Super Welterweight fighter Jarrett Hurd (23-0, 16 knockouts) will defend his three titles tonight versus Julian Williams. The Premier Boxing Champions card can be viewed on Fox starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time/5 p.m. Pacific.
Hurd captured his first title in February 2017 by beating Tony Harrison via ninth-round technical knockout for the vacant International Boxing Federation belt. The unbeaten champion gained the attention of the boxing world in October 2017, when he beat Austin Trout, causing him to retire in the corner after the 10th round.
Hurd capitalized on this attention, adding the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Organization belts in April 2018 via 12-round split decision over Erislandy Lara in Las Vegas. Hurd later revealed that he won that fight with a torn rotator cuff.
Hurd is hoping to continue to surge, but to do so, he has to continue to beat quality opponents and tonight’s quality opponent: Julian Williams.
Julian Williams is 26-1-1 with 16 knockouts. He is 29 years old, stands at 5’10” with a reach of 72 ½”
Williams’ sole loss came to Jermall Charlo in December 2016. This was his shot at a belt, and he lost by way of knockout. Since this loss, Williams has had four convincing wins versus Joshua Conley, Ishe Smith, Nathaniel Gallimore and Francisco Javier Castro. Williams has proven that he deserves another title shot and tonight is his opportunity.
Hurd is the favorite in this one, but the stylistic matchup is one that guarantees and interesting fight.
Most important key to victory for Williams: a fast start. Williams needs to throw punches in combinations, and they need to start at the opening bell. Hurd has the tendency to open up his fights slow, using his size to wear his opponents down and capitalize on the back half of the fight. Knowing that rounds 6-12 are where Hurd does most of his damage, Williams needs to make his impact in rounds 1-6. If he waits until round 3 or 4 to get comfortable, it very well may be too late and he will get knocked out again.
Hurd by KO.