said. That changed when ABC tracked him down in Slovenia an

Nico Hernandez, who claimed a light flyweight bronze medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, is going pro.Hernandez, a 20-year-old from Wichita, Kansas, will make his professional debut on Dec. 10 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on the undercard of unified junior welterweight world champion Terence Crawfords hometown title defense against John Molina Jr.Hernandez, who does not yet have an opponent for his four-round bout, will fight as a 115-pound junior bantamweight after competing in Rio as a 108-pounder.Hernandez said he and his father/trainer Lewis Hernandez discussed the possibility of remaining amateur and trying to improve on his performance at the 2016 Olympics, but Nico said he really wanted to go the professional route.I made the decision because financially it would be better as a pro, Hernandez told ESPN on Thursday. If Im getting punched in the face, I might as well get paid for it. Now theyre letting pros go to the Olympics (as of the Rio Games), so theres really no point in being an amateur boxer anymore since the goal is to make it to the Olympics.At the Rio Games, Hernandez ended the medal drought for Team USAs male boxers, who had not won an Olympic medal since heavyweight Deontay Wilder claimed a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. Hernandez won a three-round decision against Ecuadors Carlos Eduardo Quipo Palaxti in the quarterfinals to clinch a bronze.Hernandez wasnt considered a medal favorite when the Rio Games began, but his Cinderella run ended with a decision loss to eventual gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov, of Uzbekistan, in the semifinals. Two bronze medals are awarded in boxing.Hernandez, who began boxing at age 9 and was approximately 122-13 as an amateur, returned home to Wichita as a hero. He was feted at a parade, and Wichita State University bestowed him with a four-year, full-ride scholarship.Hernandez went 3-1 during the Olympics and became the first American light flyweight to win a medal since Michael Carbajal -- who went on to have a Hall of Fame professional career -- claimed silver in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Hernandez said he plans to work toward a degree while boxing professionally.I definitely want something [to] fall back on, Hernandez said.But he is anxious to start his pro career.I cant wait to go pro. Ive been wanting to for a while, Hernandez said. I fought without head gear already so it shouldnt be too much different.The 2016 Olympic tournament rules were changed to have the boxers fight without head gear.Although Hernandez will fight on a card promoted by Top Rank, he is not signed to Bob Arums company. Hernandez has a deal just for the one fight. He linked up with Top Rank because his father reached out to Pete Susens, who works for Top Rank but has deep roots in Midwest boxing.Lewis contacted Pete, and Pete called me about a month ago, said Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler. I was a little reluctant because of his weight and being such a small fighter, but Pete said hes a good kid, a good fighter. I said, Let me think about it, and then the geography expert that I am realized Omaha is not too far from Wichita, so we said we would take a look at him.Lewis Hernandez said he expects about four busloads of fans to make the roughly six-hour trip from Wichita to Omaha for the fight.The people in Wichita know Nico, and the people in Omaha know Crawford, so you marry the two and it only adds to the card, said Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti. Weve had some internal discussions about whether we might want to sign him and if we do where we can take him. We want to see him as a pro. Its a small weight class, but maybe hes another Carbajal (who Top Rank promoted). Weve had experience in building Hispanic smaller-weight class fighters.Said Lewis Hernandez: We have other options, but we got to do whats best for Nico. Top Rank wants to take a look at him. Thats the purpose. I thought it would be great. We havent signed with nobody, but Top Rank is in contention. This is a good opportunity for both camps, for Top Rank and for us.Nico Hernandez said he is fine doing what amounts to a tryout for Top Rank.Im real comfortable with it, he said. I feel like once they see me fight and see what I have, opportunities will open for me, and I can sign with whoever is going to give me the best deal. Replica Air Max . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Cheap Real Air Max . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Air Max Outlet .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Clearance Air Max . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Its been nearly half a century since the term agony of defeat joined the lexicon of American sports.To this day, the phrase remains a broadcasting staple, whether its coverage of the Olympics or any number of sports. A Google search for agony of defeat returns nearly 500,000 results.With that in mind, we revisit the viral video that made an indelible mark on the sports world long before the era of social media -- the frightful ski jumping crash from the opening montage of ABCs Wide World of Sports.Fans of a certain age almost certainly remember the image of Slovenian athlete Vinko Bogataj wiping out on the takeoff ramp and hurtling toward a gallery of spectators. If youre too young to have seen it, here is a famed piece of sports history in 15 seconds:Bogataj, then 22 years old and competing for Yugoslavia, suffered a concussion and a broken ankle in a terrifying tumble at the 1970 World Ski Flying Championships in Oberstdorf, West Germany. It wasnt long before ABC began using the clip of the crash to accompany the phrase agony of defeat in the Wide World of Sports introduction. With that, Bogataj became famous in the United States -- quite literally by accident.ESPN.com recently caught up by phone with Bogataj, who only speaks a little English. His daughter Sandra translated the interview.Bogataj remembers the crash well -- windy conditions on an icy ramp. The aftermath? Not so much.It was bad weather, and he had to wait around 20 minutes before he got permission to start, Sandra said. He remembers that he couldnt see very good. The traack was very bad, and just before he could jump, the snow or something grabbed his skis and he fell.dddddddddddd From that moment, he doesnt remember anything.The fall occurred in March 1970, and Bogataj returned to training that June. Hes a fearless guy, Sandra said.In the ensuing years, unbeknownst to him, the fall became an iconic image in America. He didnt have a clue he was famous, Sandra said. That changed when ABC tracked him down in Slovenia and asked him to attend a ceremony in New York to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wide World of Sports in 1981.At the gala, Bogataj received the loudest ovation among a group that included some of the best-known athletes in the world. The moment became truly surreal for Bogataj when Muhammad Ali asked for his autograph. He later met Ali several more times and became friendly with the boxing legend.He didnt take [Ali] seriously that he wanted an autograph, because Muhammad Ali is a really famous guy, Sandra said. That was a special moment. Then he realized that he must be famous.Bogataj described his unlikely journey to fame in this 1997 video interview with Wide World of Sports.?Now 68, Bogataj lives in Lesce, Slovenia, with wife Liliana. Hes an award-winning artist, and his paintings have been exhibited in Europe and the United States. The Festival Bled 2016 is currently displaying his work at Bled Castle, an 11th-century tourist destination near his hometown.? ' ' '