Former champ Hernandez dies

Two-time world super-featherweight champion Genaro Hernandez has died of a rare form of cancer at the age of 45.

Chicanito had been battling against a rare form of cancer

Two-time world super-featherweight champion Genaro Hernandez has died of a rare form of cancer at the age of 45. Hernandez, nicknamed Chicanito (little Mexican), was born in South Central Los Angeles and began his professional boxing career as an 18-year-old in 1984. He had to wait until 1991and his 24th bout to get a shot at a major title, when he stopped Daniel Londas in the ninth round in France to claim the WBA super-featherweight belt. He successfully defended that title eight times over the next three years before relinquishing it to challenge Oscar De La Hoya for the WBO lightweight title, but he was knocked out in the sixth round in Las Vegas. Hernandez then won the WBC super-featherweight title in 1997, taking a split decision against Azumah Nelson and successfully defended it twice before losing his last fight and the title to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 1998. He retired later that year due to a small blood clot in his brain and finished his career with a record of 38-2-1 with 17 knockouts.