Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Hurd discovers extra gear, earns split decision victory over Lara
British boxer DeGale regains IBF crown he surrendered to Truax
Jarrett Hurd somehow found another gear in the 12th round against Erislandy Lara. That extra gear made Hurd a unified junior middleweight champion.
Hurd defeated Lara by split decision (114-113, 114-113, 113-114) during Saturday’s main event at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel.
In a brutal back-and-forth ring war, Hurd landed a left hook to send the Cuban to the canvas in the 12th round.
In the co-main event, British star James DeGale vowed to retire if he lost to Caleb Truax a second time.
DeGale won’t have to hang up the gloves after defeating Truax by unanimous decision (117-110, 114-113, 114-113) to regain the IBF super middleweight belt. DeGale fell to Truax by unanimous decision in December.
“Two-time world champion. It feels great,” DeGale said. “Full credit to Caleb. He showed he can mix it with the top fighters.”
Both fighters were covered in blood after DeGale sustained a large gash under his left eye early in the bout. DeGale and Truax went to the hospital in the same ambulance, according to a Showtime official.
Julian “J Rock” Williams is one step closer to landing another world title shot after defeating Nathaniel Gallimore by majority decision (117-110, 116-112, 114-114) in an IBF junior middleweight elimination bout to open the Showtime-televised tripleheader.
The fight was almost stopped after Williams pummeled Gallimore in the 11th round. Williams was knocked out by Jermall Charlo during his first world title shot in 2016.
“I wasn’t surprised a judge had a draw,” Williams said. “Sometimes when you’re fighting real close like that, it is hard for judges to score. I knew I won.”
Sergio Mora wasn’t happy with one of his judges after defeating Alfredo Angulo by split decision (7874, 75-77, 78-74).
Adalaide Byrd was the only judge to score the fight for Angulo. Mora went over to shout at Byrd as Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett waived him away.
Byrd still hasn’t judged a title fight in Las Vegas since her controversial scorecard of 118-110 for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez during the Gennady Golovkin bout at T-Mobile Arena in September.