Hernandez Works a Little Extra to Beat Nelson for WBC Title

Genaro Hernandez could have walked away with the World Boxing Council super featherweight championship after the seventh round, but wouldn’t.

Instead, he took a split decision from Azumah Nelson on Saturday night. Respect made Hernandez fight five more rounds.

A late punch by Nelson, 38, caught Hernandez, 30, in the throat, decking him after the bell rang to end the seventh round. A point was deducted from Nelson, but WBC President Jose Sulaiman ruled that if Hernandez (35-1-1) was unable to continue, he would win the title by disqualification.

After a break of some five minutes so Hernandez could recover, he decided to fight on rather than take the title the easy way.

“They told me I could have won,” Hernandez said. “But I wanted to finish. He is a great champion, and I have too much respect for the sport.”

Hernandez won, 118-110 and 116-114, on two of the three judges’ cards. The third judge gave the fight to Nelson, who said he is pondering retirement with a 39-4-2 record, 115-114.