WBC interim middleweight champion Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) halted former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (28-4-1, 16 KOs) in round nine on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis. Good fight. Adames pressed the action and mostly got the better of it before getting a referee’s stoppage in round nine. The Williams camp was not happy with the stoppage, which was arguably premature. Time was 2:45.
“I’m so thankful to everyone who came out here and gave me support today and all week,” said Adames. “We gave the fans a great fight and I accomplished my goal, which was walking out of here with the title.”
The early rounds saw good back and forth action, as Adames appeared to wobble Williams in round two, forcing Williams to hold on and survive the rest of the round. After Adames opened up a cut under Williams’ right eye in round three, Williams showed his championship pedigree in rebounding to land several big power shots and control most of the round.
The tide turned again in round four, with Adames landing a series of power shots that again had Williams hurt against the ropes and hoping to hold and keep Adames off him. The fight settled in after the fourth, with both fighters having their moments through the middle frames.
“I really don’t know how he survived the fourth round, but he’s a veteran,” said Adames. “He’s got skills and that’s what got him through that round.”
“I just stayed calm,” said Williams about the fourth round. “I knew he was trying to finish me. I knew he was throwing punches, but I think I won the next couple of rounds after that.”
Adames broke through once again in round nine, upping his activity again and staggering Williams with a series of power shots. Williams showed his consummate ring IQ and grit by doing everything he could to keep Adames from delivering a decisive blow, however referee Mark Nelson stepped in and called an end to the fight 2:45 into the round.
“When I came with those two rights, that’s when the referee stopped it,” said Adames. “If I would’ve hit him with another one, he probably would’ve gotten really hurt.”
Williams disagreed with the stoppage and expressed his displeasure in the ring post fight.
“I think it was a terrible stoppage, but what can I do?” said Williams. “I’m healthy and I feel fine. I thought it was pretty much even and I was taking over while he was getting tired. Of course I want a rematch. It’s not his fault that the ref jumped in early. It looked corny. It looked bad. It was a great fight, I thought it was an even fight, and he jumps in and stops it because I got a little bit buzzed. It’s boxing.”
At the time of the stoppage, Adames led on all three cards by scores 80-72, 78-74 and 77-74. The overall punch stats were close according to CompuBox.
“I’m one of those fighters that knows that to chop the tree down, you start with the trunk and then it will fall by itself,” said Adames. “I’m a warrior. I’m going to rest for a little bit and see what’s next.”
J-Rock put up a competitive fight, thought it was hoing to be one sided but he deserved to go out on his shield
I agree. He had moments like that in the fight earlier and he came back. He was still in the fight on the cards, and even though he was fading, Adames was tired himself. Being this was such a make-or-break fight for him, I did not like the stoppage. I mean he was returning fire when being stopped and was still defending himself.
A lot of people who haven’t really been close to the game don’t understand what it’s like to literally put every ounce of your being into a fight like this… and in these situations, just because you get out of the fight doesn’t mean you really get to fight another day.
good fight good stoppage
I agree. I was rooting for J-Rock, but that fight was turning into a beatdown at the time of the stoppage. Williams was fading and Adames was really teeing off. It could have gone a bit longer, but the outcome was certain.
A darn good scrap, though.
BS Stoppage, J-Rock was just getting started.
Getting started? Yes, the start of the end for him?
Wow, didn’t think it would go that way or be that easy.
Good stoppage in my opinion.
Breadman Edwards is NOT a good trainer
He’s just a writer who thinks he is a trainer.
It’s past time to stop giving J-Rock all these undeserved title shots when he almost always loses. He’s a nice guy but not truly world class.
It wasn’t for a title. J- Rock was taking leather then turned Adams and started giving it back. If you’re out of it, then how was he able to do that?
bad stoppage j rock was in the fight he deserves another chance the championship rounds were coming up
Breadman tried getting upset and making a point about the aSs kicking J Rock was taken, but hell he should have had the same urgency while in the corner round after round saying shit!
I’m just saying………………………
Carlos looked too big and powerful.
Julian’s punches did affect Carlos at all.
Carlos focused on the body of Julian. Many times, I noticed when Carlos punched the body of Julian, he jumped. I wonder if Julian jumped to deflect the power of Carlos’ punches or the jumps were because the power of Carlos’ punches?
I think it was a good stoppage. Ref did an amazing job of protecting him from being killed. Sometimes too big of balls can get u seriously hurt
Yes he was in a dog fight. At the time of the stoppage? J- Rock turned his man was throwing punches. The referee literally pulled J-Rock back while he was throwing!!!
No surprise here..
Stoppage was fine. Breadman was out of line insulting the ref like that. The ref is there to protect the fighter, he’s not going to let Williams get the life beaten out of him like the final rounds of Plant vs Benavidez.
Williams has durability issues, and was well behind on the official cards – this fight wasn’t going to change.
And still undefeated, Referee Mark NELSON!

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