All photos by Jennifer Hagler/PBC
On Saturday, February 25, 2017, Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) takes on Gerald Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs) in a Heavyweight clash that will headline a PBC on Fox televised card from Alabama.
In the co-main event, Tony Harrison (24-1, 20 KOs) takes on Jarrett Hurd (19-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant 154-pound IBF title in a fight that could very well steal the show.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing‘s staff predictions for Wilder vs. Washington and Harrison vs. Hurd 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 |
Tony Harrison vs. Jarrett Hurd
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
This fight is really, really tough to call. I think it will be a close fight, due to both fighters possessing a slick and awkward, boxing style.
I believe the decision of this fight could be defined by a round or two, and if pressed, I would have to go with Jarrett Hurd.
Though, due to the talent both fighters have, this could genuinely go either way.
Prediction: Hurd
Chris Nicastro, Staff Writer
Tony Harrison, I can only guess, will be no match for hungry up-and-comer Jarrett Hurd.
Hurd continues to be impressive as he rises up, and Harrison has already been exposed by rock solid contender Willie Nelson.
It won’t be easy work for Hurd, but he’ll handle this test and come out with a strap to boot.
Prediction: Hurd
Sarah Gruber, Staff Writer
Jarrett Hurd has powerful, heavy hands and Tony Harrison has proven himself to have conditioning issues along with a weak chin.
I see Hurd defeating Harrison by KO.
Prediction: Hurd
Jack O’Connell, Staff Writer
As much as the Jarrett Hurd hype train is chugging along, I have to side with Tony Harrison in this case.
Harrison is classic Krunk-he fights from the outside using his length and looks to set up counter shots. Harrison was untouchable against Siarhei Rabchanka, putting a beating on a solid contender.
I think Hurd is going to be out-techniqued here. Hurt uses his size and athleticism to rough up his opponents, but he’s going to struggle to get off against Harrison’s rock solid fundamentals.
Harrison has a lot of pop to his punches. I believe he will pick off Hurd with a counter shot and stop him late.
Prediction: Harrison
CJ Halloran, Staff Writer
Maybe it’s the DC bias, maybe it’s the fact that I adore a solid uppercut, but I’m going Jarrett Hurd all the way here.
The kid’s got all the goods he needs to become a champion, and I think that’ll be too much for Tony Harrison to handle.
Prediction: Hurd
Amber Williams, Photographer
Prediction: Hurd
Joseph Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Jarrett Hurd is the better of the two fighters on the inside. I think he will force the action and catch Tony Harrison leaning in with an uppercut.
Prediction: Hurd
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Tony Harrison vs. Jarret Hurd is a scintillating fight on paper. Now you throw in it being a world title fight, then it takes it to a magnitude much larger.
We have Jermall Charlo to thank for that after he vacated his IBF Junior Middleweight strap to move on for greener pastures at 160 pounds. Both men are pretty identical in size, standing at 6’1 with a 76 1/2″ reach.
Hurd is the naturally bigger man, so that’s something to keep an eye on. Harrison is a skilled boxer with a nice strong jab and he can be aggressive at times. Where Hurd seems to let the fight come to him and counter.
Harrison might want to try to box and keep within range because you don’t want Hurd in tight where he can get his punches off in volume and that can lead to his signature uppercut.
All and all, this fight is as even as you can get. I see Harrison hanging in there with Hurd to what may be the surprise of many.
I think Harrison learned a lot from his upset loss to Willie Nelson in the Summer of 2015. Harrison’s boxing and experience will be the difference.
Prediction: Harrison
Mike Burnell, Staff Writer
This is an interesting clash between two 6’1″ Super Welterweights fighters for the vacant IBF strap which is on the undercard of Deontay Wilder vs. Gerald Washington.
They are very evenly matched and this fight will most likely steal the show.
While late replacements are a theme for the evening and Hurd has momentum, don’t expect Harrison to fold easily.
Willie Nelson had Harrison singing a sad song in his lone defeat but he is still a very viable, hard-punching contender and can potentially derail the Jarrett “Swift” Hurd freight train.
Harrison will be behind on points and upset the applecart in Round 9.
Prediction: Harrison
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Tony Harrison vs. Jarrett Hurd is the fight I’m most looking forward to watching on Saturday night. Harrison is an experienced fighter with only one loss on his resume, a disappointing late-round stoppage at the hands of Willie Nelson.
The Detroit native has gotten back in the mix with two solid victories over Fernando Guerrero and Siarhei Rabchanka.
Hurd has had a meteoric rise, scoring three television TKO’s in a row, starting with the destruction of Frank Galarza in November of 2015.
But unlike his previous three opponents, Hurd is facing a man the same size as him in Harrison. If Hurd is able to flash the same crafty inside work and dominate Harrison, I think it puts every single Junior Middleweight on notice.
