How to watch: Sunday, June 6th, 2021, Showtime PPV (49.99), 5 PM PST

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It has been nearly a year-and-a-half since we last saw Jarrett Hurd in the ring as he outpointed Francisco “Chia” Santana, even dropping Santana in the tenth and final round of the bout, the beloved former super welterweight with iconic hair, and a fan-friendly style looks to return in style on the Floyd Mayweather versus Logan Paul, Showtime PPV, on Sunday, June 6th.

The bout against Santana was Hurd’s first since losing his WBA, IBF, and IBO super welterweight world titles to Julian “J-Rock” Williams, in a fight Hurd greatly struggled in. Since the loss, Hurd moved his training camp to Houston, and began working with Kay Koroma, who from my observations looks to be trying to preserve Hurd’s career, as well as develop it, as Hurd going with the system he had prior in place, probably only had a couple more fights at that rate.

Hurd now returns for the first time post-pandemic on Sunday, June 6th, as part of the undercard to Floyd Mayweather versus Logan Paul, taking on former Roc Nation prospect, Luis “Cuba” Arias, a man who is currently 0-2-1 in his last three fights, and spent most of the fall sparring Gervonta “Tank” Davis for his Davis’ bout with Leo Santa Cruz.

“Training camp has been great. I haven’t fought in a year and a half, so I had a chance to really take my time with this camp. I’ve had a lot of time to put in the work,” said Hurd. “I’m training with fighters like Terence Crawford, Shakur Stevenson, Troy Isley, and a lot more. We’re all out here working day-after-day.”

Adjusting to life after a loss is two-folded for the world champion Hurd as on March 11th, Premier Boxing Champions put out a statement mourning the death of Hurd’s father, Fred Hurd Sr.

“The Premier Boxing Champions family is profoundly saddened by the death of Fred Hurd Sr., father of unified world champion Jarrett Hurd. Hurd died on Thursday morning. He was 63,” said the statement copied from the Premier Boxing Champions website. “A long-time boxing fan, it was Fred who urged his younger son Jarrett to take up the sport. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jarrett, the Hurd family, and all loved ones.”

This will be Jarrett Hurd’s first fight without his father being in his life in the physical form, as one of Hurd’s biggest supporters is no longer with us, and Hurd will look to fight in tribute of his father, who was one of his biggest boxing fans since day one. So much so, Hurd had made a million dollars, but still lived at home with his parents based on his close relationship with his family.

Hurd will enter the ring with a heavy heart, but a motivated heart as well.

His rival, Arias, is not looking to be the chapter in a heart-warming story, as Arias, is looking to spoil the plans of Hurd.

“When this fight was brought to me, he was ranked No. 1 at the Ring Magazine at 154 and that’s part of why I wanted this fight. Leonard Ellerbe asked if I was willing to fight Hurd, and I said one hundred percent. It’s all about challenging yourself. This is another challenge and I never turn down a challenge,” said, Hurd’s opponent, former world title contender Luis Arias. “I’ve been in there with the best and there’s nothing that Jarrett Hurd can bring to the table that I haven’t already seen.”

“We’ve seen this story before from Arias. He talks a big game but looks at his fights against top fighters. It doesn’t matter what weight I’m at, Arias knows what’s coming. I suffered a loss, but I got the win in my last fight and I’m on my way back,” said Hurd.

Hurd, a no-nonsense pressure fighter, who is being given tools of the boxing game from his new team, has big fights on the horizon, mostly the “one that got away”, with Jermell Charlo, which was rumored to be next for Hurd prior to his loss to Julian Williams.

“I still have too much unfinished business at 154-pounds,” said Hurd when asked about what weight class he will campaign at in the near future. “I have a lot of fights, including my rematch against Julian Williams, that I still want to get. I want to regain my titles. Me and Jermell Charlo [SIC] is probably the biggest fight at 154 right now. I want to handle that before I move up in weight.”

It is clear the Maryland native wants to put on a show on Sunday, but also wants to put the division on notice, as Hurd’s goal it seems is to headline a PPV before the year ends.