Two fighters looking for recognition in a wide-open junior middleweight division, Gabriel Rosado and Joel Julio, both look to further their cause on June 1 at the Sands in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Given the styles of these two fighters, fireworks should be expected. Rosado, from relatively nearby Philadelphia will enjoy a home advantage. The perception to a certain degree is that Rosado is on the way up while Julio is on the slide. Rosado will be installed as a favorite.
- Date: June 1, 2012
- Site: Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Weight Class: Junior Middleweights–12 Rounds
Stats
Rosado: The 26-year old Rosado turned pro in 2006. At 6-feet with a 78-inch reach, he has nice size for 154 pounds. His record is 19-5 with 11 knockouts and he has been stopped only once. Rosado has only one fight outside of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-New York region. A majority decision loss is his only setback in the last 3 years.
Julio: Having come into fans’ consciousness 7 years ago, it is a bit surprising that he is only 27 years old. Julio stands 5’10” and will have a 6-inch reach disadvantage at 72.” Turned pro at 16 in Colombia before setting his sights on the U.S. in 2005. His record stands at 37-4 (31 KOs).
Ring History
Rosado: Frankly, it’s been a bit uneven. Developed without much fanfare, taking early-career losses to 3-2 Chris Gray and 12-13 Joshua Onyango. Found his stride, scoring an upset win over 15-0 Irish prospect James Moore. He knocked down unbeaten Fernando Guerrero, but lost a close decision in his next fight. A pair of wins followed, including an upset decision over former champ Kassim Ouma, before he was leveled in two rounds by Alfredo Angulo. Rosado came back with a win over tough Saul Roman, before being outpointed by Derek Ennis by majority decision in 2010, Has since scored 5 straight wins and is on a nice roll, particularly after beating Jesus Soto-Karass by 5th-round stoppage in January.
Julio: He was a highly ballyhooed prospect after a few televised knockouts. Julio carried an eye-popping 27-0 (26 KOs) into a bout between unbeaten prospects with Carlos Quintana in 2006. Julio was favored, but lost badly in a 12-round decision. Julio came back with an underrated 6-fight winning streak where he knocked out Cosme Rivera and future champion Cornelius Bundrage, before decisioning Ishe Smith. A loss to WBO 154-pound champion Sergei Dzinziruk set him back and a knockout at the hands of pre-prison James Kirkland left him hanging by a thread. He got stopped by Alfredo Angulo in 11 rounds in 2010, but acquitted himself well, giving Angulo one of his better fights during his long winning run. Ha since fought twice, winning two decisions over journeymen. By the time he fights Rosado, he will have been out for over a year.
Recent Form
Rosado: Rosado is definitely improving as his career moves along. He’s gone from a darkhorse upset-specialist to a more consistent performer on the fringes of full-fledged contendership. His 5-fight winning streak is his longest streak since he began his career at 5-0 and he carries some positive momentum into this fight.
Julio: Not great. It’s difficult to say if he’s in bad form or if he’s been matched too tough. But his inactivity and career momentum do not suggest good things. Though he scored some big wins along the way, he’s considered a fighter who never quite lived up to expectations, which were naturally high after a 27-0 (26 KOs) start. He is only 3-3 in his last 6 outings, dating back a disconcerting 3 1/2 years. It’s been a while since Julio beat anyone terribly threatening.
Questions
Rosado: Has he been fattened up on easy opposition? In his streak, he’s beaten Jose Medina, who is better than his record suggests, three journeymen, and a strangely out-of-it Soto Karass, whose negative performance was especially surprising following two gallant decision losses to unbeaten Mike Jones. Does getting blown out by Angulo in 2 reflect badly against an opponent who lasted 11 with the same guy? Can he use his reach to good affect against the hard-hitting Julio? Can he hit hard enough to earn Julio’s respect, considering the big punchers Joel has been in against during his career?
Julio: Was his fall from grace overstated? When big prospects fall short, their demise can be graphic, but do people sleep on the accomplishments Julio did manage to achieve? Is his recent lull a byproduct of facing the best 154-pounders in the world or does he just not have it anymore? Having troubled some of those top guys, will he find himself in a more comfortable spot here against a good fighter, but a more beatable sort?
Rosado vs. Julio Prediction
One should anticipate a close encounter. They might be at different ends of their personal spectrums, but they might be at relatively the same level as their careers intersect for this fight. Rosado has faced a lot of tough fighters for a fighter who is 26 with only 25 fights. He certainly has not been babied, but Julio has been in there with a higher notch of fighters. He performed capably, if not totally successfully. It can be faulty to read too much into losses, but Julio has never been beaten by the level of fighters who have beaten Rosado.
Rosado has a few things going for him that could very easily tip this bout ever so slightly in his favor. While only a year younger, he’s much more youthful in a boxing sense–having taken less punishment and with a more viable future. He has positive momentum going for him. His head is filled with good thoughts, while Julio has been rotting on the sidelines. And fighting close to home is also worth a little extra consideration. Rosado and Julio will be relatively even after 9-10 rounds. Down the stretch, Rosado will be able to muster that little something extra to create a little distance and edge home a winner in a good fight.
Prediction: Gabriel Rosado wins by unanimous decision.
