Julian Williams said he has put the past behind him and is focused on regaining the status he once had.
Julian Williams wouldn’t describe his fight with Carlos Adames on Saturday as do-or-die for him.
The former 140-pound titleholder doesn’t need that kind of pressure. The reality is clear, though: He’s not going to get too many more opportunities like this one at The Armory in Minneapolis (Showtime).
Williams (28-3-1, 16 KOs) plunged from a pound-for-pound candidate after upsetting Jarret Hurd to win his belt in 2019 to an afterthought after a knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in his first defense and split-decision setback against Vladimir Hernandez in his next fight.
The fight with Adames is an opportunity – perhaps his last – to recapture what he once had.
“That’s exactly how I’m looking at it,” he told Boxing Junkie on Tuesday.
What went wrong in those losses?
Williams didn’t want to discuss that, other than to say it was “an accumulation of a couple of things.” He just wants you to know that he has made the necessary adjustments in his preparation.
“At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter what happened in the past,” he said. “What matters is that I didn’t get the ‘W’ I was supposed to get. What matters is what’s happening afterwards.
“… I didn’t let it get me down too much. Nobody cares who is down, who is depressed. You gotta keep going.”
Williams is only 33, an age when most fighters are still near their peak abilities.
He said he feels good physically. Why not? He has fought only four times in the past four years. And while he has been stopped twice (Jermall Charlo in 2016 and Rosario in 2020) he has never taken a beating.
How is he emotionally? He acknowledged that his setbacks were disappointing. At the same time, as he said, there’s no point in dwelling in the past.
He has been working diligently to regain his form. That was evident in his most-recent fight, a shutout decision over Rolando Mansilla in his first fight as a full-fledged 160-pounder in November at The Armory.
He said that was only a first step, though, a chance to shed rust after a 13-month layoff. The best, he said, is yet to come. He expects to beat Adames and ultimately become a two-division beltholder.
“I think it will all come together on Saturday night,” he said.
One more thing: He doesn’t care what his doubters think.
“If I listened to people in the past,” he said, “about what people think of me, the ups and downs, I never would’ve been a world champion in the first place.”
Julian Williams said he has put the past behind him and is focused on regaining the status he once had.
Julian Williams wouldn’t describe his fight with Carlos Adames on Saturday as do-or-die for him.
The former 140-pound titleholder doesn’t need that kind of pressure. The reality is clear, though: He’s not going to get too many more opportunities like this one at The Armory in Minneapolis (Showtime).
Williams (28-3-1, 16 KOs) plunged from a pound-for-pound candidate after upsetting Jarret Hurd to win his belt in 2019 to an afterthought after a knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in his first defense and split-decision setback against Vladimir Hernandez in his next fight.
The fight with Adames is an opportunity – perhaps his last – to recapture what he once had.
“That’s exactly how I’m looking at it,” he told Boxing Junkie on Tuesday.
What went wrong in those losses?
Williams didn’t want to discuss that, other than to say it was “an accumulation of a couple of things.” He just wants you to know that he has made the necessary adjustments in his preparation.
“At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter what happened in the past,” he said. “What matters is that I didn’t get the ‘W’ I was supposed to get. What matters is what’s happening afterwards.
“… I didn’t let it get me down too much. Nobody cares who is down, who is depressed. You gotta keep going.”
Williams is only 33, an age when most fighters are still near their peak abilities.
He said he feels good physically. Why not? He has fought only four times in the past four years. And while he has been stopped twice (Jermall Charlo in 2016 and Rosario in 2020) he has never taken a beating.
How is he emotionally? He acknowledged that his setbacks were disappointing. At the same time, as he said, there’s no point in dwelling in the past.
He has been working diligently to regain his form. That was evident in his most-recent fight, a shutout decision over Rolando Mansilla in his first fight as a full-fledged 160-pounder in November at The Armory.
He said that was only a first step, though, a chance to shed rust after a 13-month layoff. The best, he said, is yet to come. He expects to beat Adames and ultimately become a two-division beltholder.
“I think it will all come together on Saturday night,” he said.
One more thing: He doesn’t care what his doubters think.
“If I listened to people in the past,” he said, “about what people think of me, the ups and downs, I never would’ve been a world champion in the first place.”
Fight Week: Edgar Berlanga vs. Jason Quigley and Carlos Adames vs. Julian Williams highlight a busy weekend.
FIGHT WEEK
Super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga will take on Jason Quigley in his ongoing pursuit of a title shot. Meanwhile, rising 160-pounder Carlos Adames will face a test against Julian Williams.
