Boxing: Hernandez claims IBF belt

BERLIN: Cuban-born Yoan Pablo Hernandez was crowned the IBF world champion in cruiserweight after his sixth-round stoppage of defending title-holder Steve Cunningham of the US on a split technical decision. Hernandez won the belt after English referee Mickey Vann stopped the fight before the seventh round because of two deep cuts to Hernandez following a clash of heads. Two of the judges, Pawel Kardyni (59-54) and Dave Parris (58-55), scored the bout for Hernandez while the third, John Foster (56-57), opted for the defending champion. “We wanted to continue boxing, but the injuries were too bad,” said Hernandez’s trainer Ulli Wegner.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2011.