Genaro’s Beatdown Against Cancer!

By Michele Chong

Now in remission “Chicanito” speaks of his “angel in disguise” Bob Arum!
Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez faced his most deadly foe ever and has come out of the battle victorious! The last six months have been an emotional roller coaster for the former World Boxing Council (WBC) Champion: At the beginning of October, he first heard the devastating diagnosis of fourth-stage rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer usually found in children. At the start of December, he began chemotherapy and radiation treatments and lost his strength, his hair and thirty pounds in the process. Then on the first day of April, he received a new prognosis–his cancer is in remission!

The former two-time Junior Lightweight World Champ (38-2-1, 17 KOs) already had the tools he needed to fight cancer: heart, determination, strength, and the will to succeed that he learned while in the ring. Mix in a positive attitude, strong faith, inspiration, encouragement and motivation and it’s no wonder why the cancer was defeated.

There was even an unexpected and unlikely “angel” who came to his side–Bob Arum, Top Rank President. Both the WBC and Arum have been instrumental in their aid to the former boxer. A bit ironic considering that two of his most controversial fights (against Oscar De La Hoya and Azumah Nelson) involved the boxing organization and the veteran promoter. But boxing is unlike any other sport, and when one of our own is down everyone unites to help out in any which way they can.
Hernandez was in Houston, Texas (where a cancer research center is located) with his wife, Liliana. The couple reside in Mission Viejo, California with their two children, Amanda and Steven. ”Chicanito” turns 43 next month and there’s no doubt that it will be an extra special birthday with his family.

In this conversation that took place last night, “Chicanito” talks openly about what he’s experienced the last few months. He speaks in a raspy voice since the medical treatments have affected his vocal chords. But when he laughs, it registers so heartily and so loudly that it takes me by surprise when I first hear him chuckle.

And if Genaro wants to start a new career, he should try stand-up comedy! Obviously overjoyed with the doctors’ news about the remission, he was in a jovial mood. Still hoarse and somewhat weakened by the medical treatments endured, he can now kid around about losing some of his hair (but not ALL of it, he points out!) and losing weight (comparing himself to a plucked chicken!). He jokes a lot in his humble self deprecating humor that made him a fan favorite. “Chicanito” may have lost his hair along with a temporary weight loss, but he has also gained a new start in life, an even higher appreciation for everything he has, and the golden opportunity to now reach out and help others.

Question: Hi Genaro. Tell me about the good news you received.

Answer: The doctors gave me the news at 3:15 p.m. yesterday that my cancer is in remission. I have no cancer now–that’s their opinion. Now I will celebrate “April Fool’s Day” every year! My birthday is May 10, but now I get to celebrate twice a year–April 1st and May 10th!

Q: That’s great! You must have been overwhelmed when you heard this. And how are Liliana and the kids doing?

A: When we got the news, we fell down in tears of joy. You don’t know how I feel. The kids are happy, they were so happy when we told them.

Q: Are you still at the treatment center?

A: Yes, I’m in Texas right now with my wife and we’re coming back tomorrow. This is my second trip to Texas and each visit lasted a week.

Q: What’s next for you in regards to further treatments?

A: I’m only done with radiation. I have 27 more weeks for chemo. That’s just to prevent whatever cells or what’s left in my body, what they can’t see or what didn’t get caught already, they’re going to kill it if there’s any bit of cancer in any cell. We have billions and billions of cells. If there’s one cell that the scans or the MRI didn’t see, they just want to make sure that it doesn’t escape.

Q: I noticed your voice is getting stronger since the last time we spoke. Just let me know if there’s any discomfort when you talk.

A: No, it doesn’t hurt, I’m just going into my second round or third round now. I feel that my voice is coming back. That’s the least of my problems. (Chuckles).

Q: Are you looking to get back into commentating soon? The fans would love to see you out there!

A: Yes! I will be at the Hatton-Pacquiao fight. I would like to thank Top Rank and HBO. They couldn’t use me for a while because of my illness but now HBO has hired me to do the Pacquiao-Hatton fight on May 2nd. They asked and I said yes so I’ll be commentating for their HBO International feed.

Q: Your thoughts on the fight?

A: It will be awesome. It’s definitely gonna be a good battle, they prepared them very well. For Hatton, it’s an opportunity to show his people and the whole world that he can beat the best pound-for-pound fighter. For Pacquiao, he can show who he is; he is capable of being the best and can show the world that.

Q: Now that you’re in remission, I’m sure more good things are coming your way. A: They already have! Everything good started when people found out I had cancer. The best thing is that there are true angels out there!

Q: Who were your angels during this time?

A: Bob Arum! People don’t realize this, this side of the man–he’s an “angel in disguise”! He did a real good deed. Here’s a man that didn’t have to do what he did. I don’t know how to reach out to him, but if I could I would hug him all day. He’s got a good kind heart. I appreciate him; he’s an angel!

Q: How did he show his support?

A: He decided to foot the bill, he has given me first-class service and sent me to this cancer research center in Texas. Mr. Arum took me to the best, the best of the best. A couple that I met at the Darchinyan fight (Mr. and Mrs. Parks) arranged everything for me. Everything they did was on target. I did not have to waste time waiting one or two hours at the hospital like I had been.