I like Hurd to establish the jab early on and slowly work his way inside where he’ll catch Harrison and end the fight in the mid-to-late rounds.
Prediction: Hurd
Deontay Wilder vs. Gerald Washington
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
A much better opponent than Andrzej Wawrzyk, but still a reasonably comfortable win for Deontay Wilder, in my opinion.
Gerald Washington is strong, and athletic, but Wilder is improving all the time, and his boxing ability is becoming more refined.
I see Wilder establishing the jab early on, keeping Washington at bay, before his crude right hand comes into action.
I see a knockout victory for Deontay Wilder, probably within six-to-eight rounds.
Prediction: Wilder
Chris Nicastro, Staff Writer
If I were a betting man I’d take one look at those 11-1 underdog odds on Gerald Washington and put a couple bucks down on the guy for some good low risk-high reward odds, but to imagine a world where he actually wins this fight is pretty insane.
I’m not sure Deontay Wilder has ever stared down a guy as big or as ripped as Washington, but looks are made up for by the fact that Washington is kind of a lumbering clod who gasses by the middle rounds.
Once he gets tired, Wilder will rip him to shreds.
Prediction: Wilder
Sarah Gruber, Staff Writer
Deontay Wilder and Gerald Washington is actually a very interesting matchup. Wilder often times has poor technique as he does not stay behind his jab and therefore has shown himself to have trouble with swift and pure boxers.
Washington matches Wilder well in size and athletic ability but he also posses the talent to really truly box. I think Washington can give Wilder some trouble if he uses his jab often and effectively.
Washington needs to stay long, and box Wilder on the outside. Washington will need to really push the pace on Wilder by bringing a lot of punches, angles and movement with him into the ring on Saturday night.
It will be hard to edge out a decision in a close fight against Wilder in his home state of Alabama and I don’t see Washington knocking Wilder out either.
In this fight, I give the edge to Wilder because he is the champion and hometown favorite, but I could see this being a very, very close fight.
Prediction: Wilder
Jack O’Connell, Staff Writer
Deontay Wilder hits Gerald Washington in the face, Washington goes down, then gets up.
Wilder hits Washington in the face again and stay down.
Prediction: Wilder
CJ Halloran, Staff Writer
I honestly love Deontay Wilder, but after seeing some highlights of his last fights, he only has maybe two legitimate tools of a champion.
Added to that, he is constantly off balance, making it easier for him to get knocked down.
I do believe it’ll be a good fight, but I have to go with Gerald Washington as long as he can avoid the straight right hand.
Prediction: Washington
Amber Williams, Photographer
Prediction: Wilder
Joseph Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Although Gerald Washington possesses comparable physical attributes to Deontay Wilder, he will not be able to overcome his lack of experience.
I believe his size, strength and athletic ability will allow him to go the full 12 rounds but he will lose a wide unanimous decision.
Prediction: Wilder
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Deontay Wilder has big plans for 2017, and it starts this Saturday night at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
Wilder must be chomping at the bit to get back in the ring. His seven month layoff has come in what must be frustrating circumstances.
His opponent, Gerald Washington, the Navy veteran and former USC football player, is getting a shot at a lifetime. Washington, a late replacement at the end of January, definitely fits the mold as a Heavyweight fighter.
Built like a tank, he definitely sizes up to Wilder, which will be intriguing to see play out. I see Washington trying to force the issue early on, maybe trying to bully the WBC Champion with his strength.
Wilder has the reach to try use his jab, which at times can be frustrating to watch as he doesn’t use it as often as you think he should.
If Wilder is serious about 2017 being the year of the “Bronze Bomber,” he’ll set the tone early with his jab and control distance.
I see the fight being sluggish early, but I see Wilder wearing down Washington to a knockout victory.
Prediction: Wilder
Mike Burnell, Staff Writer
This fight is certainly a Battle of the Giants, containing over 13 feet and a more than a quarter ton between two big men throwing down for the WBC Heavyweight Championship.
It will happen once again in the champion’s hometown in Birmingham, Alabama as did three of Wilder’s last four defenses. This time the opponent is a short notice replacement in Gerald Washington.
Expect to see both fighters start cautiously though Wilder a bit faster than his 34-year-old rival who turned pro in 2012.
Washington will remain cautious and receive a slow, consistent drubbing until the weary fighter is ground down and stopped in Round 7.
Prediction: Wilder
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Based on what we’ve seen from Gerald Washington, I have to say he seems too green and gasses out too quickly to win this fight.
Deontay Wilder wins this by knockout. Ideally he’ll start to show some technique improvement so we can see just what kind of fight he’ll put up against the cream of the Heavyweight crop.
Prediction: Wilder
