Have You Hurd? Jarrett Split Decisions Lara on Knockdown With 37 Seconds Left
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Have you Hurd? Jarrett ‘Swift’ Hurd now holds three versions of world titles in a partially unified junior middleweight division. Thanks largely to his magically twelfth round knockdown of Erislandy Lara with 35 seconds left in the contest caused by a short powerful left hook, Hurd somehow escaped with a 12 round split decision victory at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, thus partially unifying the World Boxing Association Super, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization 154 pound titles in the process. Lara was ahead going into the final round, and sadly lost the bout by a point 114-113 on two scorecards near its dramatic conclusion.
Hurd, 22-0 with 15 knockouts, Accokeek, Maryland, by virtue of knocking down the longtime divisional champion Lara in the twelfth and final round, and cutting Lara’s left eye as well in the final round, won by one point on two scorecards. Without the knockdown and two point 10-8 final round scorecards, Hurd would have fought Lara to a majority draw.
Hurd fought southpaw Lara, 25-3-2 by way of Guantanamo, Cuba, in a telephone booth. At times Lara was in center ring, at times on the ropes. The rounds were won by each combatant in a seesaw battle largely on the strength of the punch count. Lara tried to go inside, where combinations, body shots and uppercuts were exchanges. Despite being 5’9” to Hurd’s 6’1”, Lara was most effective staying inside and working there, but seemed to get outworked the final few rounds. The rounds were close, however, as the fighters fought close in a candidate bout for fight of the year. Hurd did not let Lara rest, who looked for counters at every opportunity. Lara had to fight inside, and Hurd had no issues with it.
It looked like Lara did the better work in the first six rounds, Hurd did the better work in the last six rounds. However, the punch counts were definitive for one fighter or the other if you were a judge looking at the bout from that vision. It was an even fight on paper, and will make a great candidate for a rematch, unless Hurd seeks out WBC Junior Middleweight champion Jermell Charlo, was watched the bout anxiously at ringside and wants Hurd next. Considering Hurd has gotten past Tony Harrison, Austin Trout and now Lara, Charlo would represent a significant challenge as Hurd rises to greatness.
Result: Jarrett Hurd Win Split Decision 12 Erislandy Lara, Junior Middleweights
Scoring: 114-113, 114-113 Hurd. 114-113, Lara. Referee: Kenny Bayless.
Hurd knocked down Lara at 2:35 on round 12 to win round 12 10-8 and win the bout.
Lara Retains International Boxing Federation World Junior Middleweight Title.
Lara Wins the WBA Super and IBO World Junior Middleweight Titles.
Other Results From Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Referees: Robert Byrd, Tony Weeks, Vic Drakulich
James DeGale Win 12 Caleb Truax, Super Middleweights
DeGale Regains International Boxing Federation World Super Middleweight Title
DeGale was deducted one point in round 10 for illegal use of the shoulder.
DeGale cut on right eye, Truax cut on left and right eyes. Two judges had DeGale 114-113.
Julian Williams Win Majority Decision 12 Nathaniel Gallimore, Junior Middleweights
Third consecutive comeback win for former world junior middleweight contender 25-1-1 Williams. Williams cut under right eye from accidental headbutt. One judge had 114-114.
Sergio Mora Win Split Decision 8 Alfredo Angulo, Super Middleweights
In All-Mexican war, Mora, 37, ‘The Latin Snake’, wins return after 19 months of inactivity, still got taken on a trip to hell by faded junior middleweight Angulo, 35.
Emmanuel Medina Win 8 Saul Corral, Welterweights
In All-Mexican war, 14-0 Medina goes distance with Agua Prieto’s 28-11, 19 KOs ‘Navajo’.
Sharone Carter Win 8 Ahmed Majed Mahmood, Featherweights
7-0-1 Michigan Jordanian prospect Mahmood is upset by Missouri’s 9-2 Carter. However,
ringside judges went three different ways on the scorecards: 79-73, 78-74, 77-75 for Carter.
Xavier Martinez TKO 2 Jairo Fernandez Vargas, Lightweights
10-0 Sacramento, California prospect Martinez knocked down Vargas in first and second.
JARRETT HURD UNIFIES THE 154-POUND DIVISION WITH SPLIT DECISION OVER ERISLANDY LARA IN ACTION PACKED FIGHT SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME® FROM HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS
James DeGale Earns Back IBF Super Middleweight World Championship With Unanimous Decision In Rematch With Caleb Truax
Julian Williams Wins IBF 154-Pound Eliminator With Decision Over Nathaniel Gallimore In SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Opener
Click HERE For Photos; Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME
Click HERE For Photos; Credit: Chris Farina/Mayweather Promotions
LAS VEGAS (April 7, 2018) – Jarrett Hurd unified the 154-pound division with a 12-round split-decision victory over Erislandy Lara in an all-action fight Saturday on SHOWTIME before a sold out crowd of 2,579 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Hurd (22-0, 15 KOs), who entered as IBF Champion, dethroned WBA Champion in just the seventh unification in division history. The difference in the Fight of the Year candidate was a short left hook that floored Lara in the final minute of the fight. Had the 27-year-old Hurd not scored the knockdown, the fight would have been ruled a majority draw.
