Mayweather full of confidence for Hernandez bout

Dean Juipe

Friday, Oct. 2, 1998 | 9:47 a.m.

To hear Floyd Mayweather tell it, he holds all the advantages over Genaro Hernandez.

Youth. Speed. Quickness. Strength. What else is there, aside from perhaps experience?

"I'm at least even with him there," Mayweather said, believing his 84-6 amateur record and national Golden Gloves championships three years in the early 1990s will offset Hernandez's 15 years of professional experience.

The net result: Pretty Boy Floyd expects to win Saturday's fight at the Las Vegas Hilton with the World Boxing Council's 130-pound champion.

Bettors apparently agree, making the Las Vegan a minus 160 favorite in the Hilton sports book. Hernandez is a plus 120 underdog.

"I feel I'm a winner and that I'll win this fight," Mayweather said Thursday. "I hate to lose. Even in a card game, I hate to lose."

He hasn't lost a fight since the semifinal round of the 1996 Olympics, when he was beaten by Bulgaria's Serafim Tadorov in a controversial decision. Shortly thereafter, Mayweather turned pro and he has responded with 17 consecutive victories.

At 21 years old he may be on the threshold of a great career.

Or he could be one fight away from being 17-1.

"I believe in my heart I'm going to take his championship," Mayweather said. "He's a nice guy and I respect him as a champion, but I'm younger and I feel I'm stronger and that I hit a lot harder than he does.

"He's not really much of a puncher."

Hernandez, 32, is 38-1-1 with 17 knockouts. He lost the most significant fight of his career -- to Oscar De La Hoya two years ago -- but he has rebounded to win six straight fights and regain a world championship.

Some observers feel Hernandez will take Mayweather to school.

"Nah. He won't be able to out-box me," Mayweather said. "He's a boxer. But I consider myself a master boxer and a boxer/puncher.

"The key for me will be to not rush things once I get in there."

Keeping his emotions in check will be part of the task, both before and after the opening bell rings.

"I know that," Mayweather said. "I mean, it'll be exciting and I'm very excited about the fight even now. It's the biggest opportunity of my life.

"But I've got a game plan and it's to do what needs to be done to get a win."

He feels he has prepared himself to the fullest, training for two months and spending the past five weeks in the high altitude of Big Bear, Calif.

"I'm strong and healthy," he said. "I'm right on my weight and nothing's wrong. I don't have any complaints."

He has been on the fast track since signing with Top Rank and turning pro. Among the United States' 1996 Olympians, Mayweather is the first to get a crack at a legitimate world champion.

"I've always been willing to fight the best," he said. "A lot of other guys who think they're contenders wouldn't fight me, so I had to go straight to the champion."

Mayweather has not fought a recognizable opponent on his climb through the junior lightweight ranks, although his two most recent opponents extended him 10 rounds as those fights went to decisions. He says they were learning experiences.

"I proved I could go 10 rounds without getting tired," he said. "If this fight goes 12, that's fine with me."

Mayweather will be paid $150,000 for the fight, while Hernandez receives $600,000. HBO will televise the fight from the Hilton showroom, with the first bell on the six-fight card set for 5:30 p.m.