Julian Williams vs. Jarrett Hurd rematch is off

By Boxing News - 09/04/2019 - Comments

By Allan Fox: Jarrett Hurd has decided not to take the rematch with Julian ‘J-Rock’ Williams after all. They were supposed to be fighting a rematch on December 14, but Hurd had a change of heart for some reason. Williams, 29, could now be facing WBA ‘regular’ junior middleweight champion Erislandy ‘The American Dream’ Lara (26-3-3, 15 KOs) next. Lara recaptured the WBA ‘regular’ 154-lb title last Saturday night in stopping Canelo Alvarez’s brother Ramon Alvarez in the 2nd round.

Jarrett Hurd at middleweight is a better fit

Hurd is now rumored to be moving up to 160 to campaign at middleweight. That might be a much better division for the hulking 6’1″ Hurd, as he’s too big to be fighting at 154. Even 160 might be troublesome for Hurd to make weight. There’s more opportunities for big money fights for Hurd at 160. However, given that Hurd isn’t with DAZN, he might not be able to get fights against Gennady Golovkin, Saul Canelo Alvarez, Ryota Murata and Demetrius Andrade. He could challenge WBC champion Jermell Charlo.

Former IBF/WBA junior middleweight champion Hurd (23-1, 16 KOs) lost to Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision on May 11 in Fairfax, Virginia. The scores were 116-111, 115-112 and 115-112. It was far from a slam dunk win for Williams, but he did enough to win the fight. Hurd took too long to start his late surge, and he wasn’t able to wear Williams down.

Julian Williams vs. Erislandy Lara = good fight

Williams could have his hands full against the 36-year-old Lara. This might be a far tougher fight for Williams than in facing Hurd again, because Lara is a great fighter. Lara’s fight against Hurd in 2018 was one of the best the sport has seen. Although Hurd won a narrow 12 round split decision, the fight took a lot out of him physically. He’s not looked the same in his two fights since then against Jason Welborn and J-Rock Williams.

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In comparison, Lara has looked the same in his two fights against Brian Carlos Castano and Ramon Alvarez. Lara’s fight with Castano was ruled a 12 round draw last March, but he fought well enough to deserve the victory. Castano went all out looking to brawl with Lara, and the best he could do is get a draw. Williams  wouldn’t do well fighting like that against the southpaw Lara, because his punch resistance isn’t great.

Williams has done well in turning his career around after getting beaten by Jermall Charlo by a 5th round knockout in December 2016. Since then, Williams has won his last five fights against these fighters:

  • Joshua Conley
  • Ishe Smith
  • Nathaniel Gallimore
  • Francisco Javier Castro
  • Jarrett Hurd