Wednesday, May 15, 2019

J-Roc Crashed the Party and Left with Hurd's Belts

By Frank Bartolini, Ringside

Fairfax, VA - The EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University played host to the WBA and IBF Super Welterweight Champion Jarrett Hurd, Accokeek, MD,  homecoming jubilee. Philadelphia’s Julian “J-Roc” Williams crashed the party and left with Hurd’s belts.

All those in attendance loudly cheered for Hurd as he entered the ring in Redskins gear. Then there was a collective gasp when ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr announce that Harold Lederman had pass away earlier in the day.

From the opening bell, Williams applied pressure on the champion. Expecting Williams,153.8 lbs, to box from a distance, Hurd,153.8 lbs, looked baffled when the challenger employed a in your face approach. Unable to quickly adjust to Williams, Hurd hit the deck in the second after absorbing a quick combo to the head followed by a left hook. Once Hurd regained his faculties, he may have realized Williams' strength was almost equal to his. Unable to employ his customary bullying tactics, Hurd was behind the eight ball. Hurd admitted this saying: “He was a lot sharper and a little better than I thought. They had a game plan that worked better.”

Getting his bearings a few rounds into the contest, Hurd futilely tried to employ any limited physical superiority he possessed to no avail. During round eight, Hurd was cut over his left eye. Battling with true grit and determination, Hurd was able to bag a few rounds. J-Roc never let go of the momentum he obtained in round one continuously snapping Hurd's head back with uppercuts. Throughout the affair, Williams utilized a nifty move when he backed Hurd against the ropes by stepping to his right as if he was throwing a right hand and releasing a blind side left hook to the chin. This tactic caught Hurd  several times and buckled his knees. Closing the show, Williams dominated a worn out Hurd in the last round.

Just looking at the expression on Hurd’s cut and bruised face left no question of the outcome. Judges Steve Weisfeld and Robin Taylor scored it 115-112 . Alfred Polanco score was more in line at 116-111, all for the new champion Julian "J-Rock" Williams.
            
Exuding nothing but class, the former champ Hurd said: “I”m going to come back. He was the better man tonight.” Losing his belt and undefeated record, Hurd is now 23-1 (16 ko’s).

Raising his record to 27-1-1 (16 ko’s) the new King J-Roc said: “The whole world doubted me. I outclassed him. I was a five to one underdog. The only people that believed in me were my team”.

Following this effort J-Roc surely accumulated more believers. 

Prior to winning the title in the main event, Williams left the sanctity of his locker and indiscreetly sat alone in a chair behind press row to watch his stablemate Stephen Fulton capture the International Boxing Organization Super Bantamweight title.  

Turning in a splendid performance, Fulton, Philadelphia, PA, outfought, outclassed, and outright beat Paulus Ambunda, Swakopmund, Namibia, to garner a twelve round unanimous  decision. Weighing in right on the button at 122 lbs, Fulton fought flawlessly. Regulated to nothing more than the canvas, Fulton painted his masterpiece, while Ambunda hardly landed a punch. Floored by a right to the head in the eighth, Ambunda continued to press forward even as his chances of victory were very thin. Unscathed and appearing as if he did not fight yet, Fulton had his hand raised after twelve heats, Without contemplation all three judges scored it a shutout 120-107 for Fulton.

Fulton said: “It’s like a perfect game. Look no marks on me. I feel great. After he got up from the knockdown I saw he kept coming forward,and outboxed until the end.” Already looking for greater challengers, Fulton went on to say: “I want to fight every world champion in my weight class. My choice would be to fight Daniel Roman next.”

Popular consensus dictates Philly has the best fight scene in the USA. Not as renowned, DC and the surrounding area's pugilistic landscape is good and produces world champs. Notably the fight card was filled with locals attempting  to show off their wares which made it remarkable how these two Philly natives stole the show.

A near packed house of 7,500 filled the arena. TGB promoted the festivities in association with Premier Boxing Champions. It aired live nationally on Fox Saturday night on prime time television.




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