New Year’s Targets for Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera

After signing with a new promoter, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera fought WBC and WBA junior welterweight world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia, Venezuela’s Johan Perez and Arizona’s Jose Benavidez.

Two of those fights ended in the most controversial losses by judge’s decision in many years that left fans, boxing reporters and TV analysts dumbfounded.

“It could have been the best year of my career,” said Herrera.

Now comes 2015 and Herrera has plans to fight the biggest names in the junior welterweight division. He has a list of fighters that include Adrien Broner, Lucas Matthysse, Jessie Vargas or Lamont Peterson.

“I want a big name. I’ll take Lucas, Lamont or Broner. I’ll take any of them. Jessie Vargas as well. I think that would be nice,” said Herrera, who lives in Riverside, Calif. “I’d be open to fight Jessie Vargas. I fought Ruslan (Provodnikov) so I’ll fight anybody.”

Herrera advises anybody who fights Provodnikov to have good health insurance.

“Ruslan can end your career. You don’t come out the same,” said Herrera, the first fighter to defeat the Russian power-hitter. “It would have to be a lot of money to fight him again.”

The junior welterweight contender was told by Golden Boy Promotions that he will probably be fighting next on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas. Nothing is set at the moment but the Riverside prizefighter was assured by Oscar De La Hoya that his future is bright. Herrera was boosted by his boss’s support, as ODLH attended his fight at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

“Seeing Oscar at my fight really pumped me up,” said Herrera.

So despite two heart-wrenching losses that only the judges deemed such, Herrera feels motivated for 2015. It was all due to the massive support by fans and media that the Riverside junior welterweight has a smile.

“That’s what kept me going, hearing the people, what they said about my fight with Benavidez and Garcia,” said Herrera. “If anything this motivates me even more…I don’t want to fade away.”

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