ANGEL ?MEMO? HERNANDEZ, the same man responsible for turning Juan Manuel Marquez into the Mexican ?Hulk,? wanted a similar result when his other client, Jorge Arce, challenges the other Filipino champ, Nonito Donaire Jr., for his 122-pound belts on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Hernandez, the controversial strength and conditioning coach who was linked to several disgraced world champion athletes for doping, is believed to be instrumental in Marquez?s crushing sixth-round knockout win over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday.
He is expected to be at Arce?s corner after spending five weeks with the 33-year-old four-division world champion expecting to snatch Donaire?s World Boxing Organization and the Ring magazine super-bantamweight titles, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) diamond super-bantamweight crown.
?Arce has worked with myself and Nacho Beristain in Mexico City in altitude training. Pretty much I was a mentor during his workouts. He worked out briefly with me for almost five weeks,? Hernandez told RingTV.com.
But according to BoxingNews24.com?s Dan Ambrose, the odds are against Arce (61-6-2, 46 knockouts) when he takes on Donaire (30-1, 19 knockouts) because the Mexican was not that impressive since his come-from-behind technical-knockout win over Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. last year.
Ambrose also presented other facts that may point to a Donaire win: Donaire at 5-foot-6-and-a-half enjoys an almost 3-inch advantage in height over. The ?Filipino Flash? also has the punching power, is much faster and holds the edge in reach.
Donaire will be fighting for the fourth time this year after scoring a split-decision win over Vazquez on February 4, a unanimous-decision victory opposite South African Jeffrey Mathebula on July 7 and a ninth-round demolition of Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan in October.
Although both fighters? strength coaches have been involved in doping controversies, Donaire supports a year-round random drug testing being conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Victor Conte, of the controversial Balco clinic, works with Donaire?s nutritionist.
Donaire, 30, thought of resting after his victory in October, but agreed to fight Arce after doctors gave his left hand, which he injured against Nishioka, a clean bill. He needed 11 stitches on his hand, which he first injured against Vasquez Jr. of Puerto Rico.