EDGAR BERLANGA (20-0, 16 KOs) VS. JASON QUIGLEY (20-2, 14 KOs)
Date: Saturday, June 24
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Odds: Berlanga 85-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Reshat Mati vs. Dakota Linger, junior welterweights; Adam Kownacki vs. Joe Cusumano, heavyweights
Prediction: Berlanga KO 10
Background: Berlanga is far removed from his streak of 16 knockouts to start his professional career but he has continued to win, claiming his last four victories by decision. He last fought in June of last year, when he defeated Roamer Alexis Angulo by a one-sided decision. Berlanga inexplicably bit Angulo in that fight and was later suspended. He’s ranked in the Top 11 by all four major sanctioning bodies, No. 3 by the IBF. That means a title shot is on the horizon unless he slips up. Quigley is a solid boxer but probably doesn’t have the firepower to upset Berlanga. The one-time silver medalist in the amateur World Championships from Ireland was stopped by Tureano Johnson in July 2019 but bounced back to win three in a row, including a majority decision over Shane Mosley Jr. at 160 in May 2021. He then was blown out in two rounds by then-middleweight champ Demetrius Andrade, which seemed to expose his limitations. He moved back up to 168 after the loss and shut out Gabor Gorbics this past April.
CARLOS ADAMES (22-1, 17 KOs) VS. JULIAN WILLIAMS (28-3-1, 16 KOs)
Date: Saturday, June 24
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: The Armory, Minneapolis
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Adames 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Erickson Lubin vs. Luis Arias, junior middleweights; Fernando Martinez vs. Jade Bornea, junior bantamweights (for Martinez’s IBF title)
Prediction: Adames UD
Background: Adames, a top 160-pound contender, is on the precipice of a title shot. The 29-year-old boxer-puncher from the Dominican Republic lost a close decision to slick Patrick Teixeira for an “interim” title in November 2019 but learned from the experience. He has reeled off four consecutive victories since the setback, including a breakthrough majority decision over veteran Sergey Derevyanchenko in December 2021 and a third-round knockout of Juan Montiel this past October. Williams, 33, might be in a do-or-die situation. The polished technician from Philadelphia outclassed Jarret Hurd to become a 154-pound champion in May 2019 but has struggled since. He was stopped in five rounds by Jeison Rosario in his first defense and lost a split decision to Vladimir Hernandez in his next fight. He last fought in November, when he outpointed journeyman Rolando Mansilla in his first fight as a full-fledged 160-pounder. If he loses to Adames, he could be finished as an elite fighter.
Time: 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo
TV/Stream: No TV in U.S.
Division: Junior bantamweight (115 pounds)
At stake: Franco’s WBA title
Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Musashi Mori vs. Takuya Watanabe, junior lightweights; Daigo Higa vs. Sirichai Thaiyen, bantamweights
Prediction: Ioka SD
Background: Franco and Ioka fought to a majority draw in a title-unification showdown in December in the same venue in Ioka’s country, with Franco winning on one card and the other two judges scoring the fight a draw. Franco is the younger (27), rising fighter after back-to-back victories over Andrew Moloney (not counting a no-contest in between those fights) and the draw with Ioka. The well-schooled boxer from Texas hasn’t lost since he was stopped by Lucas Fernandez in 2018, although he has three draws since then (Oscar Negrete twice and Ioka). He outpointed Negrete in the second of their three compelling bouts. Ioka, a 34-year-old former three-division titleholder, proved he has plenty of fight left in him by easily outpointing Donnie Nietes last July in the final defense of his WBO belt (which he later gave up) and the draw with Franco. Nietes had defeated Ioka by a split decision in December 2018, the Japanese star’s most-recent setback. The Franco-Ioka show is not available to American fans as of this posting.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Jesus Saracho vs. Tarik Zaina, junior welterweights, Ontario, California (Thompson Boxing YouTube and Facebook)
SATURDAY
Sarah Bormann vs. Perla Perez, strawweights, Ludwigsburg, German (DAZN)
Antonio Napolitano vs. Brandon Brewer, super middleweights, Niagra Falls, Canada (FITE)
Fight Week: Edgar Berlanga vs. Jason Quigley and Carlos Adames vs. Julian Williams highlight a busy weekend.
FIGHT WEEK
Super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga will take on Jason Quigley in his ongoing pursuit of a title shot. Meanwhile, rising 160-pounder Carlos Adames will face a test against Julian Williams.
