Yoan Pablo Hernandez (24-1, 13 KOs) is the new WBA Interim Cruiserweight Champion after stopping Steve Herelius (21-2, 12 KOs) in the seventh round. The hard-hitting Cuban knocked the Frenchman down twice – first with a thunderous right and then with a series of punches before the fight was waved off. “This is like a dream coming true,” Hernandez enthused. “I have worked very hard to become champion. I am very happy and proud.”
Hernandez made good use of his advantage in reach as he wisely fired his jab, while Herelius was dangerous in the infight. In the break between the fourth and the fifth round, there was a delay as Herelius seemed to have a problem with his foot. However, he shook off the injury and continued, launching furious attacks in the fifth, but Hernandez defense stood tall. The Cuban regained the upper hand and eventually ended the fight in style in the seventh round.
In the second cruiserweight world title fight of the night, Steve Cunningham (24-2, 12 KOs) retained his IBF Title with a unanimous points victory over Enad Licina (19-3, 12 KOs). The brave mandatory challenger had his moments, especially early in the fight, before Cunningham´s superior boxing skills and technique helped him to take control. He was up 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113 after twelve action-packed rounds.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
