Jarrett Hurd: There is a Rematch Clause - I'm Going For It!
FAIRFAX, Va. - Julian Williams unanimously outpointed Jarrett Hurd on Saturday night at EagleBank Arena in front of the defending champ’s home fans to take the IBF, WBA and IBO super welterweight titles.
Williams (27-1-1) knocked down Hurd (23-1) in the second round and stayed on his feet throughout. While both fighters appeared in danger at times, Williams clearly believed he won in the later rounds.
The judges agreed, scoring it 116-111, 115-112 and 115-112.
During the middle of the sixth round, arguably Hurd’s best, Williams made a “come at me” expression after Hurd connected with a jab. Williams was flexing to his corner after the 11th, and was the more active fighter in the 12th, landing one final promising combination 45 seconds before the bell. When the final bell sounded, trainer Stephen Edwards rushed out of Williams’ corner to hoist his fighter aloft.
“I just feel like J-Rock truly was the better man tonight,” Hurd said. “I kind of think hearing my hometown with my name being chanted, it caused me to try a little harder instead of just staying relaxed and take my time. That could have played a part, but no excuses.”
After a quiet first round, Williams appeared to hurt Hurd midway through the second with a pair of combinations, then floored him with about 30 seconds left with a left hook. Hurd rose quickly, but Williams closed on him again as the bell sounded.
Williams continued to look in control until the close of the fifth, when Hurd got him to the ropes and landed a damaging combination.
Hurd then opened the sixth as if he believed Williams had been hurt, connecting with a very early right hook that set off a ferocious round from both fighters and brought chants from the crowd.
But by the end of the seventh, Hurd’s corner was attending to a cut over his right eye, and he failed to recapture that energy in the building.
“I wasn’t able to get off. I can’t really call it right now. I have to go back and watch. I was loading up on my shots instead of just letting my hands go,’’ Hurd said.
“J-Rock was just the better man tonight. There’s definitely a rematch clause in our contract and I’m going to go for it. I’m going to come back better than I was tonight.’’