Editor’s note: This is the third in a six-part series. Boxing junkie will reveal one year-end award each day through Dec. 30. Today: Upset of the Year.
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UPSET OF THE YEAR
JEISON ROSARIO KO 5 JULIAN WILLIAMS
ROSARIO SHOCKED THE BOXING WORLD WHEN HE TOOK DOWN ONE OF ITS HOTTEST FIGHTERS in january
Julian Williams was a 19-1 favorite the day before the fight on Jan. 18, according to Forbes. He was coming off a sensational unanimous-decision victory over then-unbeaten Jarret Hurd, who seemed to be a rising star, to win two 154-pound titles. He had climbed onto to some pound-for-lists.
And Jeison Rosario destroyed him.
Those who had followed the career of the strapping Dominican knew he was a capable all-around fighter. He had slipped up against Nathanial Gallimore in 2017, losing by knockout, but he hadn’t lost since then and seemed to in groove going into his title challenge in Philadelphia, Williams’ hometown.
However, not many expected to see what would unfold in the ring.
Williams outboxed Rosario in the first round but things changed in the second, when a jab from Rosario opened a cut on Williams’ left eye lid. Suddenly, Williams was somewhat tentative because of the cut and, it seemed, Rosario was emboldened.
The fight was competitive until a single moment in Round 5, when Rosario landed a left hook that rocked Williams and then followed with an overwhelming onslaught of power punches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_RYUckR8ko&t=172s
Williams held Rosario in an attempt to remain on his feet but eventually fell. He got up but his eyes were glassy and his legs were unsteady. Moments later a vicious right uppercut, followed by a left hook, staggered Williams and prompted referee Benjy Esteves to jump between the fighters and stop the fight.
Esteves looked Williams in the eye and the now-former champion nodded, his way of saying that the referee made the right move.
Just like that a fighter whose impressive performance in his previous fight seemed to portend a long reign as champion was cut down by a fighter with whom few were familiar. The moment wasn’t lost on Rosario, who wept.
“I gotta keep crying because I’m so emotional in this moment right now,” he said through a translator. “When I lost my last fight I said I’d never lose again until I won the championship of the world and that’s what happened tonight.
“I came prepared. So I knew before the fight I was going to win it.”
Rosario would lose his titles to surging Jermell Charlo in his next fight but he will always be able to look back on his special moment in Philadelphia with pride.
Runner up: Alexander Povetkin TKO 5 Dillian Whyte.
Tomorrow: Knockout of the Year
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