Jahi Tucker opts out of Yoenli Hernandez negotiations

Hernandez fight would have marked Tucker’s sharpest move

For Tucker, the Hernandez game was a big step forward. Hernandez has stopped eight of his nine professional opponents and built his reputation on constant pressure and heavy punches. He forces opponents into exchanges and keeps them there, making it difficult to work from distance.

Kyrone Davis went the full 10 rounds with Hernandez earlier this year, but the fight was decided early. Hernandez dropped Davis in the second round and showed he can hold his man at that level, winning every round on all three scorecards. Davis stayed on his feet, but he responded rather than set the pace.

This result stood out because Davis previously gave David Benavidez tough rounds in their 2021 fight and showed he can compete at that level. Hernandez took control of the fight early and never gave Davis a chance to change it.

For Tucker, whose strengths come from timing, Hernandez presented a difficult stylistic problem. Fighters who apply steady pressure remove space and force exchanges. Those situations tend to quickly reveal where a young fighter stands.

Competitor position hold

Instead, Tucker’s path now travels through Akale. He faces a veteran opponent who brings experience without the same immediate rival implications. The fight keeps Tucker active while delaying a direct test against one of the division’s most physically demanding contenders.

Hernandez remains near the top of the WBA rankings and now looks set for a veteran checkpoint in Gausha. The Tucker fight is no longer in play, but his position in the division remains intact.

The Hernandez fight is off the table for now, but the division is still moving. At middle weight, inactivity costs soil. Top contenders rarely wait long for a fight.