By Per Ake Persson

Former IBF cruiserweight world champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez (29-1) has announced his retirement from boxing. For the last few years, Hernandez has been sidedlined with illnesses and injuries and will now have surgery to a knee and that will be followed by surgery to an elbow.

Hernandez's last fight was in August of 2014 and when he was forced to pull out of his defence against Victor Emilio Ramirez, that was set for October 3, he was stripped of the title. Ramirez will now fight Ovil McKenzie on the same date.

Hernandez has been promoted for many years by Sauerland Event. He suffered his sole defeat in 2008 when stopped by former champion Wayne Braithwaite. But he regrouped from that loss and won his next 15 fights with several of those wins against former champions and top contenders.

According to Bild Hernandez also has financial problems.