Light Welterweight Mauricio Herrera Out to Prove he Belongs at the Top of the Division‏

When light welterweight Mauricio Herrera enters the ring Friday night against Miguel Angel Huerta, he will do so with scores of fans in attendance, one of which will be junior featherweight Efrain Esquivias, fresh off a ninth round knockout victory over future Hall of Famer Rafael Marquez.

 

"I'm a huge fan of Herrera," said Esquivias, who will be signing autographs from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.  "He moves well in the ring and has a tactical mind. Over the course of a fight, you can tell that his opponents get frustrated.  He doesn't let fighters get comfortable." 

 

When Herrera (19-3, 7 KOs) decided to turn professional six years ago, the native of Riverside, Calif. was 27-years-old and lacked the amateur background that most promotional companies prefer to see when contemplating signing a new prospect. To talent scouts, Herrera showed natural ability and promise, but was largely an untested product.    

 

"We saw what everyone else saw," said Alex Camponovo, matchmaker for Thompson Boxing Promotions, the promotional company that signed Herrera in 2008 and also promotes Esquivias. "He showed a tremendous skill set and ability that is usually found in boxers that come from competitive amateur backgrounds. We knew with the right trainers and management, Mauricio would develop into a quality fighter."

 

Herrera, now 33, understands the low mileage on his body will allow him to fight further into his thirties than the typical boxer. Even so, Herrera is hungry to move up in class and face the top hitters in the 140-pound division.

To prepare against Huerta, Herrera has been through a grueling training camp specifically designed to improve his stamina, speed and punching power in the later rounds. He knows Huerta has knockout ability and is determined to stay fresh throughout the fight.

 

"It's been a tough, hard training camp," said Herrera, who won his last fight against South Korean Ji-Hoon Kim, a 10-round unanimous decision in May. "We're doing a good job of mixing up our cardio. Some days I charge hills, while others I do sprints at the beach. We do long distance runs as well. The goal is to shock your muscles so you continue to build strength and endurance."

 

"This training camp has been unlike any other that we have had," said Willie Silva, Herrera's long-time trainer and manager. "Mauricio isn't satisfied with just looking good, he wants to look spectacular. We sparred against some of the best light welterweights in the world, we added speed and quickness to his legs, and on September 27, all the hard work will pay off."

 

"Path to Glory" is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with Time Warner Cable Deportes.

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