Put this one on your calendar, fight fans. Established top junior middleweight Jermell Charlo and super prospect Erickson Lubin are reportedly set to lock horns mid October at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn for Charlo’s WBC strap. That is not all either as Erislandy Lara is expected to defend against Olympian Terrell Gausha while Jarrett Hurd would do the same against Austin Trout.
If those fights go through as it looks like they will, this is an excellent card. The main event is an absolutely great fight that could go either way. Jermell Charlo (29-0, 14 KOs) is on an real tear, finding some mid career power against world class competition enroute to three consecutive stoppage wins. Erickson Lubin (18-0, 13 KOs) has long been considered one of the best American prospects in the sport too though. For Haymon to give him this fight at only 21 years old expresses extreme confidence in the young fighter. I would be very excited for this one.
Jarrett Hurd (20-0, 14 KOs) defending against longtime top junior middleweight Austin Trout (30-3, 17 KOs) is another great, even matchup. Hurd needed a come from behind knockout to win his belt against Tony Harrison last time out and Trout is a much more accomplished fighter than Harrison. Still, Hurd’s size and youth could give him all he needs here.
The third fight between Erislandy Lara (24-2-2, 14 KOs) and Terrell Gausha (20-0, 9 KOs) is the potential stinker on this card. Lara is a great fighter, but he doesn’t make great fights and PBC does not seem keen to put him in with any of their well established fighters at the weight. Gausha is an unbeaten 2012 US Olympian, but he hasn’t fought anywhere near this level and a win here for him would be a massive upset. It kind of feels like Haymon and his PBC team are biding their time with the 34 year old Cuban, waiting for him to look old enough that they can be confident that one of their young guns can knock him off.
Presumably Showtime would have this card as they have been broadcasting most of these fighters for a while now, but no word as of yet to confirm. It will likely be at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.
