UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE NEW WBO Jr BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION, IVAN "CHOKO" HERNANDEZ
(20-0) (13)KO's
By Brad Cooney

When Ivan "Choko" Hernandez was just 10 years old, his brother invited him to the gym to watch the guys workout, and box a little bit. Choko's brother
asked him if he wanted to put the gloves on and try it out a little bit... the result was simple.. Choko knocked the poor kid out in the middle of the ring.

Ivan "Choko" Hernandez was born in the city of Ensenada Mexico. He was the darkest of the family, so his brothers, and friends started to call him "Choco"
after the word Chocolate. Ivan made the nickname even better, and changed the spelling from Choco, to Choko.. the KO for Knockout... His boxing career ever since then, has made his nickname a worthy one. Ivan had a brilliant amateur career as well. He was invited to represent his country of Mexico in the Olympic Games in Australia. Ivan opted to turn down this generous and most honorable offer to turn pro so that he could support his family. It should be mentioned here, that Ivan "Choko" Hernandez is a strong Christian man that puts God ahead of all. He gives God all the glory for his success in boxing, and in life in general. I recently had the opportunity to speak with this extremely engaging, kind, and talented fighter. We talked about his new WBO Title, we talked about his past amateur career, his intentions for the future, and many other great boxing war stories. This is what "Choko" had to say.....

BC

Choko, firstly thank you very much for this opportunity, and congrats to you on a brilliant fight in winning the WBO World Title.

ICH

Thank you very much, and thank you for giving me this opportunity to do this interview.

BC

Choko, you just defeated Mark "TOO SHARP" Johnson (44-5-0) for the WBO Jr Bantamweight World Title, how do you feel man?

ICH

Its a feeling the I cannot describe, or explain. It is an accomplishment that every boxer wants and or dreams about. Now that I have done it, I can't tell you how unbelievable the feeling is, it is unexplainable.

BC

Choko, did you ever in your wildest dreams imagine you would be world champion at such a young age of 21?

ICH

No, I never fathomed that this would happen at this young age. When I was offered the opportunity to take this fight against Mark Johnson, I was like "WOW" what an opportunity. The first day my new trainer, (Ronnie Shields) worked with me, he told me that I have got what it takes to beat Mark "TOO SHARP" Johnson.

BC

Choko, what does Ronnie Shields bring to the table for team Choko?

ICH

Ronnie is a very respectable man, he makes the fighters feel like number one. He treats all of his fighters like they are priority. Ronnie is a world class trainer, he studies the opponents, breaks them down, and explains to me what I need to do to win. If it was not for Ronnie, I would not be here right now.

BC

Choko, you knocked out Mark Johnson, plus knocked him down a few times prior to that. Did you think it would be that easy?

ICH

Now that I look back, no I didn't think I would knock him out. Mark is the best 115 pounder out there, and recognized by all the bodies of the sport. I did feel that I had what I needed to win this fight. I was able to do something to this guy that most have not, the result was a knockout.

BC

Choko, talk a little bit about you amateur career, how many amateur fights have you had?

ICH

I had 51 amateur fights with just 4 of them defeats. I was selected to represent my country of Mexico in the Olympics in Australia. I decided not to take this offer because I wanted to turn pro, so I could support my family.

BC

What advice can you give to a young amateur fighter that is about to turn pro?

ICH

First and most importantly, you have to train 100 percent. You must train like this even if you are not fighting, train body, and soul. I take my Bible with me to my locker, God is very important to me, so my advice is to turn to whatever God you believe in and put him first in your life. live out your dreams!

BC

Choko, how exciting is it going to be for you to go back to Ensenada Mexico as the WBO World Champion?

ICH

First of all, it is the ultimate maximum feeling to go back home with this victory. Ever since I was a kid in the gym I told myself that I wanted to be world champion. And now that this dream has come true, I cannot believe it. It is unbelievable, I am still in shock. My city is going to have a festival celebration for my homecoming.

