By Alexey Sukachev

Stechert Arena, Bamberg, Bayern, Germany - Yoan Pablo Hernandez (28-1, 14 KOs) proved his champion's character once again with a hard-fought stoppage win of his mandatory challenger Alexander Alekseev (24-3-1, 20 KOs) in the tenth round. The Germany-based Cuban stylist retained his IBF cruiserweight title for the third time and returned 14 months since his last victory over Troy Ross.

IBF #1 and WBO #2 rated Russian was known both as a masterful boxer with tons of amateur experience and as a china-chinned fighter, who is in danger of being switched off cold every time he steps in against an elite opponent. Both features were on display in the Hernandez fight, but it was Cuban who showed his skills and technique in the first. Alekseev was an aggressor also in the second in what was a high-octane chess match. He might have won the second but at the very end Hernandez landed a sudden left hook to the chin, and Alekseev was forced to touch the canvas with his gloves.

The Cuban was better in the third but his advantage was mild. Alekseev, 32, looked good in the fourth, landing solid shots from sophisticated angles and defending himself rather well. He was ahead also in the fifth - thanks to his crisp jab and sudden right hooks but then, when only 15-20 seconds were left before the bell, he ate a shocking overhand right which put him down hard. There was a moment when it seemed he wouldn't get up but he did and survived the storm.

From that point on the fight was mostly Alekseev, as the Cuban fighter started to feel fatigue in the sixth. His right eyebrow was also cut in that round, troubling the champion. Alekseev continued his domination in the seventh with hard right jabs and left hooks to the body. Hernandez, clearly dazed, was forced to seek shelter in clinches. Round eight was also in the Russian's favor, but the Cuban started to catch a second wind. He opted to mount a rally in the ninth to even things up - especially in the jab department. Still, the end was a shocker for many. During the tenth, Hernandez charged with a crushing right hand, Alekseev took it flush and slowly fell to the canvas and for the full count. Official time of stoppage was 1:35 of the tenth.