Ex-champ Hurd backs off rematch with Williams

For undisclosed reasons, former unified WBA and IBF super welterweight champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd (23-1, 16 KOs) has suddenly decided not to force a return bout with current champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs). Williams-Hurd 2 had been in the planning stages for December after the Hurd camp invoked a contractual rematch clause.

Williams, who beat Hurd by decision in a good fight back in May, posted on Twitter, “I don’t kick no man while he’s down. I wish Hurd the best and I’m confident he’ll be champion again.”

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    • How is that? By publicly saying a man is down – its the same as putting a man down. He didnt need to throw that in. Who else said Hurd was down?

  • Julian looked flawless in the fight! Middle weight ain’t gonna be any easier for Hurd. I wish him the best! Seems like a classy guy

    • Maybe he can not longer make 154, or a better payday is in the table with a more winnable fight. I believe the first one

    • He had no way to win that rematch. Hurd has one style and one game. The trouble is, Julian beat him at that own game. If he goes into the rematch and loses, his value as a fighter goes down a lot. They want to try to rebuild and work on other things. Take some more fights, and either get back into contention OR just look for some big money fights and get out. It’s a reasonable business decision, but there is risk if he fights someone lesser and then gets beaten.

  • He pulled out because a second lost to Williams would hurt his future Fights with Charlo Brothers or rematch with Lara..Right now Hurd needs to fight a NON Contender to get his confidence back up and a second lost would not do it

    • That’s pretty much it. More than likely he’d lose that rematch at this point as well. Julian beat him at his own game.

    • Gvozdik is the only a bit taller than him, the other top guys at
      light heavyweight (Betervieb, Kovalev an Bivol) are smaller. Hurd easily could be a 168 guy and I don’t mind him vs. Callum Smith or David Benavidez. Now, if he can make 160, there are good options for him too, and I think he didn’t want the rematch because maybe he might have an offer at that weight.

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