Upcoming Fights **Mod note: Keep discussion to fight night threads**

Saturday saw hometown Champ Jarrett "Swift" Hurd defend his super welterweight titles against Philly's Julian Williams at the Eaglebank Arena on George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia which is about 20 miles west of downtown DC. I wondered what the crowd would be like considering it was a filthy night and the location.

On ticketmaster the $50 ticket was $69 but at the arena it was $54. Pleasantly surprised to see a very healthy crowd there just as Fox were starting broadcasting. The arena holds 10,000 but had one whole section shut off and the 5,105 announced crowd, while not full, produced a superb atmosphere once Hurd made his spectacular entrance.

But first Matt Korobov was up against a local Aleem. Of course the Russian is well known to any Irish boxing fan but since Andy Lee beat him he had only 5 fights until saturday. His most recent was a narrow loss to Jermall Charlo on a weeks notice before christmas.

The initial verdict was fair and was only contested by some locals. I missed the opening round but was in no doubt he had won the fight despite labouring in the latter rounds. He looked stronger and he was clearly causing damage. In the fourth he had Akeem down but the referee, who I thought was not strong enough throughout, ruled it as a shot behind the head. In the sixth Korobov had him wobbled with a savage left and his lefts and uppercuts were troubling Aleem. To be fair in the last three rounds the native did come back into it and I gave him that so Korobov 7-3.





To have this reversed later is almost FAI like incompetence and for Korobov to get the decision live only to be told later he didnt win must be gut wrenching as time is definitely running out for him. Only a few years ago the Russians like him, Kovalev and GGG were considered invincible!





Decided to go for a walk around the internal part of the arena and so missed the next fight which ended very quick and then Jimmy Lennon made the announcement that Bert Cooper and Harold Lederman had passed. The latter's voice will be missed as will his knowledge. Some of the stories about Cooper are legendary though!






Main event time and I had never seen a marching band lead out a boxer before but it definitely added to the atmosphere as there was almost universal cheering for Hurd. But very early on Williams made his intent known and was always first to the punch. In the second he floored Hurd for the first time in his career with a left to the head after a series of combinations and this was a pointer of things to come. The sheer amount of head shots that Hurd took throughout was astonishing.

Hurd did come back into during the middle rounds but Williams sheer toughness and movement proved the difference. His relentless inside work and heavy hands I think surprised Hurd and the native's face was swollen and his corner worked furiously to repair a cut over his left eye after the seventh. From this point the fight was lost I felt as Williams' confidence grew and the crowd had quitened down. To the closing bell Williams just looked like he had more in the tank and was still causing damage.





This was an all action firefight and was worth every cent on the night. I thoroughly enjoyed the night and maybe this had to do with the venue. Indeed I saw parents with toddlers there which I never saw before!

Huge respect goes to both fighters. No animosity at any time and Hurd was very gracious after. As for the new Champion always great to hear "And the new" live as the reactions are always priceless. His interview was emotional after only because the remaining crowd could see him crying as the sound there was awful! But listening back he was right in that boxers should not be dismissed when they lose a fight.

Talk of a rematch in Philly but Hurd would be wise to move up.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/carl-frampton-coming-to-america-in-august-924086.html

BJS for the WBO Super middle title and Joe Joyce vs Ustinov on BT sports too.
Big weekend of boxing coming up.

Johner wrote: »

https://twitter.com/EddieHearn/status/1130815932736167936

First defense against a middleweight. :rolleyes:

Shocking fight that is, massively one sided card as usual. Anyone that pays for that is a mug.

simongurnick wrote: »

Am I wrong in saying fair play to Hearn for bringing the Brits to fight in the states. Looks like he is taking a nice piece of the pie with DAZN. I always seem to remember his Dad, Warren and Moloney keeping their lads on home shores.

It's a pity he couldn't get the Yanks to fight over this side of the pond. That's something they very, very seldom do, but then in typical bully style they complain about the Europeans doing the exact same!

Spence vs Porter signed for September

Great action though tbf, will be involved in some crackers but is going to get sparked out sooner rather than later.

gwalk wrote: »

Lomachenko v Luke Campbell

O2 London 31st august, already had booked flights/accommodation to go over when i heard of it first

Campbell saying it's not confirmed.

Campbell should lose, but at least he has this opportunity rather than fighting in small venues in Philadelphia. John Joe if he had made better choices could be getting these kind of bouts.

What are people's thoughts on Frampton and Conlan's fights? On paper they should be comfortably winning, or is there a potential bananna skin somewhere?

My worry with Frampton is motivation, looking towards his next fight and him being on the slide.

The Feile card is brilliant.

gwalk wrote: »

Lomachenko v Luke Campbell

O2 London 31st august, already had booked flights/accommodation to go over when i heard of it first

What's the update on this, still not officially announced with Campbell saying a few times...news coming.

I presume the date is in stone but arrangments with the venue? I remember hearne saying they would do it in Hull (KC Stadium) or 02 London

A peak Pacman would have beaten Thurman, but not now.

Inquitus wrote: »

2 boxing deaths in a few days, RIP to those poor fighters.

Indeed. I saw video of the poor argentine and to say the least, standard medical procedures after the fight were not followed. Very sad.

Meanwhile Eddie Hearn let his fighter fight a 12 round elimination while knowing he was juiced to the gills. Didn’t even have the decency to let the opponent know.