By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com has been advised that the Championship Committee of the World Boxing Association has ordered an immediate rematch between WBA/IBF junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd and former beltholder Erislandy Lara.
The two sides were advised that a deal must be reached within 30 days or a purse bid would be scheduled.
In the main event of a Showtime televised tripleheader, the two boxers collided back on April 7th at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
In a very close contest, with plenty of fireworks, Hurd walked away with a close twelve round split decision victory.
The scores saw 114-113, 114-113 in favor of Hurd, and 114-113 in favor of Lara.
Hurd (22-0, 15 KOs) clinched the victory in the twelfth and final round, when he scored a knockdown on Lara (25-3-2, 14 KOs) in the final minute of the fight - which swung a 10-8 round in his favor on the official cards.
After the contest, Lara was not happy with the scorecards.
"Besides the last round, I thought I was winning this fight easily," Lara said. "That's not to decide the fight. I was winning the fight. One punch in a fight doesn't determine the fight.
"It was a great fight for the fans. I stood there, fought and it was fun. I thought I clearly won the fight. Once again a decision goes against me, but hey we just have to do the rematch."
The current plan for Hurd, and Showtime, is to stage a fall showdown with WBC junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo (30-0, 15 KOs).
Charlo is scheduled to defend his title against Austin Trout on June 9th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The contest will be a Showtime televised co-featured to the Abner Mares vs. Leo Santa Cruz rematch.
A unification with Charlo will trump a unification a rematch order - but Hurd would have to submit for an exception to get approved.
2023-10-20 22:08:27
