Yoan Pablo Hernandez – Eric Fields on 2/2 in Germany

By Boxing News - 12/25/2012 - Comments

Steve Herelius, Yoan Pablo HernandezBy Eric Thomas: IBF cruiserweight champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez (27-1, 13 KO’s) will be taking an easy title defense on February 2nd against #12 WBA, #15 IBF, Eric Fields (21-1, 15 KO’s) at the Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, in Berlin, Germany.

Hernandez, 28, has had some tough fights recently in two bouts against Steve Cunningham and his victory against Troy Ross. Somehow Hernandez was able to squeak through those three bouts to get to his first easy fight since his victory over Steve Herelius last year in February.

Fields, 30, kind of disappeared after getting beaten by Ola Afolabi in April 2008. Fields had come into that fight off of the back of an impressive 1st round knockout win over Kelvin David back in January 2008. A lot of boxing were impressed with Fields at that point in his career and many thought he’d beat Afolabi. But Fields had problems with Afolabi’s power and he ended up getting taken out in the 10th round by him.

That fight kind of marked the end of Fields facing quality opposition for a four year period until being selected by Hernandez’s promoters to challenge for the title in February of next year. Fields has won his last 10 fights but again it’s been weak opposition and we could see him fold like he did in his loss to Afolabi.
Fields does have good power and that gives him a chance if he can get to Hernandez early in the fight.

Hernandez likes to start out quickly and he’s vulnerable during those early parts because he throws so many power shots. Hernandez tires quickly after that he tends to fight in a more cautious energy saving manner. Fields can work the fight one of two ways. He can try his luck by going after Hernandez early to try and catch him with a big shot or he can wait until Hernandez fades in the second half of the fight.

It’s still not likely that Fields will be able to pull off the upset in this fight because he’s never faced anyone as good as Hernandez and he’s not been fighting quality opposition since he was stopped by Afolabi.



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