PBC on Fox: Jarrett Hurd vs Julian Williams Boxing Odds, Preview, and Prediction 5/11/19

Unified 154-pound champion Jarrett “Swift” Hurd defends his belts against Julian “J-Rock” Williams in a PBC on Fox headliner this coming Saturday night (May 11, 2019) at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.

Jarrett Hurd vs. Julian Williams

Hurd is the IBF, IBO and WBA junior middleweight champion. He defeated Tony Harrison to win the IBF belt in 2017 and then picked up the WBA belt by dropping and beating Erislandy Lara by split decision in the consensus 2018 Fight of the Year in April 2018. In between both title wins, Hurd became the first fighter to stop former world champion Austin Trout. Hurd is 23-0 with 16 knockouts. He stands 6-1 with a reach of 76 ½ inches.

Julian Williams has worked his way back to the top of the ladder after getting knocked out by Jermall Charlo in a title challenge in 2016. He’s won four straight bouts since that defeat, including wins over former world champion Ishe Smith and contender Nathaniel Gallimore. In his most recent bout, Williams knocked out Francisco Javier Castro last December 1, 2018. Williams is 5-10 with a reach of 72 ½ inches and has a record of 26-1-1 with 16 knockouts

Who Wins?

Right off the bat, you will agree that Julian Williams is the boxing betting underdog in this fight. He gives up three inches in height and about four inches in reach, both of which are significant in a boxing match. But if you think that Jarrett Hurd is going to use those to box around the ring and win an easy fight, you are wrong.

Hurd likes to walk his opponents down and beat them to exhaustion. He did it to Harrison, Trout and Lara and most probably, he’s going to apply the same pressure to Williams. In terms of skill, I can’t say Hurd it better and maybe, Williams has displayed better technique. But Harrison, Trout and Lara were all better boxers but Hurd still mowed them down. I think Jarrett Hurd is in a league of his own today and maybe only a Charlo can challenge him right now. Credit Julian Williams for getting back to the top and earning another title shot but I don’t think there will be an upset here. Prediction: Jarrett Hurd

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Matt Korobov vs. Immanuwel Aleem

The 36-year old Korobov was an amateur standout for Russia as he won consecutive gold medals at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships. As a pro, he has challenged twice for the world title, losing by TKO to Andy Lee while leading the fight in 2014 and then coming up short against Jermall Charlo last December. Korobov stands 5-11 with a reach of 70 inches while fighting as a southpaw. He has a record of 28-2 with 14 knockouts.

Aleem suffered his first career loss to Hugo Centeno in August 2017, right after winning the biggest bout of his career. The 25-year old knocked out then WBC #2 Ievegen Khytrov to win the WBC silver middleweight title in January 2017. The Richmond, Virginia has a record of 18-1-1 with 11 knockouts. He stands 5-9 with a reach of 70 inches. Aleem’s last bout was a win over Juan De Angel one year ago.

Who Wins?

You have to be worried about Matt Korobov’s age in this matchup. But we saw him give Jermall Charlo a run for his money just last December and if he didn’t grow old overnight, I think this is his fight to win. Korobov definitely has the edge in experience and skills over Aleem but given Aleem’s ability to punch and his history of producing an upset, he’s a live underdog in this fight. In the end though, I think the experience of Matt Korobov will be the difference. He’s been in bigger fights and knows how to dig deep and come up with wins. Prediction: Matt Korobov

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Stephen Fulton vs. Paulus Ambunda

Fulton is an unbeaten featherweight who fights out of Philadelphia. The 24-year old has a record of 15-0 with 7 knockouts. Fulton stands 5-7 and has a reach of 67 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. In five out of his last nine bouts, Fulton has won over previously unbeaten opponents. In his 2019 debut, Fulton scored a five-round KO of Marlon Olea.

Ambunda is the former WBO and IBO bantamweight world champion. The 38-year old represented Namibia in the 2004 Olympics and was a silver medalist in the 2004 All-Africa Games. As a pro, he has a record of 27-2 with 11 knockouts. His only losses have come against former world champions Tomoki Kameda and Moises Flores in world title fights. Ambunda stands 5-4 tall and has a reach of 69 inches while fighting as an orthodox fighter.

Who Wins?

Ambunda is the much experience and better skilled fighter. But not only is he already 38 years old but he’s fought just thrice since the end of 2016. On the contrary, Fulton has been very active and this is his second fight of 2019. The 24-year old American also is the much quicker fighter with faster hands and I think that’s going to be key here. Prediction: Stephen Fulton

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Alexandru Marin vs. Luis Concepcion

25-year old Marin came to the United States five years ago with the hopes of becoming a world champion. Marin is a former Olympian representing Romanian and a two-time Romanian National champion. Now based in Bethesda, Maryland, Marin stands 5-7 with a reach of 68 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. Marin has a record of 17-0 with 11 knockouts. In his last fight, the Romanian-born Marin won a 10-round split decision over Filipino fighter Bruno Escalante

Concepcion is the former WBA flyweight champion from Panama City. The 33-year old won the interim flyweight title in 2009 and was promoted to full champion status after Daiki Kameda relinquished the belt. Concepcion has lost three out of his last five bouts including a 10th round TKO loss to Andrew Moloney last September 8, 2018 in his most recent bout.The Panamanian orthodox fighter has a record of 37-7 with 26 knockouts. Concepcion stands 5-3 and has a reach of 63 inches.

Who Wins?

Concepcion has the edge in experience here as he’s fought better opposition. But Marin is one of the best prospects right now at junior bantamweight. He is exceptionally tall and long plus carries good punching power in both hands. The former Olympian has the edge in technical skills and having a huge advantage in size( both height and length), he is going to keep Concepcion and his power punches at bay. Prediction: Alexandru Marin

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