Hernandez beats Ross to keep IBF cruiser belt

Yoan Pablo Hernandez of Cuba successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision against Troy Ross of Canada on Saturday. Apart from the opening round, which Hernandez dominated, Ross appeared livelier throughout and clearly thought he had done enough to win. But the judges awarded it 114-113, 115-112, 116-112. 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. The 27-year-old Hernandez, based in Germany since 2005, improved his record to 27-1 (13 KOs), while Ross dropped to 25-3 (16 KOs).