According to Boxing Scene, the World Boxing Association has ordered an immediate rematch between Jarrett Hurd (22-0, 15 KOs) and Erislandy Lara (25-3-2, 14 KOs).
Hurd and Lara treated boxing fans to a fight-of-the-year candidate scrap back on April 7 where Hurd edged the Cuban veteran by split decision with two scores of 114-113 in favor of Hurd, and one 114-113 score in favor of Lara.
While Lara has been ducked and dodged by many other fighters in recent years, Hurd made it a point to step up and challenge the southpaw only one fight after vanquishing Austin Trout in his first defense of his IBF belt.
While the WBA has advised Hurd and Lara that a rematch deal must be reached within 30 days or a purse bid will be scheduled, Hurd’s team are not interested in an immediate rematch.
Round By Round Boxing discussed the recent ruling with Hurd’s head trainer, Ernesto Rodriguez.
“At this moment, we aren’t interested in a rematch,” said Rodriguez via text message on Thursday. “Lara can go and get a belt first. Fight [Jermell] Charlo, take his belt and then we are more than interested in a rematch.”
With the hard-fought victory over Lara, Hurd is now the unified WBA and IBF Junior Middleweight champion and his team seems keen on controlling the discussion for their future.
“Kell Brook is a fight we are interested in and then followed by the Jermell Charlo fight,” said Rodriguez.
Charlo, who has a fight coming up against the aforementioned former titleholder Trout, has also been vocal about wanting to fight later this year but Rodriguez stresses that the 154-pound goes through them.
“He [Charlo] keeps running his mouth like he’s running things,” said Rodriguez of Charlo’s claims that he knows an October date with Hurd is all but confirmed. “He had the opportunity to unify but didn’t. He really doesn’t want to fight Lara. Charlo keeps talking, we will keep waiting.”
Stay tuned to Round By Round Boxing for more information on Hurd’s next bout and what happens with the WBA mandate.
Header photo by Stephanie Trapp/Showtime
