The theme of August 2024 in the world of Boxing outside of Olympic competition has been the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division. Following two highly competitive fights in the division to start the month, the focus now shifts slightly to the 160lb. Middleweight division where two former Jr. Middleweight world champions are preparing to meet as both look to take the next step towards challenging for another world title. This observer is referring to the encounter between former unified IBF/IBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Jarrett Hurd and former unified IBF/IBO/WBA Jr. Middleweight world champion Jeison Rosario. A scheduled ten round bout that will take place on Wednesday, August 21st at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, FL, which can be seen on digital Boxing streaming network ProBox TV.
Both Hurd and Rosario are likely known to many Boxing fans for having previously competed under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) promotional banner in their careers and one might argue that both are now at a similar stage in their careers in looking for another opportunity to fight for a world championship, now as Middleweights. The similarities between the two do not end there.
Hurd and Rosario are each well-rounded boxer/punchers that can do a little of everything inside the ring and each is not particularly known for one asset. What this fight might come down to is who will be able to maintain a rhythm throughout the fight.
This is a scenario where both fighters have shown an ability to start well early in a fight, but at times have terrible maintaining their pace as it progresses into the middle and late rounds. Jarrett Hurd will come into this fight off of a fourth round stoppage of a fighter named Tyi Edmonds in December of last year and has gone 2-2 in his last four fights. Rosario meanwhile will enter the fight also coming off of a victory in his last outing in November of last year in scoring a second round stoppage of a fighter named Israel Nina.
The commonality of both Edmonds and Nina as opponents were that both were veterans, but not considered world-class opposition. If one were to look for a statistical indicator to infer who might have momentum going into this fight between Hurd and Rosario, it might be that Rosario has won four of his last five bouts and has been the more active of the two fighters as Hurd has only fought twice in the last three years, where in the same period of time, Rosario has fought five times.
While one might be tempted to use the “Crossroads" label for this fight, this observer feels that this is more of a case of the winner being able to possibly work their way into a sanctioning organization’s rankings at 160lbs. first rather than a scenario where the fighter that comes up short, might want to consider retirement. The reason for this is the Middleweight division currently is lacking in terms of name recognition and there always seems to be a path for fighters who have won world titles in their careers to get another opportunity compared to fighters who have not been able to transition from contender to world champion. Obviously, an impressive performance for either fighter will likely go a ways towards determining how quickly the next opportunity might come. Who will be able to take that next step is something we will find out on August 21st.
“And That's The Boxing Truth.”
Hurd vs. Rosario takes place on Wednesday, August 21st at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, FL. The fight can be seen globally on digital subscription Boxing streaming network ProBox TV beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT (U.S. Times Only.).
For more information about ProBox TV including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, additional programming and content, and to subscribe please visit: www.ProBoxTV.com.
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