BOXING : Hernandez, Perez Try It Again

That 28-second Forum title fight from April 26 will be restarted tonight, with both Genaro Hernandez and Raul Perez hoping not only to get through round one, but to win and be positioned for a title match against Oscar De La Hoya.

Two months ago, neither Hernandez, the World Boxing Assn. junior-lightweight champion, nor Perez, a former two-time champion, had thrown a punch in anger at each other when they bumped heads.

Both were rocked, but Hernandez was unmarked. Perez came away with a deep cut that forced the stoppage of the bout. The bout was declared a technical draw, Hernandez retaining his title.

Hernandez (27-0-1) is defending his championship for the fifth time. Perez (50-3-3) once held the World Boxing Council bantamweight and WBA super-bantamweight titles.

Perez was one of the sport’s dominant champions as a bantamweight, defending his WBC crown seven times. But in his last seven fights, he has won only three times, losing two and drawing twice.

Hernandez hopes to defeat Perez and get a match against De La Hoya, the Olympic lightweight champion who is unbeaten as a pro.

Hernandez says 28 seconds was enough last time. “Even in that short period of time, I felt very comfortable with the way I matched up with him,” he said. “I saw immediately my left hand would get to him.”