Jarrett Hurd vs. Julian Williams results: J-Rock pulls off upset to take unified titles from Hurd

Mark Lelinwalla

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Jarrett Hurd vs. Julian Williams results: J-Rock pulls off upset to take unified titles from Hurd image

Julian Williams shocked Jarrett Hurd with a sweeping left hook to drop the unified IBF/WBA junior middleweight champion in the second round. The game challenger used the knockdown as an opening to absolutely smother Hurd the rest of the way through.

Williams edged "Swift" in most of the bout's firefight sequences to score a unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 115-112) and become the new unified champion Saturday night. Sporting News scored it 116-111 in favor of Williams, who recorded the win at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va., roughly 30 miles from Hurd's hometown of Accokeek, Md., adding insult to Hurd's first professional loss.

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The rousing, convincing upset drove "J Rock" to tears in the ring as he realized his unwillingness to back down earned him paydirt in the form of two titles and perhaps a shot at the winner of next month's WBC championship match between Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo.

"The boxing world, they make it seem like fighters take a loss and they can't come back," said Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs), who suffered his only pro loss against Jermall Charlo in December 2016. "And I just knew that wasn't the case."

In scoring that second-round knockdown, Williams put Hurd on notice that his titles were in danger. Although the knockdown paved the way for an all-action firefight to erupt — and become a Fight of the Year candidate — Williams continued to apply pressure, especially with his uppercuts, which continuously split Hurd's guard and landed flush on the chin.

Final punch stats also showed that Williams landed more punches.

Here's how the Hurd-Williams card went (all times Eastern):

Hurd vs. Williams main card

Main event: Julian Williams convincingly defeats Jarrett Hurd by unanimous decision to become new IBF/WBA junior middleweight champ

10:52 p.m.: Williams wins by unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 115-112). He was the aggressor and got the best of Hurd in a majority of firefight sequences. Well-deserved.

Round 12:  Williams comes out stinging Hurd, but the champ is landing a barrage of shots with the challenger up against the ropes. Neither fighter is moving an inch, firing away. An overhand right and uppercut from Williams. That uppercut has been landing for Williams all night long. Two more uppercuts follow moments later. Both fighters are spent, but Williams seems to have a bit more left, as his punches are still landing with some pop. The bell tolls, with both Hurd and Williams firing shots at each other in what was a "Fight of the Year" kind of clash. What an all-action fight this was. (116-111 Williams)

Round 11:  Not one punch thrown has gone without an answer, or so it feels like in this all-action fight. Hurd is punching with everything he has left, but Williams still seemed to get the better of the shots. Will he pull out the victory? (106-102, Williams)

Round 10:  Hurd got knocked down early and you wonder how he's still standing in some of these rounds, as he has taken hard shots. A right hook from Williams had plenty of mustard on it here late in the 10th. (96-93, Williams)

Round 9:  Hurd getting right after it early here, but Williams right back with stinging punches. Ref briefly stops the action for Hurd's corner to retape his gloves and Williams owns the final 20 seconds with big shots to take the round. These are ultra-close rounds to score. (86-84, Williams)

Round 8:  Williams comes out chasing Hurd around the ring, getting the champ up against the ropes and landing some stiff shots. More than midway through the round and Williams is digging into Hurd with some uppercuts and body shots. Hurd fighting back in the round's final 20 seconds but Williams doesn't let the round end before peppering the champ with some punishing shots. He takes the round. (76-75, Williams)

Round 7:  Hurd getting the better of Williams here in the seventh, but this is a straight firefight. (66-66)

Round 6:  This time it's Hurd storming out of his corner and blasting Williams early as the game challenger tells the champ to bring it. Hurd is definitely making it a point to apply the pressure here in this round. He wins the frame, but not before Williams lands a stiff right hand to the body to give the champ something more to think about. What a fight this is. (57-56, Williams)

Round 5:  Williams continues to be all over Hurd, smothering the champ and giving him absolutely no breathing room. But Hurd is fighting back, stinging Williams with some solid shots to end the round. That has been the ebb and flow of these last couple of rounds, with Williams dominating early and Hurd coming on strong late. (48-46, Williams)

