Jeison Rosario didn’t know what to expect in the aftermath of his upset knockout win over Julian Williams, only because he never thought to look beyond that fight.
Even if he thought to map out a 12-month plan heading into 2021, being in position to claim junior middleweight supremacy—while a dream—wasn’t considered an attainable goal. It was considered even less so once the sport shut down earlier this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Obviously we knew that we would fight for a title this year, because it was the first fight we had (in 2020). But no, even this time last year I never envisioned that I would be in a position to challenge for all of the titles at this time,” Rosario acknowledged to BoxingScene.com. “It’s a blessing how all of the pieces have fallen into place, especially with the pandemic and everything that’s happening.”
The quest for the top spot amongst a competitive 154-pound field will be determined in Rosario’s three-belt unification showdown with Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17KOs), which takes place September 26 on Showtime Pay-Per-View from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. Rosario will put his WBA and IBF titles on the line in hopes of nabbing the WBC title which Charlo regained in an 11th round stoppage of Tony Harrison last December to avenge his lone career loss from the year prior.
Rosario (20-1-1, 14KOs) carries a nine-fight unbeaten streak into the event, coming at the high point of his career. The 25-year old Miami-based Dominican marched into the Philadelphia hometown of Williams, where he scored a 5th round stoppage live on Fox in the first notable upset of 2020.
With unified titles often come a growing list of mandatory challengers waiting in the wings. Instead came a blessing in the form of a clear shot at Charlo to determine the best junior middleweight in the world—which Rosario has no intention of letting go to waste.
“The chance to fight for the world title was an opportunity of a lifetime,” acknowledges Rosario. “I’m grateful for it and made sure to make it count versus Julian Williams. I will do it again versus Jermell Charlo on September 26.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
