Sports
Jeison Rosario captured WBA, IBF Jr. Middleweight Title from defending Champion Julian Williams in Five
Challenger Jeison Rosario captured the WBA and IBF Jr. Middleweight title with a 5th round tko over defending champion Julian Williams, The win shocked Williams hometown fans at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
Judges scorecards 39-37 at the time of the stoppage, Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) finished Williams (27-2-1, 16 KOs) by outlanding him 17-6 in Round 5 and 35-24 overall in power punches.
At the outset, Rosario showed no fear of Williams, who worked well behind his jab, though Rosario did drop a left to Williams’ body in the last minute of the first.
“As soon as I stepped into the ring, I knew he could not hurt me,” Rosario said. “I knew that my power was affecting him right away. This is a big victory for me and for the whole Dominican Republic.
“I have to give a lot of credit to my team. I had a 16-week training camp and that prepared me for this. My life is changed forever and I can support my family in a whole new way.”
Williams pushed the same strategy in the second, snapping off the jab again, and plowing a right off of Rosario’s ribs. But Rosario caused a huge welt to form under Williams’ left eye and then a cut on Williams’ left eyelid that leaked into his eye.
Sensing Rosario would be eye-hunting, Williams held his guard up high in the third. He slammed a right uppercut into Rosario, and about a minute later, landed a cross that forced the 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic acknowledged with a nod.
Rosario began poking Williams with the jab in the fourth. Rosario also landed a counter right off a missed Williams’ uppercut. Rosario then followed a theme with a left to the body, and you began to wonder whether or not Williams could continue to take the body shots.