The main event features a title unification fight at junior middleweight between WBA champion Erislandy Lara and IBF kingpin Jarrett Hurd.
Lara, who has been known for some dreadfully boring encounters, has occasionally participated in a fun fight (Most notably against Alfredo Angulo) and with a willing opponent in Hurd, who will attack throughout the fight and Lara's legs, which were once thoroughbred-like are now in their mid-30's (and who really knows the REAL age of Lara like so many Cuban fighters) might not be up to 12 rounds against a talented young fighter.
Fighters like Lara tend to lose their legs all at once and not gradually, so this is a tough fight to call considering Lara's skills, yet age and I could see Hurd being the guy to send Lara downhill.
I could also see Lara boxing Hurd's ears and giving the sometimes crude Hurd a lesson in boxing.
This could be terrific if Lara boxes, yet doesn't run, so it'll be interesting to see if Lara continues to rule the division or if Hurd establishes himself as a star and makes another unification fight vs WBC champ Jermell Charlo a very appealing fight to make.
I'm leaning Lara, but rooting for Hurd!
The co-feature is a rematch of perhaps 2017's upset of the year as Caleb Truax makes his first defense of the IBF super middleweight title that he took from prohibitive favorite James DeGale in England.
DeGale was looked at as the best in the division, even after his draw in a unification contest with Badou Jack and resulting injuries (a busted eardrum and missing tooth) before his return in what most (Including me) looked at as a squash match vs Truax, who had lost all three of his fights against top ten contenders (The only name win on his record was a decision win over a badly faded Antwun Echols) entering the fight.
This contractually obligated rematch will have repercussions throughout the 168-pound division, no matter the victor with a Truax win resulting in arguably the most vulnerable champion in years being chased by the other champions ( WBC champion David Benavidez is also promoted by PBC, which would make him the likely winner of the Truax derby over the WBA champion, which will be the winner of the World Boxing Super Series final between George Groves and Callum Smith), while a DeGale win would likely result in a unification bout as well, but the Groves-Smith winner is the more likely fight, especially if Groves defeats Smith with Groves holding a win over DeGale in the past and would be a huge success in the United Kingdom.
The key in this one comes down to this- Did DeGale simply have an off night after a long layoff or is he a shot fighter that just happened to be caught by Truax before anyone was able to get to him?
In the Showtime curtain jerker, Julian Williams battles Nathaniel Gallimore for the mandatory position for the Lara-Hurd winner in the IBF ratings at 154 pounds.
Williams, who once was so impressive that I favored him to defeat Jermall Charlo as a mandatory contender before being knocked out, had more problems than expected in decisioning 40-year-old Ishe Smith in his last fight, while Gallimore has stopped his last seven opponents, but will be taking a huge leap in competition in facing Williams.
This fight should be entertaining and if Jarrett Hurd is able to defeat Erislandy Lara in the main event, a Hurd title defense against the winner would be a great action fight as well...
In the boxing challenge, I lead Ramon Malpica 56-43.
Unification WBA-IBF Junior Middleweight Titles. 12 Rds
Erislandy Lara vs Jarrett Hurd
Both: Lara Unanimous Decision
IBF Super Middleweight Title. 12 Rds
Caleb Truax vs James DeGale
Both: DeGale Unanimous Decision
Junior Middleweights, 12 Rds
Julian Williams vs Nathaniel Gallimore
R.L: Williams KO 8
TRS: Williams Unanimous Decision
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