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(JAN 6) Melissa Hernandez: “I’m happy
that the ABC has taken me off suspension. They took the time to
really fish out what is, and what could be going on in an already
fishy case I got involved with. I thank the ABC for lifting my
suspension and letting me go back to what me and boxing fans all
over world love to watch me do. I’m overjoyed to get my job back.
Now that the
Isleta
Commission has been reprimanded it
wouldn't a surprise me that the paper work has been found. If it is
ever found, then I should be only suspended from fighting on Isleta
grounds. [WBAN called the ABC and verified the information
that was posted on Fightnews about the suspension being lifted]
Also, Lenny Fresquez should have his promoters license suspended for
his lack of respect for the rules. I don’t have to fight Lenny word
for word on the Internet for the fact I did nothing wrong. The
Isleta Commission was wrong in many ways. I hope now everything gets
looked at as a whole: the weight issue- Holly’s three times at the
scale; there were not two outside judges like Lenny agreed with me
verbally and the referee; Team Holm’s refusal to cut the hand wraps
and the Isleta Commission not giving me the option to watch the
wraps or tell Team Holm to rewrap. [WBAN comments:
They did offer to re-do the wraps--but not initially, and Laracuente
had looked at the wraps initially saying they looked good.]
I’m also asking the question why
if you’re calling a commission, why does a promoters line ring?.
You don’t call NYSAC (New York State Athletic Commission) and
Lou Dibella's office answers. I got to question THAT. I believe
womyn’s boxing needs me. I’m not just a warrior while fighting
inside the ring, but a warrior outside too. I’m making sure I’m
going into a fair fight in an already deadly sport. I'm womyns
boxing for standing up to bullies.
I can't stop thanking my lucky stars for the great team I have
that pulled together for me, my manager Brian Cohen and adviser
Belinda Laracuente. They really pulled it together the night of
the fight and stood by me. I don't know of any team that would
do that for a female fighter in the greed infested sport.
Together we put the team in " Team Huracan". As for Holly Holm,
I think she should womyn up and come out to fight me since in
her Hollyhood they don't play fair.”
Brian Cohen: “What this whole soap opera boils down to is a lack
of respect. A lack of respect for the athletes that put their
life on the line every time they step in a boxing ring. A
flagrant lack of respect for the rules that were set in place by
the ABC. And a person who thinks money can buys justice. Well
"Team Huracan" proved everyone wrong.
I have been involved with boxing all my life. I have been in
evolved in every facet of the business. I am an active
professional boxer, I have had an extensive amateur career, I
have trained fighters, assisted in matchmaking, worked on cuts
and promoted my own shows. The things that I saw go on in New
Mexico on December 4 were beyond my belief. The damaging
comments and lies that were printed by the media befuddled me.
The media made Melissa Hernandez out to be someone who was
trying to extort extra money out of the "promoter" . They
portrayed her to be someone who was scared to fight, someone who
was unreliable, someone who disappointed a lot of people. They
were basically trying to destroy her character. If anyone out
there has one iota of common sense they can go back and read all
the quoted comments by Lenny Fresquez and he tells three
different stories on how people tried to extort him. First he
says he called her. Then he says he talked to me and I said "its
nothing a little money can't fix". Then he said he talked to
"Team Hernandez".
Melissa Hernandez is a three time champion. She is a two time
Golden Glove champion. She runs from no one. Common sense would
have to tell you that it must have been really out of place for
our team to go to such extreme measures.
What boggles my mind is- where oh where is Holly Holm? When she
didn't make weight Melissa gave her three chances to make it. As
a courtesy to a fellow fighter couldn't she have just have
easily cut her wraps? Has anyone even thought of that? Or is she
such a puppet she only speaks when told to?
On a closing note, it amazes me what money can buy. A sub
average (and that's me being nice) fighter being named fighter
of the year. Does anyone realize she went 10 rounds with a girl
who admitted to working out for two hours earlier in the day and
was sitting in the stands? Fighter of the year? Fraud of the
year! Unfortunately Melissa does not have the luxury of hiding
by a promoter wallet. There is one thing that money can't buy
Lenny or Holly and that's a clear conscience.”
Melissa Hernandez is looking forward to returning to the ring by
the end of January, and making up for lost time. Her training
never ceased during the suspension and she’s ready, willing and
able to fight the best of the best, anytime, anywhere, including
Holly Holm, anywhere but in the “Hollyhood”.
WBAN welcomes any responses
from Team Holm, and or Fresquez Productions in regards to this
release.