Unified IBF and WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion "SWIFT" Jarrett Hurd Hosted His Media Day Workout In Preparation For His Double Title Defense Against Jason Welborn.
Hurd returns to the ring to defend his IBF and WBA belts against Jason Welborn in his first bout since becoming unified champion, while Ortiz takes on Travis Kauffman in a 10-round heavyweight attraction. The PPV undercard also features rising heavyweight Joe Joyce battling Joe Hanks. The Premier Boxing Champions event is headlined by the Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury heavyweight championship showdown.
The Accokeek, Maryland-native Hurd, who unified titles against Erislandy Lara in April on SHOWTIME, was joined at the Hillcrest Boxing Gym in Temple Hills by his trainer Ernesto Rodriguez and fights for the first time since undergoing rotator cuff surgery.
Here is what Hurd and his trainers had to say:
JARRETT HURD
"I'm going to really focus on using my jab in this fight. I want to establish that punch and also test out my rotator cuff and prove to everyone that I'm feeling great.
"Jason Welborn is a former British champion and I know that he's going to be game. He's coming off of two good wins against Tommy Langford. I know Welborn is going to leave everything in the ring because he has nothing to lose.
"The target is definitely on my back holding two titles. I'm in the position I want to be in. When you're at the top, everybody is coming for your spot.
"The win over a long-reigning champion like Erislandy Lara solidified in everyone else's mind what I already knew. Now I'm getting the respect I deserve.
"I showed against Lara that I can dig deep and pull out a win late if I need to. I have that inside of me. I also showed that I have power in both hands because usually I get a knockout with the right hand, but I was able to put Lara on the floor with a left.
"My goal for 2019 is to definitely get one more belt, and I'd also like to fight at home. I definitely want to fight Jermell Charlo for his WBC belt. Unification is what the division needs. I know for sure that me and Charlo both want this fight.
"Every time I've had an opportunity presented to me in this sport, I've taken full advantage of it. My family pushed me through all of the tough moments and helped get me to where I am today."
ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, Hurd's Trainer
"Training camp has gone very well. It was a bit different for this camp because of the injury but I think everything has been completed and right now we're just sharpening up so we can peak fight week.
"I laid off of some of the shoulder strength and conditioning that I would usually do with Jarrett because of the injury. We had to do that to let the shoulder heal. He still got in all of his normal strength and conditioning.
"I think Jason Welborn is going to try to come forward and impose his toughness. He has everything to gain in this fight. I think he'll throw hard shots and try to rough it up. He may just run into a punch and get knocked out, or we'll pick him apart and stop him late.
"I think what makes Jarrett Hurd so special is his demeanor. He's a humble kid who works hard and knows what he has to do. Every minute he's in the ring he's aware of what he has to do. He communicates well and he follows instructions as well as any fighter I've trained throughout the years."
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