Julian Williams

JULIAN WILLIAMS DISCUSSES “DREAM FIGHT” AGAINST JERMELL CHARLO

Julian Williams

Former Junior Middleweight champion Julian Williams has said that a fight against Jermell Charlo would be his dream fight.

Darryl Cobb/TGB Promotions

Former Junior Middleweight champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-2-1, 16 KOs) has been out of action for over 16 months, but as the 31-year-old Philadelphian prepares to return to the ring, he plans to prove that he remains the top fighter at 154 pounds.  

Williams, who previously held the WBA, IBF, and IBO titles, hasn’t competed since suffering a disappointing TKO loss to fellow former titleholder Jeison Rosario in January 2020. However, he’s next scheduled to meet Brian Mendoza on June 26 on the undercard of Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios. 

As he readies for Mendoza, it’s important to note that Williams will be beginning this next chapter of his career without longtime trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, whom he parted ways with following his loss to Rosario.

“The main thing is I think I needed a change, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Williams said on a recent edition of The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer. “Sometimes relationships get stale, I mean, Tom Brady left Belichick, and you can see what he did. Sometimes a fresh start is good. To be honest, there’s some issues that me and him got that didn’t necessarily work out, and if we do, we do, if we don’t, we don’t! I’ll be fine.”

If he can return to his winning ways on June 26, Williams will finally be able to move past the shocking loss to Rosario. And in doing so, he’ll immediately place himself back into the thick of things in the loaded 154-pound division where many big fights still await him. 

Although he’ll have options to consider, there appears to be one specific fight that Williams has his eyes on. That would be a meeting with three-belt champion Jermell Charlo, who’s currently set to face WBO titlist Brian Castano on July 17 in an undisputed title fight. 

“It’s my dream fight,” Williams said of a fight against Charlo. “He’s going to have to fight me if he wants to stay on PPV because that’s the best fight to make in the division. It would create buzz, and I already got some history with his brother.”

Williams is indeed familiar with the Charlo family, as he was stopped by Jermall, who currently holds a title at 160 pounds, when the two met in 2016. Given the history, a bout between Williams and Jermell would likely be big business. 

Regardless of what the future holds, Williams making his return is certainly beneficial for the division, which is currently one of the hottest in the sport.

With an undisputed title fight on the horizon and a mix of hungry contenders waiting in the wings, all eyes will be on the 154-pound division moving forward.

Despite who currently holds the belts, Williams feels as if he’s No. 1 at Junior Middleweight and he plans to showcase that. 

Jarrett Hurd has the best resume in the division, Jermell Charlo has the biggest punch, and he’s got all the belts, but Julian Williams is the best fighter in the 154-pound division,” he said. 

THE LAST STAND PODCAST FEATURING JULIAN WILLIAMS

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