In life, sometimes, the best-laid plans don’t work out, and in boxing, plans are thwarted all the time. Such could be the case when it comes to a fight between unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd and former WBC junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo.
Hurd and Charlo were on track to fight each other in a unification bout sometime in 2019, but the unthinkable happened. Charlo would lose by a controversial unanimous decision to Tony Harrison back in December, which killed the plans for the highly anticipated fight between Hurd and Charlo.
However, according to FOX Sports boxing insider Mike Coppinger, Charlo will battle Harrison, in a rematch, sometime in June, while Hurd has a tough fight on tap as he will battle Julian Williams on May 11 at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.
According to Coppinger, if Hurd and Charlo win, the two could clash later in 2019. At least, that is the plan.
“Tony Harrison beating Jermell Charlo definitely threw a monkey wrench into the plan coming off of surgery,” Hurd said on Sunday. “I’m going to go after the WBC belt regardless of who has it, but first I have to take care of Julian.”
For the 28-year-old Hurd, this an opportunity to defend his title near his hometown of Accokeek, Maryland, which is very important to Hurd.
“It was very important to fight at home because that’s what everyone has been asking for,” Hurd said. “I’m excited to have the opportunity, and I can’t wait to step in the ring.
“All of my fights are classics. I know that ‘J-Rock’ has been watching me and that makes him dangerous. He’s coming in with a good game plan, and we’ll see what it is on fight night.”
While he won’t predict how he will win, Hurd expects to get the victory in Virginia. Of course, that’s the plan.
“I’m going to be victorious on May 11. I’m looking for a decisive win. I’m not saying I’m going to to get the stoppage, but it will be convincing that it went my way.”
Photo: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