EDGAR BERLANGA (20-0, 16 KOs) VS. JASON QUIGLEY (20-2, 14 KOs)
Date: Saturday, June 24
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Odds: Berlanga 85-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Reshat Mati vs. Dakota Linger, junior welterweights; Adam Kownacki vs. Joe Cusumano, heavyweights
Prediction: Berlanga KO 10
Background: Berlanga is far removed from his streak of 16 knockouts to start his professional career but he has continued to win, claiming his last four victories by decision. He last fought in June of last year, when he defeated Roamer Alexis Angulo by a one-sided decision. Berlanga inexplicably bit Angulo in that fight and was later suspended. He’s ranked in the Top 11 by all four major sanctioning bodies, No. 3 by the IBF. That means a title shot is on the horizon unless he slips up. Quigley is a solid boxer but probably doesn’t have the firepower to upset Berlanga. The one-time silver medalist in the amateur World Championships from Ireland was stopped by Tureano Johnson in July 2019 but bounced back to win three in a row, including a majority decision over Shane Mosley Jr. at 160 in May 2021. He then was blown out in two rounds by then-middleweight champ Demetrius Andrade, which seemed to expose his limitations. He moved back up to 168 after the loss and shut out Gabor Gorbics this past April.
CARLOS ADAMES (22-1, 17 KOs) VS. JULIAN WILLIAMS (28-3-1, 16 KOs)
Date: Saturday, June 24
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: The Armory, Minneapolis
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Adames 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Erickson Lubin vs. Luis Arias, junior middleweights; Fernando Martinez vs. Jade Bornea, junior bantamweights (for Martinez’s IBF title)
Prediction: Adames UD
Background: Adames, a top 160-pound contender, is on the precipice of a title shot. The 29-year-old boxer-puncher from the Dominican Republic lost a close decision to slick Patrick Teixeira for an “interim” title in November 2019 but learned from the experience. He has reeled off four consecutive victories since the setback, including a breakthrough majority decision over veteran Sergey Derevyanchenko in December 2021 and a third-round knockout of Juan Montiel this past October. Williams, 33, might be in a do-or-die situation. The polished technician from Philadelphia outclassed Jarret Hurd to become a 154-pound champion in May 2019 but has struggled since. He was stopped in five rounds by Jeison Rosario in his first defense and lost a split decision to Vladimir Hernandez in his next fight. He last fought in November, when he outpointed journeyman Rolando Mansilla in his first fight as a full-fledged 160-pounder. If he loses to Adames, he could be finished as an elite fighter.
Time: 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo
TV/Stream: No TV in U.S.
Division: Junior bantamweight (115 pounds)
At stake: Franco’s WBA title
Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Musashi Mori vs. Takuya Watanabe, junior lightweights; Daigo Higa vs. Sirichai Thaiyen, bantamweights
Prediction: Ioka SD
Background: Franco and Ioka fought to a majority draw in a title-unification showdown in December in the same venue in Ioka’s country, with Franco winning on one card and the other two judges scoring the fight a draw. Franco is the younger (27), rising fighter after back-to-back victories over Andrew Moloney (not counting a no-contest in between those fights) and the draw with Ioka. The well-schooled boxer from Texas hasn’t lost since he was stopped by Lucas Fernandez in 2018, although he has three draws since then (Oscar Negrete twice and Ioka). He outpointed Negrete in the second of their three compelling bouts. Ioka, a 34-year-old former three-division titleholder, proved he has plenty of fight left in him by easily outpointing Donnie Nietes last July in the final defense of his WBO belt (which he later gave up) and the draw with Franco. Nietes had defeated Ioka by a split decision in December 2018, the Japanese star’s most-recent setback. The Franco-Ioka show is not available to American fans as of this posting.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Jesus Saracho vs. Tarik Zaina, junior welterweights, Ontario, California (Thompson Boxing YouTube and Facebook)
SATURDAY
Sarah Bormann vs. Perla Perez, strawweights, Ludwigsburg, German (DAZN)
Antonio Napolitano vs. Brandon Brewer, super middleweights, Niagra Falls, Canada (FITE)
A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas. Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. …
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. I’ve seen many great fights. And I don’t hesitate to say that Tyson Fury-Deonaty Wilder III was one of the best, particularly if you consider the division and magnitude of the event.
The ebbs and flows. The ability of both fighters to overcome extreme adversity, including four of five brutal knockdowns. The will to fight through exhaustion. And a dramatic knockout to cap off the night.
Those are the ingredients of a classic battle. And the fact it happened on a heavyweight championship stage made it all the more memorable.
