Nico Hernandez Shows Medal In Pro Debut
Nico Hernandez (1-0, 1 KO), the 2016 bronze Olympian medalist, made his professional debut in the main event on CBS Sports Network in the Super Flyweight division on Saturday night.
In front of of his home town crowd in Wichita, Kansas, Hernandez faced Pat Gutierrez (0-3).
Gutierrez, as he showed his most confidence early in the first round, didn’t look intimidated, but as Hernandez’s first professional round was closing, you saw his class.
Hernandez started out Round 2 like he knew he was headlining a CBS Sports Network card in his professional debut.
“It doesn’t get better than this,” said Hernandez. “It means so much for me to bring boxing to Wichita, to all of Kansas, for these awesome fans.”
As Hernandez made work going to the body, he switched to southpaw late in the second round to give a befuddled Gutierrez a new look, which the poor fighter didn’t have an answer for.
“I started switching up a little because it was worked. I’d like to get back fighting again in two months,” said Hernandez.
As Hernandez’s hometown crowd came to their feet at the end of Round 2, you saw the appreciation and support the Wichita crowd showed their local hero.
Taking case in the third round Hernandez began to show more aggression as he worked the body and landed flush uppercuts with ease.
It seemed as it was only a matter of time as Hernandez switched to southpaw right away to start the fourth. It had the CBS Sports Network analyst saying “shades of Lomachenko,” which could be the highest praise in this sport, but is a bit unfair.
Gutierrez complained of a hurt right hand in the final minute of the fourth and turned to the referee to acknowledge his injury.
That gave Hernandez another opportunity to pounce on Gutierrez and for Gutierrez’s corner to throw in the towel, ending the fight for the hometown Hernandez in a victory by TKO.
“This was the way I pictured it. As I was waiting in the tunnel, I could hear the crowd chanting my name. This was a great night of boxing. I want to bring more shows here,” said Hernandez.
“Fighting here tonight was much different than fighting in the Olympics (in Brazil). Tonight they were cheering me, they booed me at the Olympics no matter who I fought because I was an American.”
