Undefeated Jarrett Hurd lost his IBF and WBA super welterweight world titles after a shocking defeat by Julian Williams in Virginia on Saturday.

Hurd suffered the first knockdown of his career and lost the fight by a unanimous decision.

The judges scored the bout 116-111 115-112 115-112 in favour of Williams, 29, whose record improves to 27-1-1.

“J-Rock was a better man tonight. I’ll be back,” 28-year-old Hurd told the crowd at Fairfax’s EagleBank Arena.

“He put me down for the first time in my career and he came out with the victory,” he added.

Hurd was cut around his right eye in the eighth round, but went the whole 12 rounds in a bid to retain his titles.

“I’m just so blessed,” said Williams, who has won five fights since his sole defeat, a fifth-round knockout by Jermall Charlo in December 2016.

“I worked so hard,” Williams added. “They told me I was done. They told me I had no chin. I just got basic.

“The boxing world should stop condemning fighters after they take a loss. It’s boxing, things happen. Plenty of great fighters took losses.”

Article courtesy of BBC Sport