Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that IBF has ordered an immediate rematch between newly crowned champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez and former two-time champion Steve “USS” Cunningham.
The first bout, which took place on October 1st saw Hernandez take the belt in controverisal fashion as the bout was stopped after six round due to a cut suffered by Hernandez.
The cuts did not seem severe at the time of the stoppage with Cunningham coming on after digging himself in hole after being knocked down in the opening round.
“We just appreciate the IBF’s consideration of this matter and believe their ruling is the correct one,” John Hornewer, Cunningham’s attorney, told ESPN.com. “Hernandez and Cunningham should both want the chance to settle this in the ring, and a rematch is the way to do that. This is the fairest result for everybody.
“I don’t think the decision (to stop the fight) sat well with anyone. I don’t think Hernandez felt good about the way he won the title.”
“Hernandez boxed the entire fourth round with no significant bleeding from the cut that he had received in the third round. During round six there was another clash of heads that was also ruled accidental. This clash of heads produced a cut above the left eye of Hernandez. At the conclusion of the round, Dr. Wegner got on to the ring apron to examine the cut above Hernandez’s eye. At the conclusion of Dr. Wegner’s examination, he called the referee to the Hernandez corner and recommended that the fight be stopped.
“Based on the recommendation of the doctor, the referee stopped the bout and indicated that since both of the cuts that Hernandez sustained were caused by accidental fouls, a decision would be rendered based on the judges’ scores. It appeared that the bleeding from Hernandez’s cuts had been stopped. There was no blood on Hernandez’s face.”
