WBO Orders Hernandez to Face Zerafa for Vacant Middleweight Title
The WBO ordered Yoenli Hernandez to face Michael Zerafa for the vacant middleweight title, giving the two fighters 20 days to avoid a purse bid.
The order followed the WBO stripping Denzel Bentley of the middleweight title for ducking mandatory challenger Hernandez to fight Shane Mosley Jr under the Zuffa banner. Hernandez has a record of 11-0 with 9 knockouts. Zerafa is ranked no. 4 in the middleweight division.
Yoenli Hernandez won a majority decision over Francisco Daniel Veron in an August eliminator fight. The bout was the second of Hernandez’s last four fights to be decided by judges.
Michael Zerafa is 34 years old and has a record of 35-5 with 23 knockouts.
In a January fight with Nikita Tszyu, Zerafa took a headbutt in the second round. Zerafa claimed he could not see after the headbutt, then denied saying that after the referee stopped the fight.
It is unclear whether no. 2 Vito Mielnicki Jr received the title offer and turned it down.
Do you agree with the WBO ordering Hernandez to face Zerafa for the vacant middleweight title?
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