“It was a tough one, but I went out there and did exactly what I said I was going to do – fight all 12 rounds and get the victory,” Hurd said. “I didn’t feel like that (I needed the knockdown). I feel like I was in control the whole fight, applying the pressure.
“I don’t think it had anything to do with age. I think it was me and the game plan we had to apply the pressure.”
Following the thrilling bout, SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray asked Hurd if he’d like to face WBC 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo, who was ringside, to further unify the division.
“‘Swift’ isn’t ducking anyone,” Hurd responded. “I’m No. 1 now. We’re calling the shots.”
Hurd applied relentless pressure from the opening round, pressing forward against the crafty southpaw. He pounded the body, yet often neglected defense and ate punishing counter shots for 11 rounds. But the difference for Lara (25-3-2, 14 KOs), who was making the seventh defense of his title, was the brutal 12th round. With blood seeping from a swollen right eye, Hurd connected on a short left hook that floored Lara for the first time in nearly five years.
“Besides the last round, I thought I was winning this fight easily,” Lara said. “That’s not to decide the fight. I was winning the fight. One punch in a fight doesn’t determine the fight.
“It was a great fight for the fans. I stood there, fought and it was fun. I thought I clearly won the fight. Once again a decision goes against me, but hey we just have to do the rematch.”
Entering the fight, Charlo was the consensus No. 1 fighter at 154-pounds. He stated his case for a chance to unify against Hurd.
“I’m down. Let’s go. We want that work,” Charlo told SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING host Brian Custer. “I feel Hurd only took the fight with Lara because he realized the harder fight is with Jermell Charlo.
“We’ve been there before with Lara. I know what he possesses. Hurd has to get his defense together because he cannot get hit like that by me. Lara doesn’t move like he used to. If he moves like he used to he wins that fight.”
James DeGale earned back the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship with a unanimous decision in a rematch with Caleb Truax, taking back the title he lost last December in the near-universal upset of the year.
The 12-round championship affair was scored 117-110 and 114-113 twice. DeGale, who was deducted a point in the 10th for pushing, won the championship rounds – 11 and 12 – on all three judges’ scorecards to win the decision.
“Two-time world champion. It feels great,” DeGale said. “But full credit to Caleb – he shows he can mix it with the top fighters.
“I’m just happy that I’m a two time world champion and I got my IBF world title back. I’m back, Team Chunky, we’re back. Two-and-a-half years I had it and I lost it to Caleb. He embarrassed me, but we’re back.”
DeGale (24-2-1, 14 KOs) overcame a massive cut from an accidental head butt in the third, which was mistakenly ruled as the result of a punch from referee Robert Byrd.
“I couldn’t see from my right eye, DeGale said. “I like Robert Byrd (referee), but today he was a bit wrong. I couldn’t see. But I’m just glad I got through it. I showed some heart. In my last fight, I was like a weak little kid.”
DeGale connected on 37 percent of his power shots compared to 28 percent for Truax. He now returns to London a world champion with some massive potential fights in the future.
“I want to be busy,” DeGale said. “I have a couple years left in this sport.”
Truax (29-4-2, 18 KOs), who fought for the first time as a world champion, was disappointed and advocated for a rematch after the scores were announced.
“I thought I did enough to win the fight, but I also thought I was pretty flat and didn’t get my shots off like I wanted,” Truax said. “I was just a little bit flat. I felt really good coming in but I just couldn’t get my shots off like the last fight. He never hurt me, but it is what it is.
“I gave him a rematch straight away so why not do it again.”
In the opening bout of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader, Julian Williams scored a career-best win, defeating Nathaniel Gallimore via majority decision in an IBF Junior Middleweight World Title eliminator. Williams, who edge Gallimore 116-112, 117-110, 114-114, is now in position to challenge Jarrett Hurd. Williams (25-1-1, 15 KOs) set the pace with a strong left jab in the opening rounds of the fight, keeping Gallimore at bay and the action on the outside. That changed around the fifth round as Williams abandoned the jab and the fight moved to the inside. Williams had his best round in the 11th, connecting on a massive left hand that set up a barrage of combos that nearly had Gallimore out on his feet. Gallimore (20-2-1, 17 KOs) survived the round, and Williams wasn’t able the finish him in the 12th, but it was clear Williams deserved the decision.
“I wasn’t surprised a judge had a draw,” Williams said. “Sometimes when you’re fighting real close like that, it is hard for judges to score. I knew I won. Once I heard 116-112 and 117-111, I knew I won because I knew he didn’t win eight rounds.
“He is a strong fighter, but I knew he was going to do what he did. Start strong early, but I knew he wasn’t strong after six rounds.
“The hits to the body was all in the game plan. You have to go to the body in a 12 round fight.”
Williams connected on 50 percent of his power shots and landed 37 percent of his total shots.
“I didn’t really think I won the fight,” Gallimore admitted. “I just let too many early rounds go. I just gave him too many rounds. I had him hurt a couple of times, but he was tough. I should have done more combinations. I will look at the fight and review it, and will make adjustments.”
Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will replay on Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.
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