Associated Press
BAMBERG, Germany — Cuba’s Yoan Pablo Hernandez successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title, unanimously outpointing Canada’s Troy Ross on Saturday night.
Hernandez received winning scores of 114-113, 115-112, 116-112 from the judges, drawing derisive whistles from the crowd.
Apart from the opening round, which Hernandez dominated, Ross appeared livelier throughout and clearly thought he had done enough to win.
“I pretty much pumped the floor with him today,” Ross said. “I know I won the fight because I put all my hard work into it. I’m too strong, too fast. I’m just a better boxer today … it’s a bad decision.”
Hernandez was in serious trouble during an explosive third round and received an eight count in the fifth before referee David Fields allowed the Cuban to continue.
Ross himself was wobbling in the ninth, when Hernandez caught the 37-year-old with a heavy left blow but appeared too exhausted to finish him off after a flurry of punches.
“Respect for Troy Ross,” Hernandez said. “He’s a good boxer and a great fighter. I knew that he had a strong punch.”
The 27-year-old Hernandez, based in Germany since 2005, improved to 27-1, while Ross dropped to 25-3.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
