Fund-raiser for Genaro Hernandez

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Retired world super-featherweight champion Genaro Hernandez is ailing with a cancerous brain tumor, and the sport is banding together to help defray his medical expenses.

Orange County’s Hernandez, 41, who lost his title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 1998 and also fought Oscar De La Hoya, will be honored at a benefit dinner party Jan. 17 at the World Boxing Council Legends of Boxing Museum in San Bernardino.

Expected attendees include WBC President Jose Sulaiman, unbeaten Riverside heavyweight Chris Arreola and Huntington Park’s world super-bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez.

Hernandez’s plight has gripped the Southern California boxing community, who not only respected him as a fighter but enjoyed his continuing company as a Spanish-language boxing announcer at major bouts.

I was interviewing Pomona’s ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley about his Jan. 24 bout against Antonio Margarito on Wednesday when he expressed his concern about Hernandez’s condition, and said he has helped facilitate the boxer’s future care at City of Hope.

‘They say his tumor’s in a tricky spot, but I’ve been told if anyone can treat it, it’s City of Hope,’ Mosley said. ‘He needs our help. He was a great fighter, a tall guy who moved well to both sides. But his fights were at places like the Forum, not always the HBO shows that others of us have had. There’s a big difference in money, and we need to be there for him now.’

A silent auction featuring autographed gloves, statues and other boxing collectibles will be offered, along with entertainment, the WBC announced Wednesday. For ticket information, contact museum chairman Rudy Tellez at mouthpiecedoctor@yahoo.com, or at (323) 229-1694. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Hernandez through WBCARES at 36 W. 22nd St., New York, N.Y., 10010.

--Lance Pugmire