Julian Williams is Not Underestimating, Overlooking Matano

By Steve Kim

On Saturday night from the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Julian Williams faces Marcello Matano (16-1, 5KOs) on Showtime in what is an IBF elimination bout at junior middleweight. It's not the bout Williams wanted, but it's the one he has to take to get to where he wants to be.

The current IBF world champion is Jermall Charlo (23-0, 18KOs).

Originally he was paired with Michel Soro who ended up not taking the fight. Now he faces the relatively unknown Italian, who was the highest rated available contender who was willing to take this assignment. But Williams says he will not be overlooking Matano.

"I'm going to tell you something, before everybody goes all crazy, just because nobody has seen the guy before that doesn't mean he can't fight," said Williams, who has a record of 21-0-1(13 KO's).

"You can't measure a guys ambition. He's coming all the way over from Italy. He's not just coming to lay down. He gets the same opportunity if he wins as I do - which is to fight for the world title.

"Obviously he's not getting a million dollars to come over here, I can tell you that. So he's ambitious so you gotta respect that and I trained extremely hard for this fight and I'm ready."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.