Jarrett Hurd crushes Jason Welborn in four rounds to retain WBA/IBF world titles

LOS ANGELES — Jason Welborn threw some hands, but his punches had little effect on Jarrett Hurd, who knocked Welborn out in the fourth round with a massive body shot to retain the WBA and IBF 154-pound world titles.

Hurd (23-0, 16 KO's, 28, who was coming off shoulder surgery following his split decision victory over former titlist Erislandy Lara in April, took the first round to test out his shoulder, firing out a couple of jabs. Welborn tried to impose himself on Hurd and landed a good right hand.

Welborn (24-7, 7 KO's), 32, of the United Kingdom, got a boost of confidence and connected on a flurry of shots in the fourth with Hurd standing against the ropes.

But that tower quickly came down. As soon as Hurd landed a big shot, Welborn crumbled.

“We wanted to see how I’d work with the jab and practice on my defense, but he caught me with some good shots, and I said, ‘Alright, it’s enough playing now, he got enough TV time,’” Hurd told Showtime’s Jim Gray after the fight.

The bout was the final one for referee Dr. Lou Moret after 36 years in the sport.