(Denver, Colorado, November 17, 2006, Gladiator Sports Management & Marketing) When asking Hector “Chin Checka” Saez about taking another fight in California, he quickly put up his best LL Cool J impression with. “I’m going back to Cali? Cali? Cali? Naw, I don’t think so man!” You see, Saez had built a decent record for himself at 8-3 and decided to take his show on the road, to California for title shots..
First he went out to take on Juan Herrera who was comparable at 9-3-1. Saez came ready for business but Herrera didn’t. He missed the contracted weight by just over 5 pounds! Saez isn’t in it for money; he has a well paying full time job and considers boxing a hobby of sorts, so he accepted the fight anyway despi the weight discrepancy.
Saez fought his heart out, winning over the pro Herrera crowd as well as the announcing team of James “Lights Out” Toney and Joe Goosen. When the decision was read it was met with boos from the crowd and disbelief from Toney & Goosen, who felt Saez won hands down. Herrera had pulled out a majority decision.
“All I could think was, ‘someone call the police’ I just got robbed!” was all Saez could say about the Herrera bout.
Saez came back to Colorado, regrouped, chalked that one up to ‘home town judging’ and dedicated himself to his craft. Learning as many new tricks as you can teach an old dog. Saez is 37, soon be 38 at the beginning of December.
Next up was his first ‘title shot’, for the WBE (World Boxing Empire) lightweight title, against undefeated Hector Alatorre. Alatorre came in at 13-0.
Saez fought well but his slow start probably cost him the decision as he let the first couple of rounds go by in ‘feeling out’. From the third round on,it was very close with Saez feeling he did enough to win 5 of the 8 rounds, giving much better than he took.
The judges saw it differently and awarded Alatorre the unanimous decision win.
“Fans and judges should see I come to fight and win and put on a good show. I don’t come to lay down. Although I’m not an ‘opponent’ in my and my team’s eyes, I think judges and fans sometimes see my age and assume that. Just give me a fair fight, and don’t look at the age, but see this man who is here for a good fight and a win, not just a payday. I’m not what you think I am. Don’t judge this book by the date on the cover.”
Now Saez is ‘going back to Cali’ yet again. This time he faces Jesus “Chuy” Rodriguez for the United States Boxing Council’s junior welter weight title. In Rodriguez’ back yard, Monterrey, California where he has fought 6 of his 13 fights.
Saez is tough as nails and has never been stopped or knocked down in his 13 fight pro career. His first loss came to Ulises Pena, who oddly enough was Rodriguez’ original opponent for this bout, by decision when Saez was 3-0 and Pena was 7-4.
He went the distance with current WBO champ Mike Arnaoutis in his 6th fight and lost a close decision to a very tough and experienced journeyman in Russell Jones who went on to upset undefeated prospect Larry Gonzales as well as once beaten Arturo Quintero.
His losses come to a combined record of 53-18-1 which is quite impressive when you consider 11 of the 18 losses were held by the upset artist Russell Jones!
Trainer Jake Ramos commented on the Jones fight, “If the fight was an eight rounder, Hector would have pulled it off seeing how Hector won the last two rounds, easy. He got off to a slow start and I also believe the war between Hector and Frankie Martinez only 12 days before Jones slowed Hector down. He wasn’t able to fully rest and recover.”
Saez will be trying to turn the tables of fortune tomorrow night but he may need to take another tip from LL Cool J to get a win in California.
This time he knows he can leave no questions as to the winner of the fight.
“I am going to come out and flat out fight. Some one is going out. It is my life or his life, that is how I am taking it. The time for excuses is over and I will do everything in my power to win this belt!”
So while ‘Chuy’ Rodriguez may be a stylistic boxer from California who is used to winning fights ‘stylin’, profilin’, while in the sun’ of California, Colorado’s ‘Chin Checka’, Hector Saez will be singing a much different tune when he hits the ring Saturday night.
Saez will forget all about ‘Goin back to Cali’ and focus everything he has on another Cool J hit;
“Mama Said Knock You Out”
Saez knows a decision just won’t do.
The card is scheduled for November 18th at the Conference Center in Monterey, California.