By Keith Idec
Kate Abdo asked Julian Williams whether he had anyone specific in mind when he Tweeted two weeks ago that any future opponent will have to adhere to strict performance-enhancing drug testing.
Williams knew what the FOX Sports host meant, and answered accordingly during the newest episode of “Inside PBC Boxing” on Wednesday night.
“No, absolutely not,” Williams said. “Absolutely not. I think a lot of people want me to, I’m just gonna put it all on the table – a lot of people want me to say that the Charlo twins are juicing. And I have some reporters that try and get me to say it, and I won’t say it because I have no definitive proof. So, I would never accuse anybody of cheating if I don’t have definitive proof. What I will say is that there’s a lot of cheats in boxing. And whoever wanna fight Julian Williams, don’t call Al Haymon, call VADA and get signed up for testing.”
Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs, 1 NC) upset Jarrett Hurd (23-1, 16 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the IBF, IBO and WBA 154-pound championships May 11 in Fairfax, Virginia. The Philadelphia native suffered his lone loss to Jermall Charlo, who knocked out Williams in the fifth round of their fight for Charlo’s IBF junior middleweight title 2½ years ago in Los Angeles.
Jermall Charlo since has moved up to 160 pounds and captured the WBC interim middleweight title. Jermall Charlo (28-0, 21 KOs) will defend that championship versus Los Angeles’ Brandon Adams (21-2, 13 KOs) on June 29 in Houston, Charlo’s hometown (Showtime).
Williams would welcome a rematch at some point.
“Yeah, definitely,” Williams said. “I think that’s a big fight. But I’ve got a lot of business to clear down here at 154 pounds. And when I clear the division out, and it’s gonna make for a much bigger fight. And he’s not going nowhere. He’s 160 pounds and I don’t think he’s moving up no time soon. I’m busting out at 154, so I’ve probably got a few more fights here. And then, we’ve got the same – we’re both with Al Haymon. You know, we’re both with FOX and Showtime. So, you know, it’s gonna happen. You know? And I’m pretty sure, you know, he wouldn’t mind stepping back in with me again.”
Williams could face Jermall Charlo’s twin brother, Jermell, before that rematch takes place.
If Jermell Charlo can regain his WBC super welterweight title from Tony Harrison in their rematch, Williams and Jermell Charlo could square off in a 154-pound title unification fight. Houston’s Jermell Charlo (31-1, 15 KOs) and Detroit’s Harrison (28-2, 21 KOs) were supposed to fight again June 23, but Harrison withdrew from the fight due to an ankle injury that required surgery Wednesday.
The Jermell Charlo-Harrison rematch likely will be rescheduled for late this year, assuming Charlo defeats Harrison’s replacement, Mexico’s Jorge Cota (28-3, 25 KOs), on June 23 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas (FOX).
Whomever Williams fights, he’ll demand random blood and urine testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association at least 90 days in advance of their bout.
In the Tweet to which Abdo referred, Williams issued this message May 19: Just a friendly reminder for my future opponents I will be requesting at least 90 DAYS RANDOM BLOOD TESTING BY @Vada_Testing won’t be cycling off on me now we’re gonna find out who’s really the best in the 154lbs div.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
