ANTOICH, California – Julian Bridges went to Las Vegas last year, only to learn there is no place like home.
His next fight will take place roughly 90 minutes from his original hometown, where Bridges is set to face William Davis on Saturday at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California.
Bridges, 8-0 (4 KOs), is originally from Antioch, California. He moved to Las Vegas to train with Jorge Capetillo and sparred many big-name fighters during his time there, with Emiliano Vargas being one who stood out.
Yet Bridges felt that the experience wasn’t the same as the work he had put in with trainer Sergio Salguera back home.
“We have a real strong relationship,” Bridges told BoxingScene. “I have all the tools to be successful here.”
Bridges is confident, like many up-and-comers, but unlike many fighting in the regional scene, he has two notable wins. In his pro debut, he took a short-notice fight against unbeaten Allen “Chubby” Medina and knocked him out in 1 minute.
In May 2024, Bridges faced unbeaten Jabin Chollet on the untelevised portion of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Jaime Munguia undercard and won the fight via a unanimous decision. Once again, Bridges jumped on an opportunity unfazed by the potential politics of boxing, facing an unbeaten prospect.
The experience has formed him into the fighter he is today, and much of that he credits to his team, their preparation and their willingness to take hard fights.
“I feel super-confident, winning those fights, especially since they weren’t competitive,” Bridges said.
Davis, 5-3-2 (1 KO), is a veteran of the region. The 36-year-old from Oakland boasts some amateur pedigree but also figures to pose a rare style and physical threat for the 6ft tall Bridges (Davis is 1in shorter at 5ft 11in).
Bridges is buoyed by staying in the gym. He noted that he started camp on New Year’s Day and hasn’t stopped, even after his knockout win over Alan Solis Gonzalez in January.
For 2026, he wants to spend a lot of time in the ring. Bridges has gone only 27 rounds heading into his ninth pro fight, and the fighter who turned professional in 2022 is hoping to grow a lot in a formative year of his development.
“I want to fight at least five times this year,” Bridges said. “By the end of the year, I want to be 12-0."
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
