Juan Hernandez Sierra (right) poses with long-time rival Oleg Saitov – Photo courtesy of Geraldo Saldivar
Cuban legend Juan Hernández Sierra was one of the top welterweights on the amateur circuit during the mid-1990s. During that time he won two Olympic silver medals and four World Championship gold medals.
Hernández, who was one of three brothers, was born in the city of Guane, Pinar del Río in western Cuba, on March 16, 1969.
“I lived a very simple life in my childhood but a happy one,” Hernández told The Ring about Gerardo Saldivar. “Both my parents worked hard. My father worked in a food store and my mother worked as a hospital cleaner.
“My brothers and I used to go out of school and play sports. I started as a footballer as a defender.”
When he was 11, 12 years old, he started watching boxing and soon it became his chosen path.
“I remember watching my cousin, Jose Luis Hernandez, on TV and that made me pay attention,” he said. “He was a source of inspiration and I wanted to be like him.
Juan Hernandez Sierra (right) poses with long-time rival Oleg Saitov – Photo courtesy of Geraldo Saldivar
“I was selected in the skills program and I went to EIDE (sports institution school) in my province when I was young and then I went to ESPA (perfection training school) and then I went to the national team, I started from the grassroots level. at the highest level from 1987 to 2000. I was part of the national team and I am proud of it.”
He won nine national titles, which is no small feat considering the abundance of talent on the Island. During his time in the national team he boxed all over the world and represented Cuba in many competitions.
Unfortunately for him, he had to get silver at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992, losing 13:10 to Michael Carruth, and in Atlanta in 1996, where he was eliminated by his main rival Oleg Saitov 14:9.
However, it was at the World Championships where he took the top prize in 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1999 as well as bronze in 1997, that he stood out.
“I always prepared myself well like in the Olympics but in the World Championships, I was lucky,” he said.
After losing in the quarterfinals to eventual gold medalist Yermakhan Ibraimov at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Hernandez retired with a record of 360-36.
Although he is respected as a novice, he says that the attraction of professional boxing was not for him.
“That's not the case, since at that time Cuba was not involved in professional boxing,” he explained.
Since then, he has put a wealth of experience from his career back into boxing.
“I am a coach with the national team at the Olympics, I am taking care of Saidel Horta, who I want to teach him to walk in the ring,” he said. “I also coached Kevin Brown, Emmanuel Reyes and David Morrell. The Cuban boxing school is unique, it is one of the best in the world and has adapted over time, this new generation is unique in our times. Being included in professional boxing has made our boxing better.
“My goal is to bring my experience to the table with the national team and come back with one or more Olympic gold medals.”
Hernandez, now 55, lives in Havana.
He graciously took the time to speak to The Ring about his best efforts in 10 key areas.
The best JAB ever
Daniel Santos: “The 95th World Championships in Berlin. In the first fight I had to find a way to get inside to avoid his fast jab.”
GOOD PROTECTION
Oleg Saitov: “Moving his body up was very difficult and tricky as he could find himself in a counter attack position.”
VERY GOOD HAND
Freddy Dominguez: “Agile and it was like ghost hands you can't see where they came from.”
GOOD FOOTWORKS
Damian Austin: “His way of walking around the ring is like you were a dancer.”
SMARTEST
Saitov: “He had technical skills. We fought four times, I beat him at the World Championships in Berlin in 1995 and he beat me three times.”
VERY POWERFUL
Leonard Bundu: “The Italian at the Houston World Championships. He always came forward, his style was strange.”
GOOD DRIVER
David Reid: “He's the toughest boxer I've ever faced. He grabbed my chin with a swing and I felt like I was a doll as I flew through the air. I felt bad and I had to get up and go back and then he punched me back in the forehead, I felt myself from the ground and I was alone and for the first time I visited the canvas twice. I have been looking for that battle online without success. I wish I could watch that fight again.”
GOOD CHIN
Bundu: “He was a physically strong boxer.”
GOOD SKILLS IN THE BOX
Saitov: “He hit me three times. What can I say, good boxing skills and skills, nothing but respect.”
EVERYTHING IS GOOD
Saitov: “Saitov was a master of upper body movement and a power punch and it was difficult to find his style against each other.”
Gerardo Saldivar helped coordinate and translate this feature. The Ring appreciated his help
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected].
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