By Erik Schmidt: After jumping off to an impressive 14-0 start, former Cuban amateur standout Yoan Pablo Hernandez (16-1, 10 KOs) has looked less than impressive in his last three starts, losing one of them by Wayne Braithwaite by a disappointing 3rd round TKO in March, and then once again looking less awe inspiring in his recent fight last Saturday night, a 5th round TKO over 35 year-old Santiago De Paula (10-8-1, 10 KOs) in Berlin, Germany.
Hernandez, still ranked high at #15 in the World Boxing Association and IBF cruiserweight division, knocked De Paula down three times in the fight round alone, yet wasn’t able to put him away. This was the same problem that Hernandez has in his fight with Braithwaite, whom he knocked down once in the first round and staggered badly a later on, and then let him off the hook by fighting much too relaxed.