Yoan Pablo Hernandez has been stripped of the IBF Cruiserweight title and Victor Emilio Ramirez has been upgraded to full champion, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
Ramirez (22-2, 17 KOs), 31, who had been the IBF’s interim titleholder, is slated to face Jamaica-born, England-based journeyman Ovill McKenzie (25-12, 13 KOs), 35, who has won four bouts in a row.
Ramirez, 31, initially was scheduled for a mandatory bout on Oct. 2 against Hernandez, 31, a former Cuban amateur star who defected to Germany. Hernandez, however, was still having problems with his surgically repaired right elbow and withdrew from the fight, according to promoter Kalle Sauerland.
“[Hernandez] had a medical exception but got injured again and could not defend the title within the time frame,” Lindsey Tucker of the IBF told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “Interim champion Victor Ramirez has been moved up.”
