Sergio Mora Sees Gerald McClellan In Yoenli Hernandez

“Hernandez comes for the knockout. He reminds me of Gerald McClellan. Remember the G-Man? Big puncher. Had a lot of first-round knockouts. He’s a big man, six feet, wide shoulders, big right hand. He’s not a southpaw like many Cuban standouts, but he’s exciting to watch,” said Mora to Premier Boxing Champions.

Older fans who watched McClellan will understand the comparison. Hernandez does not spend much time studying opponents. He comes after them immediately and chops them down with heavy punches. Once he reaches close range, he begins driving uppercuts through the middle. Nine of his 10 opponents have failed to last the distance.

Francisco Veron will have to prevent Saturday night’s co-main event from becoming that kind of fight. The Argentine has nine more professional bouts, but that advantage is misleading. Hernandez enjoyed a far longer and more successful amateur career, winning two world championships before turning professional.

Moving up from 154 pounds presents another difficulty for Veron against a 6-foot-2 natural middleweight. Listed at 5-foot-10½, he cannot match Hernandez in size or punching power. Mora believes Veron can create difficulty by using his jab and taking advantage of the way Hernandez gives up some of his height while pursuing knockouts. That plan requires Veron to box, change direction, and leave after throwing. Trading uppercuts and hooks would allow Hernandez to turn the bout into a test of strength that Veron is poorly equipped to win.

A brawl would be a serious mistake. Veron is unlikely to last long in the trenches against the larger Cuban once the punishment begins.

At 29, Hernandez does not need years of careful development. He may already be the best middleweight in the division, and Veron has been selected to show if he is ready to move directly into a title fight.