By Keith Idec
Jarrett Hurd’s stoppage of Austin Trout is commonly considered the most noteworthy win of the IBF 154-pound champion’s career.
Hurd became the first fighter to beat Trout by knockout or technical knockout when Trout declined to come out of his corner for the 11th round October 14 in Brooklyn. Trout is a former WBA super welterweight champion who soundly defeated Miguel Cotto and was competitive in his loss to Canelo Alvarez.
Erislandly Lara still wasn’t all that impressed by Hurd’s victory over Trout 5½ months ago at Barclays Center. Lara, who stopped Terrell Gausha in the main event that night, thinks Trout was getting the best of Hurd before Hurd began beating up the veteran southpaw later in their fight.
And as someone who already had defeated Trout, Lara (25-2-2, 14 KOs) doesn’t consider Hurd’s performance that night something that should concern him as the WBA/IBO champion prepares to face Hurd (21-0, 15 KOs) on April 7 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas (Showtime).
“I watched the Trout fight in the locker room, as I was preparing for my fight,” Lara said as part of a recent conference call. “So I couldn’t watch that carefully. But from what I saw, I thought Trout was winning the fight and as the fight wore on, obviously Trout’s legs weren’t there.
“He hadn’t fought in 17 months and he’s also a fighter who’s on the back end of his career, had lost already several times. But I thought Trout actually was doing a good job in the fight. Hurd’s a guy that likes to take it up a notch after six, seven rounds. I like to take it up a notch, too, after six, seven rounds. So this is gonna be a great fight. Come April 7th, I’m just ready to rumble.”
Trout (31-4, 17 KOs), a southpaw from Las Cruces, New Mexico, had lost only to Alvarez when Lara fought Trout in December 2013 at Barclays Center. Lara dropped Trout in the 11th round of their 12-round fight for the then-vacant WBA interim 154-pound championship and convincingly won a unanimous decision (118-109, 117-110, 117-110).
The Cuban southpaw reminded reporters on the aforementioned conference call that Hurd stopped a lesser Trout than the one he fought.
“Trout was out 17 months, he is an older guy, he’s been defeated several times,” Lara said. “He is a former world champion, but he also has had a loser’s mentality. So it’s a lot different when you’re fighting a winner and you’re also fighting the guy who dominated Trout, and also put him on the deck and let him off the hook in the 12th. But it’s an exciting fight, and we’re excited for the fight.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
