(Transcribed by Michael Readman) The junior welterweight division is one of the most talent rich divisions in boxing. The current champion is Danny Garcia, but some feel that Mauricio Herrera should be the fighter holding the title after his close controversial loss to Garcia back in March. Herrera, who is now coming off yet another bad decision loss, is looking for his chance to prove he’s one of the elite fighters in the weight class.
In part 2 of my special “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Mauricio Herrera, I get his thoughts on his future and a possible rematch with Ruslan Provodnikov. Herrera also shared his thoughts on judging in boxing and what he thinks should happen after a bad decision. Additionally Mauricio gives his thoughts on Mayweather-Pacquiao and when he thinks he will be returning to the ring. Here is what Mauricio Herrera had to say.
Jenna J: Mauricio, you’re in the stacked 140lb division, there’s a lot of options out there for you. What do you think is next for you?
Mauricio Herrera: You know what, I honestly don’t know. I’m open to fight the biggest fights hopefully sometime in May, get back on a big network and just keep punching and stay motivated. It’s hard to do when something like this happens but what can you do? I’ve been in the sport for a long time, this is all I know how to do. I love the sport but it does suck and there are sad parts about it but I’m just gonna keep trucking.
Jenna J: The WBO belt is now vacant and Ruslan Provodnikov is highly ranked in that organization. If you have an opportunity to fight for a vacant belt against Ruslan Provodnikov in a rematch, would you take it?
Mauricio Herrera: Yeah, I’d fight Ruslan again. They were mentioning something about that at the fight, saying they were interested in it and that HBO was interested. Why not? We’ll do it again.
Jenna J: What do you think would happen in a rematch based on what you’ve seen from him in recent years, how do you think it goes?
Mauricio Herrera: I think it would be better this time, I’m more seasoned now, I have a lot of experience. I’m getting smarter with every fight and I think I’d have a much better time with him this time.
Jenna J: In the main event of the card you fought in, Timothy Bradley was taking on Diego Chaves, and the fight somehow ended in a draw. Did you have a chance to see that fight and what do you think about having two controversial decisions on one card?
Mauricio Herrera: I only saw probably two or three rounds early on, I didn’t see the whole fight but I heard the same thing. People had Bradley winning and they gave him a draw. They got to investigate these judges, there was two fights in a row on the same night, I don’t see why they are not interviewing these judges.
Jenna J: Why do you think when bad judging happens that these judges don’t have to really account for what they do? Why aren’t they interviewed after to explain what they’ve scored?
Mauricio Herrera: Yeah, that’s what I was thinking about today when I woke up, that just came to my mind — why don’t these judges ever get interviewed or why doesn’t anyone talk to them about any of this? I think people should put their names out there, and especially to make something happen right now with those two fights on HBO. Those same judges, put them in and expose the names out there and the people should just speak out.
Jenna J: Let’s turn things a little bit to the current boxing scene. The talk of boxing is again focused on Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. What do you think of those two possibly getting in the ring now that it seems serious again?
Mauricio Herrera: I think it would be great, I’d still love to watch that fight. To me, it still hasn’t lost any value, everybody would still love to see that fight, I hope they make the fight and I’ll be there to watch it.
Jenna J: If your there to watch it, who are you favoring? Who do you think wins it now?
Mauricio Herrera: You know what, its tough. I know Pacquiao still has it and he’s still awkward, fast, has power. I don’t know, for me it would be a 50/50 fight.
Jenna J: If you had to put your money on one guy, who would put it on and why?
Mauricio Herrera: I’d go with Pacquiao, only because he’s a southpaw and that just goes against everything in Mayweather’s defense.
Jenna J: I know it’s very early after your last fight, but when do you think you might get back into the ring?
Mauricio Herrera: They are talking about maybe May. Maybe get back on the Canelo vs. Cotto card if something happens. I’m sure Golden Boy will take care of me and put me back on.
Jenna J: Being that you got a bad decision loss, how do you keep going on and fighting knowing it might happen again? How do you keep overcoming that?
Mauricio Herrera: Well, the way you just told me now, I don’t know how I’m gonna do it.
It’s gonna be tough, its gonna be tough, but I always find a way to motivate myself and just the fact that the people see what really goes on, I’ve just gotta keep thinking that way, the people and the judges.
I can’t beat the judges, they are the only people I can’t beat, so as long as the people are watching, the people are seeing what’s going on, I think that’s gonna motivate me enough to keep going.
