CARLOS 'FAMOSO' HERNANDEZ VS SEAN PLESSIS

Carlos “Famoso" Hernandez had a disappointing year in 2005 — two fights, two debatable losses by decision.

First it was the narrow defeat against Jesus Chavez in a title bout. This was followed by what really was an unlucky setback, because Hernandez seemed clearly to have beaten the Filipino Bobby Pacquiao in Las Vegas only for the split decision to go against him.

Famoso was quite emotional after that fight. He had come back strongly from a knockdown and just seemed to outwork Pacquiao, although Manny’s brother had fought his heart out, too.

Looking at Hernandez afterwards as he was consoled by his wife and manager, Veronica, one could not help but feel sympathy for him. He had the look of a man who was thinking: “What do I have to do to win a fight these days?"

Like the fighter he is, Hernandez just gets on with his career. The former 130-pound champion is now boxing in the lightweight division. He returns to the ring on Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo show when he meets a little-known opponent in Sean Plessis, a 28-year-old Canadian who has won 17 of his 19 bouts but who will be taking part in his first 10-rounder.

Plessis has won his last eight fights but he is making a colossal leap in class. Hernandez has been a world champion and bravely went the full 12 rounds with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Erik Morales. Meanwhile Plessis has halted only four opponents in his 17 wins — and one of his two losses was to Freddie Barrera, a boxer subsequently blown away in one round by unbeaten prospect Victor Ortiz.

Hernandez is 35 and has had 42 fights, but he looked as good as he has ever done in his last two fights — it was just that he didn’t get the decision. The intense, high-energy style of Hernandez — constant pressure from bell to bell — is going to be something that Plessis has never before had to face.

Plessis does have the advantage of being the naturally bigger man: he has been a lightweight all his career while the older man is moving up from the 130 pounds division. The Canadian is trained in Las Vegas by Jesse Reid, who said over the phone this week: “They call him Pit Bull, but Sean is actually a very good boxer and he’s had great sparring. We know this is a big step up but we’re hoping to surprise a few people."

If Plessis were to win this fight it would indeed be a surprise, yet a Jesse Reid-trained fighter is usually motivated, ready to fight and coming to win, so I would expect the underdog to offer spirited resistance. The gulf in class looks huge, though, and I think that Hernandez will be coming out fast and hard as he seeks to get his lightweight title campaign off to a flying start. It looks like being a tough night for Plessis and if he can grit his way through the whole 10 rounds I think he will have done himself proud.