Fury gave a truly remarkable performance, the greatest of his career. He wasn’t fighting the same man he overwhelmed and stopped in seven rounds last year. He was face to face with a warrior bent on revenge and the powerful right hand that could exact it.
The Englishman took a walk through hell, including two knockdowns in the fourth round that would’ve ended the night of most heavyweights. He withstood the assault, continued to battle and finally stopped his brave, but beaten nemesis in the 11th round to retain the title he took from Wilder in their last fight.
I can’t say with certainty but I believe Fury might’ve clinched a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night. These type of performance in these type of fights tend to create legends.
Wilder? The former champ lost a fight but undoubtedly gained legions of fans with his courageous effort. That might not mean much to him now but it will in time.
There were no losers in this incredible fight.
***
BAD
I hate the fact that Fury can’t fight Oleksandr Usyk immediately for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
That matchup would be best for the sport, having a single, recognizable king in the glamour division. No heavyweight in the four-belt era has ever possessed all the hardware. And, of course, the fans would embrace it.
Alas, Usyk is expected to face former titleholder Anthony Joshua sometime early next year. The relatively small, but talented cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight stunned Joshua and the boxing world by winning a unanimous decision and three of the four major belts last month.
Fury could fight the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch for heavyweight supremacy but that could be a year from now. And, as we know, anything can happen in that time to prevent the fight from taking place at all.
We have no choice but to be patient and hope.
In the meantime, Fury has some worthy potential opponents for the spring. Dillian Whyte would be a compelling foe, particularly in the U.K. Maybe Fury fights there next.
I also like Andy Ruiz Jr. or Robert Helenius for Fury, if promotional rivalries can be overcome. Ruiz has his history with Joshua, which makes him a compelling story. And Helenius has now destroyed Adam Kownacki in consecutive fights, rejuvenating his career.
You can bet that Fury will give us a show both before and during his next fight, whomever the opponent is. And, of course, he almost certainly will continue to build his legacy by having his hand raised.
Then, if we’re lucky, it will be on to either Usyk or Joshua.
***
WORSE
One must feel for Wilder.
The man swore that we’d see a different fighter from the one who was stopped in seven rounds by Fury in February of last year. And we did. However, he ended up suffering the same fate. He has now lost back-to-back fights to his rival, which is a significant step backward in his career.
Of course, we understand the bitterness he surely is feeling right now.
We can only hope that he will come to understand the gift he gave us on Saturday. Wilder lost a fight but he gained untold admiration from those who saw the fight, which might not lead directly to another title shot but is precious nonetheless.
Few believed Wilder could give Fury much of a fight after the beating he took the last time. In the end, he turned a mismatch into an unforgettable war through sheer determination.
Wilder is known primarily as a puncher. And we knew he was tough, as he showed in his first fight with Luis Ortiz and in the final moments of his last fight with Fury. He wanted to continue. However, we didn’t know he was this kind of warrior, the kind who would risk it all to emerge victorious.
How many times in that fight did he appear to be on the precipice of demise only to somehow find more energy and battle back? I doubt I was alone when I thought during one of those moments, “My God, how is he doing this?”
Indeed, he would’ve gotten up from his third and final knockdown. He simply couldn’t, which referee Russell Mora recognized immediately. Wilder had given more than enough.
If a fighter can lose by an 11th-round knockout and emerge as a winner, Wilder is that fighter.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
I was impressed with heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Jared Anderson, who won their fights on the Fury-Wilder undercard. Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) fairly easily outboxed Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision. And Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs) stopped overmatched Vladimir Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs) in two rounds. Who’s most likely to win a heavyweight title? Tough one. Sanchez, a product of the Cuban amateur system, is an excellent boxer but doesn’t seem to have a warrior mentality. That could hinder him longterm. Anderson seems to be the complete package but he’s young, only 21. It’s too early to get a bead on him. I’ll be wishy washy: I won’t be surprised if both of them end up with a title one day. … Robert Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) has brought his career as elite heavyweight back to life with back-to-back victories over Adam Kownacki (20-02, 15 KOs), including a beat down that ended by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder card. The 6-foot-6½ Finn seems to be better than ever 37, which might not be good news for other top heavyweights. This guy is a threat to anyone. …
Slugger Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) received a stiff test from Marcelo Coceres (30-3-1, 16 KOs), surviving a ninth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight on the Fury-Wilder card. Berlanga didn’t look like an elite fighter. It’s starting to look as if he won’t live up to the hype. … The biggest surprise on the Fury-Wilder card was former 154-pound titleholder Julian Williams’split-decision loss to Vladimir Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs). The Williams who defeated Jarrett Hurd by a unanimous decision to win his belts in 2019 probably would’ve found a way to beat the relentlessly aggressive, but limited Mexican. The current version of Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) couldn’t do that. Maybe it was an almost-21-month layoff and a spirited effort on Hernandez’s part. Maybe he’s just not the same fighter after his knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year. … Another winner on Saturday night was new trainer Malik Scott, Wilder’s trainer. He produced a different fighter from the one who was dominated by Fury last year. His took a significant step in his career as a mentor.
