MISSION VIEJO (California), June 9: Two-time world super featherweight champion Genaro Hernandez has died of a rare cancer.

He was 45. Hernandez’s wife, Liliana Hernandez, said he died on Tuesday at his home of rhabdomyosarcoma, which attacks muscle fibres. Hernandez, nicknamed Chicanito (little Mexican), was born in South Central Los Angeles and began his professional boxing career at age 18 in 1984.

“He had been boxing from the age of 8 and dedicated his life to the sport,” Liliana Hernandez said in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

He had to wait until 1991and his 24th professional bout to get a shot at a major title, and took it at the first opportunity, stopping Daniel Londas in the ninth round in France to claim the WBA World 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 at Caesars Palace. De La Hoya knocked out Hernandez in the sixth round.

He won the WBC super featherweight title in 1997, taking a split decision against Azumah Nelson and successfully defended it twice, against Carlos Hernandez and Carlos Gerena before losing his last fight and the title to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 1998.Hernandez 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.

In addition to his wife of 21 years, Hernandez is survived by his son, Steven; his daughter, Amanda; three brothers; two sisters; and his father.—AP