BY JADEN MOUNT
Wichita natives, friends, and family gathered in support at the Kansas Star Arena on Saturday, May 19, as 22-year-old Wichita native, Nico Hernandez, set his sights on the International Boxing Association Flyweight World Championship. The title had been vacant prior to the match between Hernandez (4-0) and Hungarian title contender Szilveszter Kanalas (14-7).
Less than three minutes into round one, Hernandez knocked out Kanalas to become the youngest IBA world champion in history. He improves his professional record to 5-0 with 4 KOs.
In a post-fight interview with ESPN 99.5’s Drew Duncan, Hernandez said, “I told him I was gonna prove it to him today, you know why I’m undefeated.”
After the match, the young professional boxer took to the microphone and named who he wants his next opponent to be: the two-time Olympic medalist, Paddy Barnes (5-0), of Ireland.
Barnes has traveled a similar path as Hernandez thus far. Both hold the same record and two titles each, the 31-year-old Irishman with the WBO European flyweight title and the WBO Inter-Continental flyweight title.
Hernandez’s promoter John Anderson said to the Wichita Eagle, “We’re just letting them know that we’re here as soon as they’re ready to start talking. I’ll be on the phone Monday.”
Fans will have to wait and see who Hernandez takes on next as no fight has been issued as of yet. Should the Wichita native take on Irishman Barnes, the result could very well set the tone for both careers moving forward.