A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas. Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. …
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. I’ve seen many great fights. And I don’t hesitate to say that Tyson Fury-Deonaty Wilder III was one of the best, particularly if you consider the division and magnitude of the event.
The ebbs and flows. The ability of both fighters to overcome extreme adversity, including four of five brutal knockdowns. The will to fight through exhaustion. And a dramatic knockout to cap off the night.
Those are the ingredients of a classic battle. And the fact it happened on a heavyweight championship stage made it all the more memorable.
Fury gave a truly remarkable performance, the greatest of his career. He wasn’t fighting the same man he overwhelmed and stopped in seven rounds last year. He was face to face with a warrior bent on revenge and the powerful right hand that could exact it.
The Englishman took a walk through hell, including two knockdowns in the fourth round that would’ve ended the night of most heavyweights. He withstood the assault, continued to battle and finally stopped his brave, but beaten nemesis in the 11th round to retain the title he took from Wilder in their last fight.
I can’t say with certainty but I believe Fury might’ve clinched a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night. These type of performance in these type of fights tend to create legends.
Wilder? The former champ lost a fight but undoubtedly gained legions of fans with his courageous effort. That might not mean much to him now but it will in time.
There were no losers in this incredible fight.
***
BAD
I hate the fact that Fury can’t fight Oleksandr Usyk immediately for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
That matchup would be best for the sport, having a single, recognizable king in the glamour division. No heavyweight in the four-belt era has ever possessed all the hardware. And, of course, the fans would embrace it.
Alas, Usyk is expected to face former titleholder Anthony Joshua sometime early next year. The relatively small, but talented cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight stunned Joshua and the boxing world by winning a unanimous decision and three of the four major belts last month.
Fury could fight the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch for heavyweight supremacy but that could be a year from now. And, as we know, anything can happen in that time to prevent the fight from taking place at all.
We have no choice but to be patient and hope.
In the meantime, Fury has some worthy potential opponents for the spring. Dillian Whyte would be a compelling foe, particularly in the U.K. Maybe Fury fights there next.
I also like Andy Ruiz Jr. or Robert Helenius for Fury, if promotional rivalries can be overcome. Ruiz has his history with Joshua, which makes him a compelling story. And Helenius has now destroyed Adam Kownacki in consecutive fights, rejuvenating his career.
You can bet that Fury will give us a show both before and during his next fight, whomever the opponent is. And, of course, he almost certainly will continue to build his legacy by having his hand raised.
Then, if we’re lucky, it will be on to either Usyk or Joshua.
***
WORSE
One must feel for Wilder.
The man swore that we’d see a different fighter from the one who was stopped in seven rounds by Fury in February of last year. And we did. However, he ended up suffering the same fate. He has now lost back-to-back fights to his rival, which is a significant step backward in his career.
Of course, we understand the bitterness he surely is feeling right now.
We can only hope that he will come to understand the gift he gave us on Saturday. Wilder lost a fight but he gained untold admiration from those who saw the fight, which might not lead directly to another title shot but is precious nonetheless.
Few believed Wilder could give Fury much of a fight after the beating he took the last time. In the end, he turned a mismatch into an unforgettable war through sheer determination.
Wilder is known primarily as a puncher. And we knew he was tough, as he showed in his first fight with Luis Ortiz and in the final moments of his last fight with Fury. He wanted to continue. However, we didn’t know he was this kind of warrior, the kind who would risk it all to emerge victorious.
How many times in that fight did he appear to be on the precipice of demise only to somehow find more energy and battle back? I doubt I was alone when I thought during one of those moments, “My God, how is he doing this?”
Indeed, he would’ve gotten up from his third and final knockdown. He simply couldn’t, which referee Russell Mora recognized immediately. Wilder had given more than enough.
