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 returing 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 of 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.
