Julian Williams in a Masterful Performance against Jarrett Hurd

In a shocking upset, #1 IBF Julian ‘J-Rock’ Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs) out-boxed IBF/WBA junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd (23-1, 16 KOs) in beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes at the EagleBank Arena, in Fairfax, Virginia. The judges’ scores were scores were 116-111, 115-112, and 115-112. Boxing News 24 had Williams winning 115-112.

It was a good fight. Williams looked too strong for Hurd, who appeared to be depleted from making weight. Hurd needs to think about moving up to 160 or possibly even 168. He looks way too big for the 154 pound weight class, and it finally caught up to him tonight. Williams was beating Hurd to the punch all night long.

William dropped Hurd in the 2nd round late. Hurd was badly hurt, and he was lucky the knockdown came late in the round.

If this had been a closer fight, Hurd would do well to try and get a rematch with Williams, but it wasn’t close enough for there to be a second fight. If Hurd wants to mess up his career, he can go ahead and fight Williams again, but he needs to move up to 160 already. If that’s not enough weight for him, then super middleweight would be ideal. Tonight, Hurd looked like a 168 pounder inside the ring with Williams.

With the victory, J’Rock can go after the winner of the June 23 fight between WBC junior middleweight champion Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo. A fight between J-Rock and the Harrison-Charlo winner will have three of the four 154-pound titles on the line with the IBF, WBA and WBC straps. The WBO champion Jaime Munguia, but he might not be staying at 154 for too much longer.

Jim Dower : Boxing News 24