If a fighter can lose by an 11th-round knockout and emerge as a winner, Wilder is that fighter.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
I was impressed with heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Jared Anderson, who won their fights on the Fury-Wilder undercard. Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) fairly easily outboxed Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision. And Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs) stopped overmatched Vladimir Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs) in two rounds. Who’s most likely to win a heavyweight title? Tough one. Sanchez, a product of the Cuban amateur system, is an excellent boxer but doesn’t seem to have a warrior mentality. That could hinder him longterm. Anderson seems to be the complete package but he’s young, only 21. It’s too early to get a bead on him. I’ll be wishy washy: I won’t be surprised if both of them end up with a title one day. … Robert Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) has brought his career as elite heavyweight back to life with back-to-back victories over Adam Kownacki (20-02, 15 KOs), including a beat down that ended by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder card. The 6-foot-6½ Finn seems to be better than ever 37, which might not be good news for other top heavyweights. This guy is a threat to anyone. …
Slugger Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) received a stiff test from Marcelo Coceres (30-3-1, 16 KOs), surviving a ninth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight on the Fury-Wilder card. Berlanga didn’t look like an elite fighter. It’s starting to look as if he won’t live up to the hype. … The biggest surprise on the Fury-Wilder card was former 154-pound titleholder Julian Williams’split-decision loss to Vladimir Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs). The Williams who defeated Jarrett Hurd by a unanimous decision to win his belts in 2019 probably would’ve found a way to beat the relentlessly aggressive, but limited Mexican. The current version of Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) couldn’t do that. Maybe it was an almost-21-month layoff and a spirited effort on Hernandez’s part. Maybe he’s just not the same fighter after his knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year. … Another winner on Saturday night was new trainer Malik Scott, Wilder’s trainer. He produced a different fighter from the one who was dominated by Fury last year. His took a significant step in his career as a mentor.
Vladimir Hernandez upset Julian Williams by a split decision on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday in Las Vegas.
Julian Williams didn’t have the comeback he imagined. Vladimir Hernandez made sure of that.
The Mexican applied intense pressure from beginning to end to defeat the former 154-pound champion by a split decision in a 10-round bout on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.
Two judges score it for Hernandez, 97-93 and 96-94. The third had Williams winning, 96-94.
Williams, coming off a knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year, seemed to have success early in the fight even though he fought more flat-footed than he has in past. He landed the cleaner, more accurate punches in the face of Hernandez’ relentless aggression.
However, Hernandez, who suffered cuts over both eyes, had more and more success as the fight progressed and Williams grew tired. Maybe it was Hernandez’s body work that wore Williams down. Maybe it was the layoff. Maybe it was both.
Whatever the reason, the remarkably hit Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs) took control of the fight in the later rounds to pull out the victory and spoil Williams’ return to the ring.
Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) hasn’t won a fight since he outpointed Jarret Hurd to win two 154-pound titles in May 2019.
Hernandez, who lives in Stockton, Calif., was coming off a unanimous-decision victory over veteran Alfredo Angulo in August of last year. He has now won three consecutive fights since losing back-to-back fights in 2018 and 2019.
Vladimir Hernandez upset Julian Williams by a split decision on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday in Las Vegas.
Julian Williams didn’t have the comeback he imagined. Vladimir Hernandez made sure of that.
The Mexican applied intense pressure from beginning to end to defeat the former 154-pound champion by a split decision in a 10-round bout on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.
Two judges score it for Hernandez, 97-93 and 96-94. The third had Williams winning, 96-94.
Williams, coming off a knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year, seemed to have success early in the fight even though he fought more flat-footed than he has in past. He landed the cleaner, more accurate punches in the face of Hernandez’ relentless aggression.
However, Hernandez, who suffered cuts over both eyes, had more and more success as the fight progressed and Williams grew tired. Maybe it was Hernandez’s body work that wore Williams down. Maybe it was the layoff. Maybe it was both.
Whatever the reason, the remarkably hit Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs) took control of the fight in the later rounds to pull out the victory and spoil Williams’ return to the ring.
Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) hasn’t won a fight since he outpointed Jarret Hurd to win two 154-pound titles in May 2019.
Hernandez, who lives in Stockton, Calif., was coming off a unanimous-decision victory over veteran Alfredo Angulo in August of last year. He has now won three consecutive fights since losing back-to-back fights in 2018 and 2019.
Jeison Rosario’s knockout of Julian Williams to win two 154-pound titles in January is Boxing Junkie’s Upset of the Year.
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.
***
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.
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.
Jeison Rosario’s knockout of Julian Williams to win two 154-pound titles in January is Boxing Junkie’s Upset of the Year.
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.
***
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.
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.
