Now-former titleholder Jarrett Hurd starts journey back on Jan. 25

Jarrett Hurd, who lost his 154-pound titles to Julian Williams in May, is scheduled to face Francisco Santana in his first fight back.

Jarrett Hurd learned against Julian Williams in his last fight that he has room to grow as a boxer. His gym work since then confirmed it.

Hurd, who lost a wide decision and his 154-pound titles to Williams in May, is scheduled to face Francisco Santana in his first fight back on the Danny Garcia-Ivan Redkach card Jan. 25 at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn on Showtime.

Hurd had been scheduled to fight Williams in an immediate rematch but pulled out.

“This is my first time doing interviews since I fought Julian Williams,” Hurd said. “Last time I was up here I was an undefeated fighter and then I suffered my first loss. We had the rematch set up for this December, but with me going through a switch in trainers and still in the process of searching, I wasn’t in condition for it.

“It was the hardest thing possible to not take the rematch, much harder than taking it.”

Jarrett Hurd is determined to regain these belts, which he lost to Julian Williams in May. AP Photo / Patrick Semansky

Hurd (23-1, 16 KOs) decided to train for Santa (25-7-1, 12 KOs) in a secluded location, eliminating all distractions.

“I’ve been training in Colorado with Kay Koroma and getting away from everything,” he said. “We’re focused strictly on boxing. I cut the hair off, too, because I was just ready for a change. The work so far is showing me how much work I have left to do and how much room I have to grow.

“I will stay at 154-pounds and fight for my titles again. I’m not looking past Francisco Santana because he’s a great fighter. I’m working hard to get back to the old me.”

He continued: “This is the fighter who was put in front of me. He has the style that we were looking for with my having my first fight with my new trainer. I had some time out of a gym after the Williams fight but now we’re going strong toward January 25.”

Hurd had built the reputation of a physically imposing, particularly strong fighter who overwhelmed opponents with his might.

The loss to Williams, an excellent, resilient boxer, laid bare Hurd’s vulnerabilities. For once, he wasn’t able bully his opponent and didn’t have a Plan B. That allowed Williams to win convincingly.

“I would never say I overlooked Julian Williams,” Hurd said. “There’s no excuses. Julian was the better man that night. When I look back there were probably some things that could have affected me, but Julian deserved to win the fight.

“I don’t know if I’m a better fighter now, but the loss opened my eyes to some things. My new coach has really opened my eyes to some things that I need to work on. Using my jab more and my footwork specifically.”

Perhaps we’ll see the beginning of a new Hurd next month.

Julian Williams to make hometown defense against Jeison Rosario on Jan. 18

Julian William, who owns two of junior middleweight belts, will take on Jeison Rosario at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Jan. 11.

Julian Williams will make the first defense of his two junior welterweight titles at home.

Williams is scheduled to face Jeison Rosario on Jan. 18 at Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, it was announced Wednesday in a release. The fight will be televised on Fox.

Williams had been slated to fight in December in a rematch against Jarrett Hurd, whom he dominated in a thrilling fight to win two of the four major belts in the division. But Hurd, for reasons that remain unknown, decided to pull out. (Hurd has hinted that he might move up to middleweight.)

“This is going to be great having a homecoming fight back in Philadelphia,” said Williams (27-1-1, 16 knockouts). “I haven’t fought in Philadelphia since 2011, so I can’t wait to get back in the ring in front of all my people.”

Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KOs) is a notch or two below Hurd, but Williams isn’t looking past the Dominican challenger, who is 7-0-1 since his knockout loss to Nathaniel Gallimore in 2017.

Julian Williams (right) won his titles by upsetting Jarrett Hurd in May. AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana

“Rosario is a good fighter and I’m very familiar with him,” Williams said. “I know he packs a solid punch and that he’s been on a tear ever since his lone loss to Nathaniel Gallimore. So he’ll be a stiff test for me. But I’m prepared to win. Most of all, I’m just excited to defend my titles … as a unified champion in front of my hometown crowd.”

Some had written Williams off after a brutal knockout loss to Jermall Charlo in 2016. But Williams kept his head down the next couple of years, putting together four consecutive victories, before getting another opportunity to challenge for the title against Hurd in May.

The junior middleweight division boasts some of the best talent and matchups in the sport. On Dec. 21, another intriguing 154-pound title rematch will take place between titleholder Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo. The winner of that fight sets up a potential clash with the winner of Williams-Rosario.