Though he’s received and misplaced some huge fights, for Julian Williams, the most important battle has all the time been the scales.
Since turning professional in 2010, the Philadelphia native drained himself to make the 154-pound junior middleweight restrict. On the peak of his powers, Williams emerged as the person to beat following his lopsided victory over former unified champion, Jarrett Hurd.
With issues seemingly falling into place, Williams tried to make a homecoming title protection of his newly received IBF and WBA championships in opposition to Jeison Rosario. However whereas Williams’ supporters cheered on the high of their lungs initially, they have been left speechless as Rosario would go on to starch the 32-year-old by way of fifth-round knockout.
From there, the profession of Williams spiraled uncontrolled, leading to yet one more defeat, this time by the hands of journeymen Vladimir Hernandez.
Having recharged his batteries, Williams opted to strive his hand six kilos north. Thus far so good as Williams went on to outpoint Rolando Mansilla in his middleweight debut on November fifth. Previous to formally dipping his toe within the middleweight pool, Williams admits that he knew combating at a better weight class would do his physique justice.
“I knew it will be comfy,” stated Williams to BoxingScene.com. “It’s simpler to make the load. I knew it will be comfy. An additional six kilos is a giant deal, I really feel lots higher.”
Subsequent up for the previous unified champion at 154 kilos might be to proceed acclimating himself to life in opposition to greater males. Very like his time on the junior middleweight restrict, Williams has his eyes set on dealing with one of the best that the middleweight division has to supply.
Presently, with the likes of Janibek Alimkhanuly and former rival, Jermall Charlo, clutching two of the 4 main world titles within the division, Williams (28-3-1, 16 KOs) would welcome showdowns in opposition to them. However, even when Williams finally dethrones each Charlo and Alimkhanuly, he received’t really feel an entire sense of accomplishment. Based on the newly instated middleweight contender, till he knocks a sure future Corridor of Famer off his excessive horse, he will not be thought-about the king of the middleweight jungle.
“I’m unsure how far I’m however I do assume I’m gonna get a shot. I’m unsure in opposition to who however I’ll get a shot in opposition to anyone. GGG (Gennadiy Golovkin) is the highest man. He’s received essentially the most belts, he received the most important identify, he received all of the legacy that comes with him. I believe he’s nonetheless the highest man.”
Whereas the sunshine on the finish of his boxing tunnel attracts close to, Golovkin, 40, nonetheless holds each the WBA and IBF world titles. In his most up-to-date outing, the hard-hitting star tried to avenge his earlier defeat by the hands of Canelo Alvarez by audaciously transferring as much as 168 kilos. Nonetheless, regardless of his ambitions, Alvarez simply outpointed a listless Golovkin.
Though his greatest days might be far behind him, Williams isn’t prepared to summarily dismiss Golovkin’s greatness. In his view, whereas age has ostensibly caught as much as him, Williams nonetheless considers him an all-timer.
“I don’t wanna say he slipped. I believe he simply received older. Father Time beats all people however he’s a Corridor of Famer, he’s an amazing fighter and I received a number of respect for him.”