Carlos Adames Upsets J-Rock! Lubin Stops Arias! Martinez Stops Bornea!
From the opening bell, WBC Interim middleweight champ Carlos Adames (23-1, 18KO) wanted to stop former unified junior middleweight champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (28-4-1, 16KO). However, it wouldn’t be as easy as he would have liked. J-Rock used his championship pedigree to survive several onslaughts to rally back with crisp combinations on his aggressive opponent. In several rounds, Adames would go “nuts” and unleash endless combinations of power-shots that rocked J-Rock and forced him to hold for dear life! Then in other rounds, Williams would control the action as Adames would seem to punch himself out.
This back and fourth led for a close fight throughout. Then in round nine, both men would flurry on the inside. However, it would be a right-hook from Adames that stunned J-Rock and put him back on the defense. Another Adames onslaught would ensue, forcing his opponent against the ropes. J-Rock would get hit with several power shots, but as he attempted to return fire, the referee stepped in and waived off the fight. Trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards was livid in the corner as he felt his fighter should have been given the chance to be put down before the fight was stopped.
The win surely puts Adames in position to face WBC champ Jermall Charlo. Although, the later may land a huge fight of his own before that can take place!
RELATED: Carlos Adames: “I Don’t Think Charlo Can Go One Round With Me!”
ERICKSON LUBIN BACK TO WINNING!
The story of this fight was about judging distance. Former title contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (25-2, 18KO) did an excellent job of this as he returned from a fourteen-month layoff to snag a fifth round knockout over Luis “Cuba” Arias (20-4-1, 9KO). Lubin got the kind of victory he hoped for after enduring shoulder surgery from a loss to top ranked junior middleweight Sebastian Fundora in April 2022.
In this fight, Lubin used his reach advantage to maintain mid-range distance. This allowed him to effectively use his jab to keep Cuba resetting as he tried to mount an offense. Hammer also set his opponent up continuously with the check hook and left hook counters. In round five, Lubin pressed the action while Arias was on his back-foot. A shot to the body stunned Cuba and a follow-up shot to the temple put him down. Slight controversy ensued as first, Arias claimed the final blow was behind the head. Then as the referee administered the count, Arias elected to stay on one knee until the count of nine, then rose to his feet. However, the referee still counted him out and waived off the fight.
Although, Arias likely made the count, he was getting thoroughly out-classed. Regardless, he should have been given the chance to continue. Nevertheless, Lubin still seeks retribution for his loss to Fundora and hopes to get a shot at the top dogs in the division again.
RELATED: Lubin Wants Fundora Rematch: “We Still Got Unfinished Business!”
FERNANDO MARTINEZ RETAINS IBF TITLE
IBF super flyweight champion Fernando “Pumito” Martinez (16-0, 9KO) successfully defends his title in a fan-friendly affair against Jade “Hurricane” Bornea (18-1, 12KO)
The champion overcame his tough as nails opponent by way of eleventh round TKO. The match remained very close as there were numerous ebb and flows in terms of ring generalship. As the championship rounds approached it was clear the challenger was beginning to wilt under the from the pace of the fight. There was a huge swing in momentum during the ninth round when a left hook burst open Bornea’s right ear lobe. Once he saw blood, the champion Martinez turned up the pressure until referee Charlie Fitch called a halt to the action.
