Ex-Champ Yoan Pablo Hernandez Comeback After Six Years As Heavyweight Ends The Hard Way

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

*Photo Credit: Team SES/  P. Gercke photo

Magdeburg, Germany (August 26th, 2020)–  The comeback of former International Boxing Federation World Cruiserweight champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez hit a roadblock after six years inactivity when 40-year-old heavyweight veteran Kevin Johnson dropped Hernandez in the fourth round and then knocked him out in the seventh round at Seebuhne Elbauenpark, Magdeburg, Germany.



The Cuban southpaw Hernandez, 29-2 with 14 knockouts, Stendal, Germany, could not function at 232 pounds, when his usual weight was 196 to 204 pounds. Johnson, 35-17-1 with 19 knockouts, Lawrenceville, Germany, has fought Daniel Dubois, Nathan Gorman, Andy Ruiz Jr., Dereck Chisora, Manual Charr, Vitali Klitschko, Christian Hammer and Tyason Fury the distance. Johnson lost to Anthony Joshua in two rounds. In the bigger picture, Johnson has the sort of ring experience to be able to decipher Hernandez, and figure out what he had left.



Hernandez had a 16 bout win streak, while Johnson had a five bout losing streak with nothing to lose in this test fight. Like Dillian Whyte’s knockout loss to Alexander Povetkin, the Hernandez knockout did not figure, but in the world of boxing without fans watching live, home country ring advantage has turned to silent neutrality.

Hernandez looked like an old man long removed from the sport of boxing, just the same as James Jeffries did against Jack Johnson when Jeffries tried to return after many years out of the ring. If Hernandez had returned at cruiserweight, despite his years of health problems, it would have been more believable. The real money is in the heavyweight division, but only if you are a legitimate heavyweight. Hernandez should return to his role as a boxing coach if he remains unable to realize the 200 pound limit where he fights best.
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