Q: Were you close friends with Bob Arum before your diagnosis?

A: I had been working for Top Rank for a while and I honestly believe that who I am touched everyone’s heart at Top Rank while I fought this deadly disease. I’ve battled a life-threatening disease. It’s one step more in facing death than anyone’s had to fight. But I’m not the only one to do that and from the beginning, I’ve thanked everyone and appreciated all the support.

Q: The boxing community rallied behind you when they heard of the cancer. I know you’d like to say thank you to a few people…

A: I want to thank EVERYONE: the press, the fans, Bob Arum, the WBC and the WBCares. I will represent the WBC and WBCares to the highest way I can, I would fly to Mexico if they needed me!

Q: You mentioned to me that you’re going to use the money received from fundraisers to try and help others.

A: Definitely. The money that was given to me from all the charity events I’m now using to help others. There was a family in debt (after one of the spouses passed away) that I helped out financially. I’m also going to The Childrens Hospital of L.A., I want to live up to the word that I promised them. I want to support these children, go out and give them a laugh or a smile. These children are being forgotten. So on behalf of the WBC, I want to go out there and represent the professional fighters and also my family. I promised God that I would go and represent the WBC, the boxing industry and go back and give gifts to them.

Q: People may not know that even before your cancer, you were always giving your time to charities so it doesn’t surprise me that you will continue to reach out to others.

A: It’s not me, it’s everybody. God is the one that’s putting it in me and I’m opening up my heart on behalf of everyone. I am not being selfish–please don’t think I’m doing it all alone, please don’t say it’s just me–it’s ALL of us: the WBC, Top Rank, the fighters, the fight fans, the press. It’s not just me, call it the “support group of Genaro Hernandez” since I don’t have my own organization. But you could say this is for all of us. Sometimes people who take support from others don’t do what I am hoping to do, to start a trend. And set a trend–to send appreciation to everyone to live life again. It’s from all the support, everyone helped out any which way they could.

Q: How do you stay so positive through everything, the ups and downs of your life and career?

A: One thing that nipped me in my butt was the fight against Oscar (De La Hoya). But we learn from our mistakes. I took a heavy loss, I may have lost millions. Then when I fought Azumah Nelson, they called me a quitter, they turned their backs on me. But people like you never gave up on me.

Q: Do you regret anything that happened in those fights?

A: We move on, we don’t look back, I don’t regret anything. It paid off at the end of the road, I’ve got a better life than Oscar or anyone else can tell you. I’ve got a beautiful family that supports me–money cannot buy that! Money creates a lot of problems, it creates a lot of stress. People can be around you just because of the money. I’m happy and proud of who I am. I believe I could be an inspiration to kids in poverty, the things I had to do when I was a kid to to become a World Champion. I’m proud of what I accomplished people love who I truly am, the person I am in front of you.

Q: You’ve been through so much, what do you think helped you the most?

A: I think taking the right precautions, the right diagnosis and the right treatment helped me. I only changed the way I ate because of the treatment.

Q: What would you tell others suffering from cancer?

A: I want to tell everyone that they can defeat any illness. I prayed to God every day that everybody would be in good health and that they never have to go through an illness.

Q: I have a friend going through chemo right now, she just shaved her head. What advice can you give to people whose friends or family members are going through cancer? Sometimes we don’t know what to say or what to do to really help…

A: What you do is that you tell friend that you’re there for her, that you’re supporting her. With shaving the head, that’s everyone’s own choice. When my hair was falling out, I never wanted to see myself bald but I thought if God wants me bald, then it’ll happen. Clumps fell out, I was disappointed but I didn’t get depressed, I just thought “It’s God’s will.” So I never shaved it and it became a little mohawk! (Laughs). Now I don’t worry about a bad hair day or shampooing my hair. I could put a beanie on and I’m looking good! (He jokes and laughs).

Q: Now that you’re in remission, you will hopefully gain the weight back.

A: Actually I was doing very well and then last week on Wednesday I had treatment that knocked me on my feet for four days. I ate no solid food and lost weight. Right now I am 121 SOLID pounds! (He chuckles again). I look like a rotisserie chicken wing with no meat!

Q: I’m glad you have always stayed upbeat, and now you’re even able to laugh a little about your condition.

A: That’s one thing you should NOT lose–the laughter, the will, the smile…I get a laugh out of everything!

Q: Genaro, as always, good to talk to you and please tell Liliana I said hello. Again, so glad to hear of your remission!

A: Okay, I will, we’re going to go have dinner right now. Thanks again to you and everyone for all their support! Remission. That had to have been the most wonderful word that “Chicanito” had ever heard and the best victory of all. Brave and courageous inside the ropes, he was victorious against Azumah Nelson, Jorge Paez and Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez among others. Used to having his hand raised in victory, cancer was the one fight that mattered the most. Through his boxing career, he captured everyone’s attention. So while facing his toughest opponent ever, the boxing community came together in support.

His boxing family will always be there for him.

The champ–against all odds once again–has now come full circle with the news about his remission. Way to go, “Chicanito”!