Jenna J: In closing, is there anything you want to say to your fans and supporters who follow your career?
Mauricio Herrera: Oh yeah, I just want to say thank you to all my supporters and to all of my fans. They are the ones that are keeping my head up, because of them, reading their comments and, hey, I’m the peoples champ.
If only Herrera idolized the great PAC and take that long and risky road that Pacs once put it in from his heart then mr Herrera surely will be able to brutalized that Garcia…it only takes extra motivation to put Danny Garcia into a Ricky Hattons wonderland.
If the Pacman would be able to set asides all the disctractions the way he trained when he fought Dela Hoya, Hatton and Cotto..
He can catch Mayweather..My money is not on the “Money”, Pacquiao will beat Mayweather on Cinco de Mayo.
cool dude i saw his garcia fight an pod fight.. hes one of the top 140lb for sure.. could beat any of them on anyday..
I think Herrera has the value of thinking. He analyzed boxer’s styles and ability.
Boxing has change alot. I hope how flights Mayweather give him ass whip. Also let it be clean flight with no politics.
Herrera has the tools to become lineal world champ!!! and FLOYDUCK JR is the greatest COWARD of all…he even smiled after hearing that He is a coward…a coward but full of shiiity money hehehehehehe….i think FLOYDUCKs only goes with the money only
Yeah smiling and laughing at all of you lemons calling him a coward after all the people he has beaten including marquez who destroyed your foolish idol pacquio who after all that has money problem’s ! Takes one to know one I suppose ! Prob quiet hard to get over a knockout like that which is why he has fools like you talking rubbish !
How could Floyd have destroyed Marquez when he has not been able to stop or knock him out? People tend to exaggerate things. Floyd has a long reach so he was able to potshot Marquez at a distance and wouldn’t even dare slug it out. Marquez couldn’t connect his shots, on the other hand, considering his short arm reach and being way slower in the fight being a bloated Welterweight who has to jump from lightweight to accept Mayweather’s challenge.
I do agree with Dhanreb,, If Floyd never duck someone like pac then let him fight the pacman without much of excuses. Sad to say Julian you are much fooled because you know nothing about boxing…lol.
mayquackquack will find a way to botch this fight, he is so terrified of manny pacquiao that he’ll do anything to derail any possibilities of a mega fight with the true and pure son of boxing, manny pacman pacquiao. you see, gayweather is not only a coward but a mf liar.
You guys have so many excuses for Pacquiao but the truth is he has been fighting nobody’s and I’m wondering why with all the Pacquiao love how come his PPV numbers are so low
Da niggas scared plain and simple !
Typical loud mouth over rated black so called athlete .
That mother fucker couldn’t tell the truth or know the truth even if it hit him in the face and knocked him down !
he aint scared to fight manny he know how much that fight can bring in so he tryna get all he can. he not stupid he about his money so all that scared shit yall need to stop he know they gone give in and pay him what he want he just waiting they ass out and making money at the same time.
Pac man all the way. People want to compare Marquez vs. Mayweather as a comparison but forget that Floyd paid over 600,000 to come in 10 pounds heavier,and ensure a victory over the smaller guy bitch move but smart move. reason being a noob Marquez being Mexican would not back out of the fight (because Mexicans don’t back down no matter what)and would take the money and beat him with his advantage. All you fool bought into it.I was rooting for Marquez even though he was being and I’ll eat it but I don’t know where he was able to get that lucky punch made me happy. But in doing so he gave Mayweather a good reason to duck this guy for good.Explain Cotto Pacquiao killed him , Mayweather smacked him around a bit, encoder looked like he was going to go clubbing after the fight but when pack-out it look like he got clubbed during the fight.bottom line is this fight has to happen if one guys going to be the TBE. I would understand him not being voted in to the Hall of Fame for a while because of it. Zeros don’t mean nothing in boxing, unless you fought everybody that was considered a great fighter.that’s why people talk about Muhammad Ali to this day, Leonard,Roberto Duran,Hearns.all those guys had losses but you know what they all fight anybody who is considered as good if not better than them so either they can separate themselvesfrom those comparisons and they can see where they really stood.
he acts as if he’s got money issues I thought it was Pacquiao with the money issues.oh that’s right all those hoes around him are pricey
bottom line is he’s at the end of his career he’s made his money it’s time to cement the legacy. I got the a 8 division champion.you will beat him boxing just by the number of punches he throws around. And if Floyd is dumb enough to exchange,then goodnight note Mayweather knockout Pacquiao.