Unified and undefeated IBF and WBA 154-pound “Swift” Jarrett Hurd will defend his titles against top contender Julian “J-Rock” Williams live in primetime in Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes action on Saturday, May 11 at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing‘s staff predictions for Jarrett Hurd vs. Julian Williams and let us know who you think will win.
Round By Round Boxing Staff Predictions - 2020
| Name | Win | Loss | Total Fights | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Burgos | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Hans Themistode | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0.66666666666667 |
| R.L. Woodson | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.8 |
| Robert Contreras | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Jarrett Hurd vs. Julian Williams
Josh Diaz, Staff Writer
Jarrett Hurd vs. Julian Williams should be interesting for the first half of the fight.
Williams is a great technician and should be able to take advantage of Hurd’s slow start and bad defense.
With that being said, Hurd’s size, power and pressure will break Williams late. I have Hurd stopping Williams.
Prediction: Hurd
R.L. Woodson, Staff Writer
I can’t stress how great of a performance I felt one-time title challenger Julian Williams put together for his April 2018 majority decision win over Nathaniel Gallimore in an IBF 154-pound voluntary eliminator bout.
Williams truly executed a game plan that has him coming into unified champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd’s homecoming bout with an excellent chance to disappoint Virginia/D.C. boxing fans the same way the Eagles have done D.C. football fans in recent years (24-0 L at home the final game of 2018).
J Rock won’t replicate that type of victory Saturday, but if he can stash away two of the first three-to-four rounds, and get to Hurd’s body behind his jab he may set up an interesting second half. Hurd’s typically a slow starter, but he’ll convert the energy of his hometown fans into an improved start, and begin imposing both his three-inch height and four-inch reach advantage quickly.
The unfavorable tale-of-the-tape factors paired with Hurd’s work-rate is where J Rock’s upset bid could possibly get sacked. The biggest mystery in this bout is whether Williams, arguably the more polished boxer, can win consistently at one of the three ranges. Things are looking up for D.C. sports fans after a highly-graded NFL Draft, and following a majority decision they’ll lead the way for Hurd to be HAILed as a P4P entrant.
Prediction: Hurd
Robert Contreras, Staff Writer
Julian Williams can box and is world-ranked with good reason. But Jarrett Hurd is too big and too mean.
Hurd by UD.
Prediction: Hurd
Michael Burnell, Staff Writer
This should be an entertaining scrap for as long as it lasts.
Julian Williams started off his career quickly, reeling off 20 victories in a row before losing to Jermall Charlo by KO, courtesy of one of the sweetest timed uppercuts you will ever see. Other than that solitary defeat he has looked pretty solid overall.
Jarrett Hurd is still undefeated in 23 pro bouts and boasts a significant advantage in height at 6’1″ and likely also in weight on fight night after rehydration. The WBA, IBO and IBF champion is huge for a Super Middleweight and uses his size and youth to his benefit.
Williams will engage Hurd early and have moderate success over the five rounds or so before he begins to wilt under Hurd’s size and constant pressure. Williams will battle bravely until he is stopped in Round 8.
Prediction: Hurd
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Jarrett Hurd has been on every television station, radio station and sports field in and around the DMV leading up to his fight against Julian Williams on Saturday at Eagle Bank Arena. He’s done his job promoting the hell out of this event and to put it in plainly, he has arrived.
The entire DC, Maryland and Virginia area is in full support of the champ and come Saturday night he’ll turn that energy into motivation to perform at his best.
While it has been well documented that Hurd can start slow, I don’t think we’ll see the Hurd that entered the ring against Jason Welborn.
Williams will hang for a few rounds, but Hurd’s relentless pressure will catch up with him in the mid-to-late rounds and send Williams back to Philly with his second loss.
Prediction: Hurd
