Jarrett Hurd plays down rift with the Charlos, targets fight with Jermell

Jarrett “Swift” Hurd is targeting a shot at WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara or a scrap with Jermell Charlo.

Maryland’s Hurd, 34, has struggled since losing his IBF and WBA 154-pound titles to Julian Williams five years ago. Hurd has had just five fights since then, including a recent split-decision draw with Jeison Rosario.

Hurd is already weighing his options in 2025 as he plots his middleweight invasion.

“I want straight out Erislandy, first and foremost, because that’s 160 and then he’s the champion right now,” Hurd told BoxingScene.

Having been a champion from 2017 to 2019, Hurd, 25-3-1 (17 KOs), says he’s keen on competing at 160 despite facing Rosario at 168 in his previous ring outing.

“I know the better fights are at 154, but this body right here ain’t going back down that way. Fighters don’t fight the same weight class they started their careers with and then I wish I can because, like I said, the bigger fights are at 154, but I would be no good. It’d be almost like training myself just to fight it.”

Hurd also took the opportunity to talk about his admiration of the Charlo brothers – Jermell and Jermall – describing a fight with the former as a dream one. Hurd got into a public confrontation with the Charlo twins at the Canelo Alvarez-Caleb Plant fight in November 2021 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Jermall Charlo had intervened on his brother’s behalf that night on the arena floor and went nose-to-nose with Hurd. The confrontation led to Hurd shoving Jermall Charlo as Hurd attempted to take a swipe at Jermell Charlo, who stood behind his brother.

Hurd however downplays the fracas, saying they’ve had a great relationship since the incident took place. Recounting how it all happened, Hurd said: “I had history with both of them, but I have to put it out here. The big one is Jermall Charlo, I have no issue with that man. I mean, of course when you’re talking about your brother I don’t have any problem.

“So even after the situation where I end up slapping Jermell Charlo, you can see the one that made up and shook hands at the end was me and Jermall Charlo. You know what I mean? We still have mutual respect for each other. I was at the Ryan Garcia and Tank press conference, and he represented right beside me.”

When asked what his dream fight is, Hurd said “The biggest fight for me today would be Big Charlo at 160 because I’m not at 154. I’m trying to be realistic. If I want to fight anybody in boxing today, it will be Jermell Charlo.”