A new important Mexican fighter has arrived on the scene.
Armando Resendiz outworked and then stopped Jarrett Hurd after the ninth round of a scheduled 10-round 162-pound fight on the Brandon Figueroa-Mark Magsayo card Saturday in Ontario, California.
The wild, back-and-forth fight was stopped on the advice of the ring doctor because of a deep cut on Hurd’s upper lip.
“It was all about heart, but I know I can be even better and you’ll see what I mean in my next fight,” Resendiz said. “I told everyone I was willing to go to war, I’m Mexican, after all.
“It was a strong, physical fight just like we expected. The results speak for themselves.”
The relentless Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs) was well ahead on the cards for an uncomplicated reason: He outworked Hurd (24-3, 16 KOs).
The official judges had Resendiz leading 89-82, 87-84 and 87-84 after nine rounds. Boxing Junkie also had it 89-82 for Resendiz, eight rounds to one.
Hurd had many good moments in the give-and-take war, including a number of eye-catching uppercuts. His 24-year-old opponent simply threw — and landed — more punches than the former unified 154-pound titleholder and was never hurt.
Hurd said afterward that he wished he could’ve finished the fight. He had never been stopped.
“I knew this was going to be a tough, toe-to-to fight based on our styles,” he said. “But I only had to make it one more round. I wish I could have finished it, but my lip was cut too bad. So, congratulations to Resendiz. …
“At no point was I hurt at all in that fight, but I have to respect what the doctors say, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Hurd, who hadn’t fought for 21 months, has now lost three of his last four fights.