By Keith Idec
Jarrett Hurd has the most impressive resume of any of boxing’s three 154-pound champions.
The undefeated Hurd has edged Erislandy Lara, whom he dropped in the 12th round and beat by split decision 13 months ago in their title unification fight. He also became the first fighter to stop ex-champion Austin Trout and defeated Tony Harrison, who since has upset Jermell Charlo, by technical knockout.
The 28-year-old Hurd will take an unblemished record into his fight against Julian Williams on Saturday night in Fairfax, Virginia. Hurd (23-0, 16 KOs), of nearby Accokeek, Maryland, has been installed as at least a 6-1 favorite over Philadelphia’s Williams (26-1-1, 16 KOs, 1 NC) by most Internet sports books.
You don’t see Hurd’s name, however, if you look at most mythical pound-for-pound lists. He is not in the top 10, according to BoxingScene.com, ESPN.com or The Ring magazine.
Hurd has taken notice.
“I do,” Hurd said during a recent conference call. “Everyone with a pound-for-pound list has their opinion on who is top ten and top five. But I can’t really say anything on that. I do feel like I’m overlooked. I am a champion with [three] titles. I think my resume is better than some of the guys on the pound-for-pound list. For me, I know I’m up there in the top five, no question.”
Hurd will defend his IBF, IBO and WBA 154-pound crowns against Williams, who has lost only to former IBF champ Jermall Charlo (28-0, 21 KOs).
Williams was down by only one point, 38-37, on all three scorecards when Charlo knocked him out in the fifth round of that December 2016 battle in Los Angeles. Charlo dropped Williams once during the second round and twice in the fifth before their scheduled 12-rounder was stopped.
“You can tell a lot about a fighter when you see them in the lead-up to a fight,” Hurd said Thursday night during a press conference. “Julian Williams looks confident and he looks ready. It’s gonna be a classic on fight night.”
FOX will air Hurd-Williams as the main event of a tripleheader scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from EagleBank Arena, on the campus of George Mason University.
The network’s three-bout broadcast also will feature 140-pound contender Mario Barrios and middleweight contender Matt Korobov.
San Antonio’s Barrios (23-0, 15 KOs) and Argentina’s Juan Jose Velasco (20-1, 12 KOs) are set to square off in a 10-rounder. Russia’s Korobov (28-2, 14 KOs) and Immanuwel Aleem (18-1-1, 11 KOs), of Richmond, Virginia, also will meet in a 10-rounder.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
