Yoenli Hernandez: “I’m The Best Middleweight In The World Right Now!” – Breaking Boxing News
Undefeated top-rated middleweight star Yoenli “El Diablo” Hernandez had strong words for the rest of the 160-pound division ahead of his showdown against veteran Argentine contender Francisco Daniel Verón that serves as the co-main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on DAZN and Prime Video taking place Saturday, August 22 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I’m the best middleweight in the world right now,” said Cuba’s Hernandez. “My hunger for glory, my desire to be champion and win every title—that’s something I don’t see in the rest of the division. Everyone seems to arrive, get the title, and settle. Not me. I’m coming to get the title, keep it, and fight the best. Lately, nobody in my weight class wants to face the best.”
Number one-ranked by the WBA and WBO, in addition to being ranked number two by the WBC, Hernandez is the latest amateur prodigy to emerge from Cuba and show world championship potential. After a career-best victory over veteran contender Terrell Gausha in his last bout, Hernandez has spent time training in Orlando ahead of August 22, using the new location to spar with top contenders Yoenis Tellez and David Morrell Jr. Despite his early success, he continues to seek ways to improve across training camps.
“I’ve focused on polishing the few mistakes I made against Terrell Gausha and Kyrone Davis,” said Hernandez. “We’re improving, and that’s what we’re focusing on in this camp. I’m just working twice as hard as I did before my last fight to reach my goal.”
The normally reserved Hernandez also shared a direct message for his August 22 opponent Verón, who’s gotten the attention of Hernandez through his comments leading up to fight night.
“Verón says that I am still a ‘very amateur’ boxer,’” said Hernandez. “He thinks that fighting me is like fighting an amateur. He’s talking too much. It’s one thing to call the devil, another to see him arrive. I see him saying he’ll put me in situations no one has put me in before, and I hope he’s not one of those talkers who doesn’t back up their words inside the ring.
“I’m going all out, I’m coming to win. And if he says he’s going to come forward in the ring, he’ll have to have more drive than me. And for him to have more drive than me, we’ll have to see it to believe it.”
On August 22, Hernandez will enter the ring on the biggest stage of his young career, competing in the co-main event of a pay-per-view headlined by two of this generation’s most compelling stars in Rolly Romero and Teofimo Lopez. Despite the big names in the main event, Hernandez knows what he has to do to make sure fans remember his performance after fight night.
“I’m very grateful to be part of such a prestigious card as Rolly vs. Teofimo on August 22,” said Hernandez. “I’m going to steal the show by giving the Argentine the beating of the year, and show the fans that I am the most complete fighter at 160 pounds.”
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