Round 4:  Williams with a left-right combo, checking Hurd's chin and two slick uppercuts that land flush seconds later. Williams is pretty relentless. An overhand right about 10 seconds before the bell sees the spit fly out of Hurd's mouth. (38-37, Williams)

Round 3:  Williams comes out all over Hurd to start the third, picking up where he left off. But Hurd battles back, landing a strong right hand to let Williams know that he's still the unified junior middleweight champ. (28-28)

Round 2:  Williams setting off fireworks here in the second, connecting on an overhand right of his own and following it up moments later with a left hook that drops Hurd. Williams landing more shots, as the round comes to a thankful end for Hurd. Wow. (19-18, Williams)

Round 1:  Hurd catches Williams with a sneaky overhand right to put the challenger on notice. (10-9, Hurd)

9:54 p.m.:  Both Hurd and Williams have made their way to the ring and have been formally introduced, as the main event is just about to begin.

9:33 p.m.: Fox “PBC Fight Night” makes it official, announcing that Keith Thurman will face Manny Pacquiao with Thurman's WBA welterweight title on the line on July 20. Super middleweight champ Caleb Plant will defend his strap against Mike Lee in the main event of a PBC card on Fox the same date.

9:30 p.m.:  That's Barrios' eighth straight knockout. He improves to 24-0 with 16 KOs. "El Azteca" says he's ready for a world title shot and wants all the smoke in the division. One look at this KO tonight and you should believe him.

Co-main event: Mario Barrios blasts Juan Jose Velasco by second-round KO; junior welterweights

Round 2:  Just like that, this one is over, as Barrios catches Velasco with a nasty, stinging body shot. Velasco showed a delayed reaction before crumbling to the mat, unable to get up.

Round 1:  Both fighters trying to feel each other out early on here, with Barrios landing slightly more shots. (10-9, Barrios)

9:10 p.m.:  Wow. So, minutes after announcing Korobov as the majority decision winner, it was just announced that the scores were added wrong and now the bout has been declared a majority draw! Bizarre.

9 p.m.:  Up next, we have the co-main event, as Mario Barrios takes on Juan Jose Velasco in junior welterweight action.

Matt Korobov def. Immanuwel Aleem by majority decision, but later ruled a majority draw due to scoring error; middleweights

8:54 p.m.:  Korobov gets the majority decision (97-93, 96-95, 95-95). Although he seemed to be losing steam toward the latter rounds, he should have gotten the unanimous decision. Still, a victory is a victory and Korobov will take it.

8:45 p.m.:  As long as Korobov holds on in this 10th and final round, he should get the decision win comfortably.

8:30 p.m.:  Korobov really rocked Aleem in the sixth round, landing a left hook flush, before adding an overhand right seconds later and another left hook for good measure. Somehow Aleem was able to eat those heavy punches and survive the round.

8:20 p.m.:  We're in the fourth round and Korobov is showing the same hunger and aggression he did in a game effort against Charlo five months ago. He has been the aggressor early on, landing more shots.

8 p.m.:  “PBC Fight Night” is live. Get comfortable as Sporting News brings you the live updates, results and highlights. Matt Korobov and Immanuwel Aleem are about to get this main card started in middleweight action. Korobov had a hard-fought unanimous decision loss to Jermall Charlo in December.

Main card

  • Julian Williams def. Jarrett Hurd via unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 115-112) to become new IBF/WBA junior middleweight champion
  • Mario Barrios def. Juan Jose Velasco by second-round KO; junior welterweights
  • Matt Korobov and Immanuwel Aleem fight to majority draw; middleweights
  • Stephen Fulton vs. Paulus Ambunda; featherweights (to be held after the main card)

Undercard

  • Alexandru Marin def. Luis Concepcion by unanimous decision; junior bantamweights
  • Dravontay Rawls def. Jonathan Perez via unanimous decision; lightweights
  • Kevin Womack def. Mark Duncan by second-round KO; junior middleweights

Hurd vs. Williams latest news

— Jarrett Hurd is on a mission to become the undisputed ruler of the junior middleweight division , but he admits it has been a struggle making weight.

Mark Lelinwalla

Mark Lelinwalla Photo

Mark Lelinwalla is a contributing writer and editor for DAZN News. He has written for the likes of the New York Daily News, Men's Health, The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Complex, XXL and Vibe Magazine.