The Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime are back together this Saturday, October 14th at the Barclays center with a major card that sees three world titles at 154 pounds up for grabs in the main events.
The WBA world champion is Erislandy Lara (24-2-2) and he is defending his belt against the unbeaten Terrel Gausha (20-0). Lara is now 34 years old and he has spent the last few years fighting lesser competition and talking about big money fights. Though undefeated, Gausha is more of the same type of opponent for Lara and that is why you get such a wide line. At his best, Lara is one of the most talented boxers in the world today but he has been labeled “boring” by some and he has yet to put together a true signature win. If he beats Gausha in grand fashion he will have a highlight for his reel but he will still be looking for a big money showdown with one of the other champions on the card.
And both of the other world titlists on the card are in highly competitive bouts. IBF world champion Jarrett Hurd (20-0) is set to make the first defense of the belt he won earlier this year as he faces wily veteran Austin Trout (30-3). Hurd won his belt when he stopped Tony Harrison back in February, but aside from a win over veteran “Jojo” Dan, there are no real names on his resume. Compare that to Trout, who is coming off 12 rounds with Jermall Charlo as well as with Erislandy Lara, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto, whom he actually owns a win over. Trout is far more tested than Hurd and that should help him if the fight extends itself and gets complicated. Working against Trout may be Father Time as he is now 32 years old and he is coming off a layoff of nearly two years.
Undefeated prospect Erickson Lubin (18-0) challenges WBC world champion Jermall Charlo (29-0). Lubin had a vast amateur career representing the USA and he eschewed the 2016 Olympic to turn pro early. He has been fast-tracking his pro career ever since and a world title has always been his goal. Though he is making a big leap up in competition there are many around Lubin that believe his time is now.
Jermall Charlo will be there to say “not so fast” to Lubin’s rise. For Charlo this will be the second defense of his WBC world title and with his twin brother Jermell moving up to the middleweight division, Jermall is looking at this as his moment to shine. The fact is that on a card packed with super welterweight talent, Charlo may be the most talented of all the fighters and at 27 years old, you get the sense that Charlo is in his prime but that the best is yet to come from him.
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, New York – Showtime
Super Welterweight 12 rounds –
Austin Trout +170
Jarrett Hurd -230
Super Welterweight 12 rounds –
Erickson Lubin +125
Jermell Charlo -165
Super Welterweight 12 rounds –
Terrel Gausha +660
Erislandy Lara -1380