Hernandez vs Cunningham

IBF World Cruiserweight Championship

Post-fight Review

Yoan Pablo Hernandez retains his IBF World Cruiserweight Championship for the first time with a unanimous points win over veteran American Steve Cunningham.

The fight seemed all but over in the fourth round when Cuban Hernandez had his 35-year-old opponent on the canvas twice. But Cunningham held on in to make the bell, and showed great courage and composure when he rocked the IBF Champ with a fifth-round counter.

The American challenger showed great determination, growing into the fight in the later rounds, but it was always clear that Hernandez was ahead on the judges' cards.

And it was no surprise when Hernandez's arm was held aloft at the end of the contest, with the judges scoring it 115 - 111, 116 - 110, 116 - 110.

Pre-fight Analysis

Yoan Pablo Hernandez's first defence of his newly won IBF World Cruiserweight Championship against Steve Cunningham, live and exclusive from the Fraport Arena in Germany.

Former Cuban amateur star Hernandez (25-1) captured his title by defeating former champion Cunningham (24-3) back in September with a 6th round technical decision. The decision came in controversial fashion, with Hernandez being given the nod after he could not continue because of a cut he received from a Cunningham head-butt. Many observers felt that the cut was not serious enough to warrant a stoppage, and that it came just as the American was begging to gain the ascendancy after suffering a first round knockdown.

Needless to say the controversial nature of the result has left a huge amount of unfinished business that needs to be resolved when the two meet again on February 4th.