Julian “J-Rock” Williams still focused regardless of being a unified champion!
In boxing, often starting in their amateur days, fighters hunger for a chance to become a world champion. When they finally achieve that goal, something changes inside them. The hunger goes away, the feeling of desperation dissipates.
We have seen this with James “Buster” Douglass and Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz. Both men pulled off the biggest upsets in boxing and didn’t maintain the same intensity. They enjoyed too much of the spoils, allowing the hunger to wither like a tree in the fall.
Unified junior middleweight champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-1-1, 16ko), after upsetting Jarrett “Swift” Hurd back in May 2019, has made it clear this won’t happen to him.
The Philadelphia fighter is currently preparing for the first defense of the titles against relatively unknown Dominican boxer Jeison “Banana” Rosario (19-1-1, 13ko). However, the unified champion took some time to speak with the panel on Inside PBC Boxing show. When asked about if his mindset was different, he gave the perfect answer.
“Well see, I am still hunting. Just ’cause I have the titles doesn’t mean I can’t be a hunter as well. Right now I am hunting Jeison Rosario.”
The champion was asked about what was more important, wanting to rematch Hurd or a fight WBC champion Jermell Charlo.
“I am more interested in belts, but right now my one hundred percent focus is on Jeison Rosario.”
Williams’ answers were spot on. It is hard to win the belts, but even harder to keep them and staying hungry is the key. In addition, a fighter should never overlook the task in front of them. Several fighters lose focus on the current challenge looking too far down the line, resulting in squandered opportunities.
These two gladiators are scheduled to meet live on FS1 from the Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA, on January 18.
By: Garrisson Bland
