 Shortly after his Olympic victory, "USA Today" reported that Hernandez planned to turn to professional boxing after the 2016 Olympics.Hernandez's father, Lewis, resumed his role as Nico's head trainer and coach.Hoping to replicate the hometown pro success of Omaha, Nebraska boxer Terence Crawford—a unified junior welterweight champion—Hernandez initially sought to start with an undercard fight at a December 10, 2016 Crawford match in Omaha in a one-time event sponsored by promoter Top Rank.