Tonight junior middleweight rising star Julian “J Rock” Williams (20-0-1, 12 KO’s) will risk his undefeated record when he takes on rugged Argentinian Luciano Cuello (35-3, 17 KO’s) in a scheduled 10-round bout that will headline on FS1 at 9pm Eastern.
Williams, of Philadelphia, has established himself as one of the top contenders in the junior middleweights division, but he first must get by the tough, experienced Cuello, who has only lost to top contender Willie Nelson as well as former world champions Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Saul Alvarez.
With a win, Williams would not only put himself in select company of conquerors of Cuello but he would be elevated into major fights in the latter part of 2015 or early 2016.
“Training camp went great,” said Williams. “I had a long 9 week camp. I am in great condition as usual and ready to get in there.
“Cuello is a tough guy. He is a real fighter that will come to other guy’s countries and hometowns and put up tough fights.”
Besides his great talent, Williams has been lauded for the way he conducts himself both in and out of the ring. Despite fighting close to home and on national television, 25 year-old Williams won’t be fazed.
“I really don’t think about being close to home or even that the fight is on television. It is an honor, but I am not going to let fighting close to home distract me.”
For the past several months, Williams and former junior middleweight world champion Austin Trout have engaged in a feud on social media and with a win on Tuesday night, they could be headed for a showdown in their next bouts.
“I will address the stuff with Trout after I win on September 22nd. I am close to getting a big opportunity and a shot at the title. I am ready now.”
“I just want the fans to tune into FS1 or come out to the Sands and enjoy the ‘J- Rock’ experience.”
Undefeated prospects Caleb Plant (9-0, 8 KOs)and Kyrone Davis (8-0, 4 KOs) will enter the ring in separate undercard bouts on the card. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET with unbeaten super bantamweight Moises “Chucky” Flores (23-0, 16 KOs) facing Argentine knockout artist Luis Emanuel “La Ardilla” Cusolito (21-1, 19 KOs).
Plant will compete in a super middleweight bout against Jamar Freeman (13-4-2, 7 KOs) while Davis takes on Gilbert Alex Sanchez (6-6-1) in middleweight action.
Further undercard fights feature 26-year-old Brooklyn-native Carlos Gongora (2-0, 1 KO) against veteran Michael Gbenga (20-22, 20 KOs) in a six-round middleweight affair, 26-year-old Sammy Quinones (9-3, 4 KOs) of York, PA battling 24-year-old Puerto Rican Ken Alvarez (6-2-2, 3 KOs) in a six-round welterweight bout and Bethlehem-native Rick Nuno (2-0, 1 KO) taking on Nicholas Hernandez (1-1) out of Lebanon, PA in a four round super-welterweight fight.
Rounding out the action is 24-year-old Brooklyn-native Earl Newman (6-0, 5 KOs) in a four-round cruiserweight bout, 23-year-old Philadelphia-born Seifullah Jihad Wise (2-0) against 28-year-old Ismael Serrano (3-1, 1 KO) in a four-round lightweight battle and 18-year-old Brooklyn-native Chris “Lil’ B-Hop” Colbert (2-0, 2 KOs) in four-rounds of featherweight action against Puerto Rican Jose Carmona (1-1).
Undefeated with all but one victory coming by knockout, the 23-year-old Plant returns to the ring fresh off of a first round stoppage of Zoltan Sera on August 15. The Ashland, Tennessee-born fighter will be fighting at Sands Bethlehem Events Center for the second time this year as he earned a TKO victory over Juan Carlos Rojas in June at the venue. He will step into the ring against the 30-year-old Freeman out of New Haven, CT.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Davis was the first boxer from Delaware to win two national amateur tournaments triumphs at the National PAL tournament and Adidas National Tournament. The 20-year-old was an alternate for the USA Boxing Team and has kept his momentum going since turning pro last year. He’s picked up three victories in 2015 including his most recent win, a first-round knockout of Jose Alberto Leal in June. He faces the 30-year-old Camden, NJ-born Sanchez.
