Julian “J-Rock” Williams: “I’m coming to dominate in spectacular fashion.”
Come Saturday, January 18, not only will Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-1-1, 16 KO’s) make the first defense of his WBA, IBF and IBO world super welterweight titles, he will do so at home.
Over the years, fighting before their home town crowd has proven to be a tricky endeavor for countless boxers.
Seeking to impress their local fans, friends and family has routinely seduced boxers into competing with more blind intensity rather than purposeful intellect. Yet, when he faces Jeison “Banana” Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KO’s) he assures that will not be the case.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
Williams has dismissed the notion that competing before his native fans will distract him. Further, he insists that he really hasn’t thought about it too much period. For him, and his team, all their energy and mental attention has been placed on performing well inside the square-circle.
J-Rock speculates that the magnitude of the moment will hit him on Sunday or Monday.
“I think that it’s extremely significant to me, but to be honest with you I am so locked in on the fight I haven’t even thought about it.
“I probably will think about it Monday morning, but I’m locked in on the fight and I don’t want to get caught up too much in the cameras and the hype and the crowd and the people.
“Even though, I am thankful that I’m blessed to be in this position to be able to bring my first world title fight, my world title defense back to my city.”
A large part of why Williams can exercise such ridged tunnel vision is due to his ability to set goals and mentally compartmentalize those goals within his own head.
He has stated in numerous interviews that even though he is a champion, he retains the mindset of a challenger. This is because after achieving the momentous feat of becoming a world champion, he instantly forged a new goal.
“Basically I just created new goals, you know. My goal since I was a little boy was to be the champion of the world, whether it was welterweight or middleweight.
“I didn’t know what I was going to be, but it was to be the champion of the world. I am champion of the world. So, I set that and I created new goals and I am just as hungry as when I was 12 years old.”
READY TO SHOW AND PROVE
When on the topic of his next opponent, Williams didn’t mince words when he expressed this feelings that Rosario was probably in over his head.
“Well I think he keeps saying we’re going to have a war because he can’t do nothing else with me. It’s nothing he can do better than me inside the boxing ring.
“He wants to have a war so it can give him a chance, but I am coming to step on him. I’m coming to dominate, I’m coming to win. I’m coming to dominate in spectacular fashion.”
Luckily for the fans, we don’t have much longer to wait to see who this potential barn-burner plays out!
By: Bakari Simpson
