By Allan Fox: IBF cruiserweight champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez (29-1, 14 KOs) has got a very tough fight ahead of him in Ola Afolabi (21-3-4, 10 KOs), who the International Boxing Federation [IBF] had made the 29-year-old Hernandez’s IBF cruiserweight mandatory challenger.
Hernandez has a little over four months to face Afolabi, as the fight must take place by 12/31 this year.
Hernandez struggled to an unimpressive 12 round split decision win last Saturday night against 43-year-old former WBA cruiserweight champion Firat Arslan last Saturday night in Erfurt, Germany.
Afolabi is promoted by K2 Promotions, and he’s fought WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck in grueling fights with Afolabi losing two decisions and fighting to a draw in another one. Aflolabi gave Huck three of his toughest fights of his career.
Afolabi said “I’m thrilled to be challenging for the IBF world title. Tom and K2 have done a great job promoting me and putting me in this position and I will take the title from Hernandez.”
You’ve got to give Afolabi a good chance of beating Hernandez if he can put enough pressure on him. The type of opponents that Hernandez has problems with are hard punchers, and Afolabi has the kind of power that can definitely trouble him if he can connect with enough shots.
Hernandez has extremely fortunate to still have his title, but you’ve got to thank his promoters for matching him against guys that are beatable.
There are around 10 very good cruiserweights in the division right now that would give Hernandez major problems, and Afolabi is one of them. We could see Hernandez’s time as the IBF cruiserweight champion ending with this fight.
Afolabi is going to need to think seriously about knocking Hernandez out if he wants to make sure he gets the victory. The fight will almost surely take place in Germany, and he’s not going to find it easy winning a decision over there.
“We’re excited that Ola is now the mandatory challenger for the IBF Cruiserweight Championship,” said Afolabi’s promoter Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “Ola has proven to be one of the best cruiserweights in the world and we strongly believe that he will bring home the IBF world title in this fight.”
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