doesn't want to fight Manny Pacquiao? It's a money-maker, that's for sure. And given the opportunity, of course we would go in it with the intention of beating Manny Pacquiao because that would open up an even bigger opportunity.

PC: Stylistically, how would Mike have to fight that fight to walk away with a win?     

RH: It wouldn't be so much of us trying to impose size on him. It would be about Mike's boxing. He would have to resort to boxing skills more than his size and strength. I don't know if he could beat Manny with size and strength.

PC: Rigondeaux received his fair share of criticism following the Donaire fight. Do you think it was fair criticism or a bit over the top?

RH: I think he...in boxing, sometimes you have to put a little bit more effort, and I think Rigondeaux could have done a lot better and held his ground a lot more and won more convincingly and gained an audience while doing so. I think he missed that. Boxing-wise and skill-wise, it was great, but it's a business too and if you want to get big in this sport, you gotta win over the public.

PC: So you feel like the performance was good, but he didn't gain any new fans?

RH: Right! And he could have. All he had to do was commit and he does better.

PC: Did you watch Canelo Alvarez against Austin Trout yet?

RH: I didn't see it yet.

PC: Do you think Zab Judah has one more in him to beat Danny Garcia or has his time come and gone?

RH: I'm not a fan of either. I like Zab personally. It's a tough fight for both, but if anybody underestimates Zab Judah, they got a long night coming to them. I think it's going to be a really good fight. Their styles and the way they fight, it makes for a very interesting fight. I don't think it's a blowout. I don't think that Danny knocks him out in a couple of rounds. I think it will be very competitive. If Danny Garcia is supposed to be the next big thing, then he will show why against Zab.

PC: Sergio Martinez always seem to be the guy facing tough opponents with great credentials and great records, but not really a lot of name recognition in the States. Martin Murray is no different, but he is more than quality opponent.

RH: I think he is in for a hard night as well. Martin Murray is not an easy fight. Martinez is a name and he has shown that he can fight the best, and unfortunately, this guy just doesn't have that name and this could be one of the hardest fights he's ever had.

PC: I see you, of course, in boxer's corners and at the UFC events serving those guys as a cutman. Are you just a fan of combat sports in general?

RH: I love it. I love the MMA fights. I work every UFC fight that I am available to be a part of. I love the environment, the fighters, the people; everything about the UFC. There is nothing negative that I can say about it. I can't say the same about boxing because it's two different animals, man. I separate both. Boxing is one thing and MMA is another. I love them both. But as far as boxing, we have too many primadonna's. They think they deserve the world, man, and they haven't done nothing to deserve it yet. But in MMA, all of those guys there are as humble as can be.  

PC: Do you think it's because they see the way certain fighters live and assume they should be living like that even if they haven't put in the work of the fighters making top dollar?

RH: Yeah! I go to the gym and the fighters nowadays are just primadonnas, man. I watch it so often and it bothers the living crap out of me; like watching guys get their hands wrapped. Do your own wraps. Wrap your own damn hands. If you have been doing boxing for a long time and can't wrap your own hands, something is wrong with you. All of the greats did it. They wrapped their own hands. I understand that there is a certain few who have had hand problems and they can afford it, that's fine, but come on, man; amateurs and pros, wrap your own hands.

PC: Why do you think the game is like that today with guys who you perceive as primadonnas?

RH: It's the managers and trainers because they cater to these guys. Most of them come with their dads. They come with a trainer already, like an uncle or something. Their uncle boxed around the neighborhood, so now he's gonna be a trainer. Everybody is a freaking trainer now.

PC: What do you have coming up?

RH: I will be at the UFC this weekend, Sonnen/Jones, and you guys be sure to watch; it's going to be a great fight.

PC: I won't even ask you for a prediction and put you on the spot (laughing).

RH: I can tell you who is going to win...the fans (laughing).



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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