Hernandez Works a Little Extra to Beat Nelson for WBC Title
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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — 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.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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