IBF junior middleweight champion and Maryland native “Swift” Jarrett Hurd scored a 10th-round TKO over former world champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout at the Barclays Center in New York on Saturday to successfully defend his title for the first time.
The contest, as part of a 154-pound triple-header on Showtime, was an action-packed slugfest that could contend for Bout of the Year.
Hurd started off slowly in the contest as Trout, coming off a 17-month hiatus, was able to establish his jab in the first two rounds. But as the two traded clean shots. Hurd showed a great chin, seemingly walking through Trout’s punches.
By the sixth round, Hurd took control of the contest, hurting Trout with a right hand that staggered him into the corner, though Trout recovered and finished the round sharply.
In the seventh, Hurd suffered a cut over his left eye because of an accidental head butt but was unfazed as he caught the former WBA titleholder with a solid right hand.
Hurd was able to damage Trout’s right eye in the eighth round. Trout gamely fought on, but by the following round, his eye was nearly swollen shut.
After a punishing 10th round, referee Eddie Claudio stopped the contest on the advice of the ringside doctor. It was the first time Trout (30-4, 17 KOs) had been stopped in his career.
Hurd (21-0, 15 KOs) next looks to face either WBC champion Jermell Charlo or WBA titleholder Erislandy Lara, who both also fought and won on Saturday’s card.
