"Then you're a kind of European champion"

Created: 2022-03-25Updated: 2022-03-25 2:06 PM

By: Wolfgang Krzizok

Ready for the next step: Uwel Hernandez © Private

The Erdinger boxing professional Uwel "Hector" Hernandez wants to climb the next step on the career ladder.

Erding – The 29-year-old will be fighting for the IBO Continental Championship in Göppingen tomorrow, Saturday.

His opponent is the German Jackie Mefire.

Hernandez, who won the WBF middleweight world championship belt up to 72.5 kilos in November last year, would like to fight for titles in the major associations at some point – at the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF or IBO, who is now known as fifth association in the concert of the greats.

On Saturday evening in Göppingen, in the "Firat Arslan Sportcenter", the Erdinger has a real chance to work his way up.

"The Continental or Intercontinental Championships are a kind of interim title that you need to fight for the world championship at some point," Hernandez knows.

"Then you're a kind of European champion."

The main fight on this evening, immediately after the Hernandez fight, is contested by 51-year-old Firat Aslan at his “house gala” – with ten fights on the fight card – against 35-year-old Toni Thes from Magdeburg.

Arslan, who was a former WBA cruiserweight champion, wants to fight for the world championship again at the end of the year and then retire.

Hernandez's career, on the other hand, has only just really taken off.

"I'm going up a weight class and compete in the super middleweight division up to 76.5 kilos," says Erdinger.

"It's a pity that no spectators are allowed and that there will only be a very small group, but I think it will be a great event."

The 29-year-old states that his preparation was “great”.

"I'm in great shape and I've got room for twelve rounds." The fight on Saturday evening is scheduled for ten rounds.

He doesn't know much about his opponent Mefire.

"You can't find much about him on the internet," says Hernandez.

"I know he has eight professional fights, seven times he won, once he was disqualified."

Of course he will take his opponent seriously, "because it is also a great opportunity for him and he will work hard," says Hernandez, adding: "I'm looking forward to the fight and the challenge." And he adds: "And I'll be happy if everything goes back to how it used to be, so that there are no longer any restrictions on spectators." And by then Erdinger should go one step higher if possible.

TV notice

Anyone who wants to watch the evening of the fight can do so from 8 p.m. on the internet live stream at bild.de and fight24.