BC

Let's look down the road a bit. Choko, you are the World Champion now, are you interested in giving someone a shot at the title, and do you have a few names you would like throw in the hat?

ICH

There is only two names right now that I want to fight. The first one is Katsusuige Kawashifa to unify the title, the WBC belt. The second name is Fernando
Montiel. I would like to fight Montiel for a few reasons, the first being that he is a very good fighter. The second reason is that he said some things about me prior to my fight with Mark "TOO SHARP" Johnson. I am a person that does not like to say bad things about people, I learned Montiel was saying that Mark Johnson was fighting a nobody. He said I was a walk in the park, and that I was a nobody. Well I say to Montiel, "here I am"..." I have done something that you have not" .. " I knocked out Mark "TOO SHARP" Johnson.

BC

Choko, when did you first start boxing, and how did you get into the sport?

ICH

My brother used to train fighters, and he invited me to come to the gym one day. They asked me to put the gloves on and let's see what I got. They put me in the ring with a kid that has been training for 4 or 5 years, and I knocked him out. I said then "Hey I like this" (laughing).

BC

Choko, was your brother at your fight, and have you talked to him since you have become Champion?

ICH

No my brother was not at the fight, but I am with my brother right now. He is very proud of me, as is my whole family.

BC

Choko, who was the toughest opponent you have ever faced?

ICH

When I was 11 and 0 I fought a guy named Gabriel Munioz. This guy was the two time Mexican National Champion. The fight went 12 rounds and I won the decision, he was very tough. That was the hardest fight for me.

BC

Choko, will you consider defending your Title back in your home town in Mexico?

ICH

Right now the timing is not so good for me to do that, I just fought in my hometown before my fight with "TOO SHARP". Right now I would rather defend my title a few times in the states, then maybe after I win a couple more fights, I will go home to my fans in my hometown.

BC

Choko, many fighters in the fight game are not so fortunate when their careers are over. Would you like to see a mandatory retirement fund started in the sport of boxing?

ICH

Yes, I totally agree with having some sort of retirement system in this sport. There is so much money to be made in this sport, and people abuse this. Fighters should give something from their heart to help out. I feel very bad for the fighters who have gotten lost with drugs, and alchohol, I have known people that have traveled that road. I thank God that I am fortunate to have a manager in Jessie Mercado, and people that surround me with support.

BC

Choko, lastly... talk to your fans, and tell them what they can expect from you in the upcoming new year?

ICH

Firstly.. I thank God.. and then next I thank my fans who believed in me all of this time.. and my family for their support, and thank you to my manager, Jessie Mercado, and thank you to my promoter Brian Young, and thank you to my trainer, Ronnie Shields, and thank you Jay, my physical trainer. And thank you to my cut man Joe Suza. I would also like to thank Russ Young as well... And very very special thanks to Ramone Marchena, and Eric Moralles.
When I turned pro Ramone was my trainer, and Eric Moralles got me my first 10 fights as a pro, he started things for me. To my fans, I say Ivan "Choko" Hernandez was an unknown, nobody heard of me. Eric Moralles got me my first 10 fights, and helped my career to get started. I want everybody to know that when "Choko" comes to fight, I come to fight. I bring 100 percent all of the time, you can always expect the best out of Ivan "Choko" Hernandez. Ivan "Choko" Hernandez is here!.....I would like to add one last thing for the record, I did not take the Mark "TOO SHARP" Johnson fight for the money. I took this fight because every person out there said that I would not win this fight, and that that I did not have the experience to win this fight. Everyone said this with the exception of my team. Money did not influence this fight, motivation influenced this fight.. Motivation influences Ivan "Choko" Hernandez.. Thank you.

BC

Choko, thank you very much for the interview.

ICH

Thank you my friend.

**Special thanks goes out to Brian Young at Prizefight Promotions for his help in setting up this interview.
** Very special thanks goes out to Ivan "Choko" Hernandez trainer, Jessie Mercado for translating for this interview.

Email comments to Brad Cooney
bradcooney1@bellsouth.net