Julian Williams' Coach on Charlo-Trout, Mandatory Position, More

By Ryan Burton

 Unbeaten super welterweight contender Julian "J-Rock" Williams secured the IBF mandatory position with his 7th round TKO victory over Marcello Matano in a bout that headlined a Showtime telecast on March 5th.  With the win Williams is now assured of a shot at the title held my Jermell Charlo who will face former champion Austin Trout on April 30th in a fight also televised by Showtime.

In this Q&A, BoxingScene.com speaks to Williams' trainer Stephen "Breadman" Edwards about Charlo-Trout, Williams latest performance and more.

BoxingScene.com: I am sure you heard the news. It looks like the IBF super welterweight champion Jermall Charlo will face former champion Austin Trout on April 30th at the StubHub Center in SoCal on April 30th.  You and J-Rock have both been vocal about fighting both fighters in the past andnow your sights as the IBF mandatory challenger have been set firmly on Charlo.  What do you think of this upcoming fight?

Stephen Edwards: I think it's a 50/50 fight on paper because Trout defeated Cotto and gave Canelo a really good fight. I respect Trout. He was a solid champion. I also think he has a great trainer in Barry Hunter. But just because you defeat a Hall of Famer it doesn't mean you are a Hall of Famer. Trout did well with Canelo but Canelo was a pup back then. He was 22 years old and I thought he actually outboxed Trout although it was close. Jermall is 6'1 and he can punch. If Trout couldn't handle Canelo's jab he won't be able to handle Jermall's. I think Jermall is the real deal and I would be surprised if he struggled with Trout.

Ronnie Shields is a great coach. He's very experienced. He was around the '84 Olympic team. If you look at a lot of those guys corners like (Pernell) Whitaker and (Evander) Holyfield, Shields was a 2nd in their corners. He knows how to pick fights. Ronnie knows what he's doing. This was a great business move in my opinion. I may have done the same thing if I was in his position. You take another voluntary defense in an easier fight before you have to face the 50/50 fight in Julian Williams.

I knew Charlo would take another fight 1st. But I believe in the process and I believe in the IBF. No complaining over here. We will fight for the title in the summer regardless of who wins. The only mistake Charlo is making is he allegedly struggles to make weight. Now he fights Trout in April and he will have a quick turnaround in the summer while Julian rests his body. Any fighter who struggles to make weight will tell you how dreaded it is to have to do it in a quick turnaround but that's his choice.

BoxingScene.com: J-Rock just fought a couple weeks ago to secure that mandatory position.  What did you think of his knockout win over Marcello Matano?

Stephen Edwards: He fought the fight I instructed him to fight so I'm pleased. People wanted a two-round blowout but Matano ran early. So Julian was patient and precise. He broke him down mentally then physically. He got slightly bored but he did what he was supposed to do. He didn't lose a round and he got the stoppage. He was efficient. That's not the type of fight you set the world on fire.

BoxingScene.com: The win was very important because it secured the IBF title shot but with Charlo taking a voluntary and as you mentioned his struggles with making weight, is a summer fight realistic?

Stephen Edwards: I was told mid-to-late summer, we fight the winner regardless of who it is. If we have to wait an unreasonable amount of time I think the IBF will strip him. They seem to follow the rules which is a good thing for us.

BoxingScene.com: But with the difficulty Charlo says he has making 154 and his statements that he will make a move to 160 in the near future do you believe he will actually face Julian if he beats Trout?

Stephen Edwards I don't know. That's a great question. I don't think Jermall is scared of Julian. I just think he respects him as a fighter. They came up together on the same cards and have faced some of the same guys. I just think Jermall knows it's a really tough fight and he wants the fight to be in his favor if he fights Julian. Who wants to go into a 50/50 fight against a talented kid knowing they are struggling in a certain area? If Jermall thought Julian was on the level of Trout or Wilky Campfort then he would have fought him already.

I really think it depends on how easily he beats Trout. If it's nip and tuck I think he moves up. Some insiders tell me he wants to fight JRock but at 160 where he's more comfortable. Some people tell me he feels Julian was exposed in his last fight so he's confident in fighting him at 154. Some tell me if he really wanted to fight Julian he would just fight him instead of asking for exemptions or defending against other fighters. I don't like to get into rumors and I really don't know if he will fight Julian. Only time will tell. But if he doesn't the media and the fans need to hold him accountable. It doesn't matter to me to be honest because I just want my guy to win a world title. That's his dream and I want to help him make his dream come true.

BoxingScene.com: I know you guys have moved past Trout but do you feel he has any shot at all to upset Charlo?

Stephen Edwards: Every fighter has a chance. Trout is world class. If he has a great camp and comes up with a great game plan sure he can win. Those guys down at Head Bangers put in great work. Jermall is not unbeatable. No fighter is. But I just think the things that trouble Jermall, Trout does not do well. Charlo also has a great southpaw sparring partner who is better than Trout in Erislandy Lara. So Trout won't be able to show him much. If I'm wrong I will will live with it.

But this is just my opinion and I know lots of people disagree. But Trout was picked for a reason. Trout is an ex-world champion with a decent resume. He has accomplishments. But there are tougher fights out there. J-Rock, Vanes, Willie Nelson, Kanat Islam, Tony Harrison, Terrell Gausha and Erickson Lubin are all tougher fights in my opinion in the ring. They just don't have the credentials on paper.

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