LAS VEGAS — World champions Erislandy Lara and Jarrett Hurd will square off in a unification bout in one of boxing's deepest divisions at 154 pounds Saturday night.

WBA, IBO champion Lara (25-2-2, 14 KOs) and IBF belt holder Hurd (21-0, 15 KOs) will meet for the sixth unification bout in junior middleweight division history.

The winner of Lara-Hurd will join Hall of Famers Terry Norris, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya and Winky Wright, as well as Canelo Alvarez, as the only fighters to unify 154-pound titles.

Lara is the longest reigning titlist at 154 pounds.

"I have to give Hurd credit for taking the fight as it's been hard to get fighters in the ring with me," said Lara, who won the WBA title in 2014 and is making his sixth defense. "Everyone knows I love to fight his style. I've fought better and taller fighters than him and you've seen me dominate them.

“He’s not in the top 10 fighters I’ve fought. I fight for my family and for my kids. And that belt is coming home with my kids.”

The 34-year-old Lara currently resides in Houston. A native of Cuba, Lara was the favorite to win gold at the 2008 Olympic Games, but defected earlier that year. Lara's only two career losses are to Alvarez and Paul Williams.

The 27-year-old Hurd is a come-forward, aggressive fighter. In his first IBF defense he knocked out Austin Trout last October. Hurd won the world crown with a knockout of Tony Harrison earlier in 2017. Hurd has knocked out the last seven opponents.

"Lara has been the longest reigning champion and he was on top when I first turned pro," Hurd said. "We've studied him a lot. I didn't get into this sport to be anything but No. 1, and Lara is the top guy.