Jahi Tucker withdrew from negotiations to face WBA No. 1 middleweight contender Yoenli Hernandez, stepping away from what would have been the toughest test of his young career and reshaping the immediate middleweight movement.
According to boxing insider Carlos Linares, the unbeaten Cuban Hernandez is now in talks to face veteran Terrell Gausha instead. That fight is being discussed for the undercard of Sebastian Fundora’s title defense against Keith Thurman. Tucker, meanwhile, is looking at a 10-round fight with Sona Akale on February 28 at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York.
Hernandez Fight Would Have Marked Tucker’s Sharpest Step Up
For Tucker, the Hernandez matchup represented a major step up. Hernandez has stopped eight of his nine professional opponents and built his reputation on constant pressure and heavy punching. He forces opponents into exchanges and keeps them there, making it difficult to operate 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 could hold his ground at that level, winning every round on all three scorecards. Davis stayed on his feet, but he was reacting rather than setting the pace.
That result stood out because Davis had previously given David Benavidez difficult rounds in their 2021 fight and shown he could compete at that level. Hernandez took control of the fight early and never gave Davis the 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 reveal quickly where a young fighter stands.
Contender Position Holds
Instead, Tucker’s path now moves through Akale. He faces a veteran opponent who brings experience without the same immediate contender 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 appears headed toward a veteran checkpoint in Gausha. The Tucker fight is no longer in play, but his position in the division remains intact.
The Hernandez bout is off the table for now, but the division continues to move. At middleweight, inactivity costs ground. Top-ranked contenders rarely wait long for a fight.
Ken Woods has been a senior writer at Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering the sport from every angle. With years of ringside reporting, he delivers fight news, results, and analysis that cut through the noise. Ken’s work consistently spotlights champions, contenders, and rising prospects, giving fans a sharp, knowledgeable view of the global boxing scene.
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Boxing News 24 » Jahi Tucker withdraws from Yoenli Hernández fight talks, shifts path
Last Updated on 02/13/2026