Jarrett Hurd Defeats Tony Harrison by Ninth Round KO to Secure IBF Junior Middleweight Title
Not far out from the fight date, Jermall Charlo deciding to vacate his 154-pound world title meant that a scheduled title eliminator bout between Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd immediately had larger implications.
The two top 154-pound contenders knew that one of them would leave the ring in Birmingham, Ala., with a strap around their waists, and both fought with just that mindset.
Early on, the slick Harrison boxed beautifully on the outside, forcing Hurd to follow him around the ring while Harrison picked points from the perimeter. It worked, as the once-beaten Detroit, Mich., native built a lead on the scorecards.
But mid-way through the fight, Hurd’s unrelenting pressure finally allowed him to break through, landing a right uppercut – his signature punch – late in Round 5 to finally send a message.
He built momentum consistently, and it ultimately came to a head in Round 9, when a strong, straight right hand sent Harrison to the canvas. He beat the count to his feet, but spit out his mouthpiece while answering the ref, signaling a stop to the fight. Hurd improved to 20-0 (14 KO), claiming his first world title at 26 years old. In the process, Harrison fell to 24-2 (20 KO).
All photos by Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
