Andrew Hernandez (R) attacks Arif Magomedov. (Photo: Manny Murillo – RJJ Boxing Promotions)

Middleweight contender Arif Magomedov was expected to win Saturday night and keep his lofty world ranking. Andrew Hernandez, his opponent who entered the bout having lost three of five bouts, must have not received that memo.

Hernandez scored a major upset over Magomedov, dropping the Russian-based fighter in solidifying a one-sided 10-round decision win at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.

With the win, Hernandez improves to 12-4-1 (3 knockouts). Magomedov drops to 17-1 (10 KOs).

Magomedov, who entered the fight ranked No. 2 by the WBC, No. 5 by the WBA and No. 3 by the WBO, had not fought since Dec. 12, when he knocked out Jonathan Tavira of Mexico in the seventh round.

Hernandez, who resides in Phoenix, Arizona, stopped Dionisio Miranda after the seventh round of his last bout on Mar. 26 after losing back-to-back decisions to Kyrone Davis and Ahmed Elbiani.

Hernandez, who reportedly weighed as much as 200 pounds in preparation for a cruiserweight bout four weeks ago, did his best work from the outside from the opening bell. Magomedov was able to work from the center of the ring, but Hernandez began to control the action in the third round, effectively keeping Magomedov at the end of his jab and scoring with right hands to the head.

Magomedov attempted to close the distance in the middle rounds and found some success, but Hernandez did not let up, effectively scoring from the outside and keeping Magomedov from sitting down on his punches.

“My jab was very important tonight,” said Hernandez after the fight. “He’s very strong, but I wanted to fight him (on the) inside because I knew he couldn’t take it from me. “

Hernandez, who reportedly has a full-time landscaping job, stunned Magomedov twice during the seventh round, each time landing overhand right hands to the head.

With about a minute left in the final round, Hernandez solidified his lead by hurting and dropping Magomedov with a left-right combination to the head. Magomedov was able to beat the count and was able to finish the round.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Hernandez: 100-89, 100-89, and 98-91.

“This fight changes everything for me,” said Hernandez, who also does volunteer work in the Phoenix area. “He’s very good and deserves all of the accolades he’s received, but I now have my head on straight and I’m focused.

“I was very prepared. I think I may have broken my ankle in the fourth round but I kept going. I wanted to finish him, get the knockout, but he’s a very tough fighter. He has heart and showed why he has all of those accolades.”

Devin Haney (L) vs. Jairo Fernandez. (Photo: Manny Murillo – RJJ Boxing Promotions)

Vera stops Ruelas

In the eight-round co-main event, John Vera stopped Joey Ruelas in the sixth round of a battle of southpaw junior middleweights.

Vera improves to 14-0 (9 KOs), while Ruelas drops to 10-2-1 (4 KOs).

Both fighters had their moments during the fight. Vera did well initiating exchanges while Ruelas attempted to counter with left hands to the head.

The action continued until the sixth round when Vera stunned Ruelas with a right hooks to the head. Vera followed up with two left hands, prompting referee Jay Nady to step in and stop the fight at 1:45. Ruelas protested the stoppage, believing he was able to continue.

Haney remains unbeaten

In the opening bout of the “Knockout Night at the D” broadcast on CBS Sports Network, former amateur standout and lightweight Devin Haney stopped Jairo Fernandez in the fourth round.

Haney goes to 6-0 (4 KOs), while Fernandez falls to 4-1 (3 KOs).

Haney, who is currently a high-school junior, was the busier fighter, outboxing Fernandez throughout most of the fight. Haney dropped Fernandez with a left-right combination during the fourth round, prompting referee Jay Nady to wave the fight over at 1:34.

Lopez KOs Cochran

In a non-televised bout, junior featherweight Juan Antonio Lopez (11-1, 4 KOs) scored an emphatic second-round knockout over Jerren Cochran (11-1-1, 4 KOs). A right dropped Cochran, who remained face-down on the canvas for several moments before eventually getting up on his own power. Lopez scored two knockdowns in the opening round.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, Boxingscene.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.

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