Luis Ortiz, Julian Williams Ready For Bigger Challenges
Luis Ortiz, Julian Williams Ready For Bigger Challenges
This weekend, WBA heavyweight world champion Luis "King Kong" Ortiz and junior middleweight prospect Julian “J-Rock” Williams proved they are ready for bigger challenges.
By Kendrick E. Johnson
On a weekend where combat sports were on fully display, both WBA (Interim) heavyweight world champion Luis "King Kong" Ortiz and junior middleweight prospect Julian “J-Rock” Williams proved they are ready for bigger challenges.
Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs) repeatedly used a powerful overhand left-hand while knocking veteran Tony "The Tiger" Thompson (40-7, 27 KOs) down twice before finishing him with a huge knockout in the sixth round. The fight was the main event of a boxing card on the HBO Boxing After Dark series at the D.C. Armory, in Washington D.C. and basically served as a showcase fight for Ortiz.
By landing 58 of his 106 power shots, Ortiz showed once again why he is quickly becoming the most avoided man in the heavyweight division.
"I'm hungry and ready for any champion. Let's do it," Ortiz said via translator after the fight. "I'm a serious guy, boxing is my job, my passion and I'm committed 100 percent. I work, I train, I spend time with my family. That's all I do. I look to destroy my opponent in the ring and let my fists do the talking."
With his fourth consecutive brutal knockout, Ortiz has definitely thrown his name into the hat of many others to be the top dog of the heavyweight division.
While Ortiz was doing his thing in our nation’s capital, Williams was putting in work 195 miles north of D.C. in Bethlehem, PA.
Williams (23-0-1, 14 KOs) used a consistent stiff left jab and vicious power body shots to break down Italian fighter, Marcello Matano, on a Showtime card from the Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa. The undefeated junior middleweight prospect turned things up a notch in the middle rounds by consistently catching Matano (16-2, 5 KOs) with jabs, combos and body shots until he closed the show late in the seventh round to secure the IBF's No. 1 position at 154 pounds.
"Maybe people will think they saw a chink in the armor tonight," Williams said in his in ring interview after the fight. "Maybe guys will come out from under the rock and get some of this West Philly work.”
In the eyes of many boxing experts, Williams latest performance all but solidifies what many who cover the sport have known for over a year: the power punching southpaw landed 59 percent of his power shots and controlled the entire fight is now ready to transition from prospect to contender.
With a string of strong performances on his resume, Williams has his sights set on junior middleweight champion Jermall Charlo who now owes him a mandatory title shot due to Saturday night’s victory.
"Jermall has been watching my performances,” Williams said. “Him and his brother [Jermell] know exactly who I am. He needs to fight or vacate now. He needs to step up, but he's already laying his groundwork and making excuses.”
On a weekend where combat sports were on fully display, both WBA (Interim) heavyweight world champion Luis "King Kong" Ortiz and junior middleweight prospect Julian “J-Rock” Williams proved they are ready for bigger challenges.
Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs) repeatedly used a powerful overhand left-hand while knocking veteran Tony "The Tiger" Thompson (40-7, 27 KOs) down twice before finishing him with a huge knockout in the sixth round. The fight was the main event of a boxing card on the HBO Boxing After Dark series at the D.C. Armory, in Washington D.C. and basically served as a showcase fight for Ortiz.
By landing 58 of his 106 power shots, Ortiz showed once again why he is quickly becoming the most avoided man in the heavyweight division.
"I'm hungry and ready for any champion. Let's do it," Ortiz said via translator after the fight. "I'm a serious guy, boxing is my job, my passion and I'm committed 100 percent. I work, I train, I spend time with my family. That's all I do. I look to destroy my opponent in the ring and let my fists do the talking."
With his fourth consecutive brutal knockout, Ortiz has definitely thrown his name into the hat of many others to be the top dog of the heavyweight division.
While Ortiz was doing his thing in our nation’s capital, Williams was putting in work 195 miles north of D.C. in Bethlehem, PA.
Williams (23-0-1, 14 KOs) used a consistent stiff left jab and vicious power body shots to break down Italian fighter, Marcello Matano, on a Showtime card from the Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa. The undefeated junior middleweight prospect turned things up a notch in the middle rounds by consistently catching Matano (16-2, 5 KOs) with jabs, combos and body shots until he closed the show late in the seventh round to secure the IBF's No. 1 position at 154 pounds.
"Maybe people will think they saw a chink in the armor tonight," Williams said in his in ring interview after the fight. "Maybe guys will come out from under the rock and get some of this West Philly work.”
In the eyes of many boxing experts, Williams latest performance all but solidifies what many who cover the sport have known for over a year: the power punching southpaw landed 59 percent of his power shots and controlled the entire fight is now ready to transition from prospect to contender.
With a string of strong performances on his resume, Williams has his sights set on junior middleweight champion Jermall Charlo who now owes him a mandatory title shot due to Saturday night’s victory.
"Jermall has been watching my performances,” Williams said. “Him and his brother [Jermell] know exactly who I am. He needs to fight or vacate now. He needs to step up, but he's already laying his groundwork and making excuses.”