“Swift” Jarrett Hurd (20-0, 14 KOs) will be defending his IBF Junior Middleweight title for the first time against Austin “No Doubt” Trout (30-3, 17 KOs) Saturday night, October 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Hurd vs. Trout is a part of a title tripleheader which will air on Showtime at 10:00 pm, EST / 7:00 pm, PST.
Trout is definitely the more experienced fighter who has faced stiffer competition to date, but Hurd has many of the physical advantages. Hurd stands at 6’1″ with a 76-inch reach and he is also five years younger than the veteran Trout.
With that being said, Hurd will be making a big jump up in class when he faces Trout. While Hurd has faced solid opposition in Frank Galarza, Tony Harrison and Oscar Molina, Trout’s resume is far more superior.
There is a lot on the line Saturday night as Hurd looks to prove he is the real deal and Trout wants to show the boxing world that he is still relevant.
“I’m feeling great. I’m right on weight. Like I said, this is the fight I’ve been waiting for and that I’ve wanted, so I’m ready to fight. I really want to go out here and make a statement and be the first to stop Austin Trout and send him into retirement,” stated Hurd at the final press conference.
“When I become champion on Saturday night I will continue to represent this game with class and dignity. I know this sounds like a campaign speech, but the beautiful part about it is that I don’t need your votes,” said Trout. “I don’t need anyone to vote me in. I get to go in there and take it with my two hands. I have the faith that I can do it, but we all know faith without works is dead. But I’ve put in the work. So I have faith in the work behind me. My experience is just the icing on top to go in there and become the two-time world champion and stake the claim as the best 154-pounder in this game.”
Not only could a conclusive win for Hurd or Trout catapult them to the top of the 154-pound list but there are two other competitive title fights featuring Jermell Charlo vs. Erickson Lubin and Erislandy Lara vs. Terrell Gausha which are also Junior Middleweight bouts.
Along with moving up in the rankings, the winner of Hurd vs. Trout may just earn a unification shot with one of the other four fighters on the card in the near future–fingers crossed. This is not a fight card you want to miss.
Header photo by Brant Wilson/RBRBoxing
Article photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
