Junior middleweight Vladimir Hernandez (15-6, 7 KOs) scored one of the year’s most dramatic knockouts, stopping Guido Emmanuel Schramm with just one second left in the round. Riding high on confidence, Hernandez returns for the second time on ProBox TV, where he’ll face Raul Garcia in a 10-round co-feature of Wednesday Night Fights at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Fla.
Hernandez, 35, has built a career around defying the odds. In an era where undefeated records often define fighters, Hernandez’s résumé reflects a hard-luck pro who’s proven his worth against top-tier competition. His record might not show it, but with wins over former champions Julian Williams and Alfredo Angulo, Hernandez fights like a contender. After his knockout win in June, Hernandez kept it simple.
“I feel victorious,” Hernandez said through a translator after the bout in Oakland, Calif. “It was a good knockout.”
Now, Hernandez is focused on earning a world title shot, driven by his unwavering self-belief. Earlier this year, he spoke to BoxingScene about his mentality.
“I go into every fight thinking I’m the A-side, thinking I’m here to win,” Hernandez said. “It’s nothing but positive thoughts. That’s how we maintain ourselves.”
His opponent, Raul Garcia (13-1-1, 11 KOs), is a 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic, last seen dropping a split decision to Leonardo Ruiz in August 2023. Hernandez believes another strong performance will move him closer to the title shot he’s been eyeing.
“I am ready for the world title,” Hernandez said. “I am ready for anybody.”
Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].
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