Williams on Trout, Ishe: How Many F***ing Tuneups?

By Ryan Burton

Undefeated super welterweight Julian Williams returns to the ring on June 13 against an opponent to be determined in Alabama.  WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder defends his title against Eric Molina in the Showtime televised main event.

Over the past 12 months or so Williams has grown frustrated with his ability to land a big fight.  He is advised by boxing power broker Al Haymon along with several other highly regarded 154 pound fighters including Tony Harrison, Jermall and Jermell Charlo, and Chris Pearson. 

Jermall Charlo will fight for a world title on July 25th against IBF belt holder Cornelius "K9" Bundrage while his twin brother Jermell recently won a high profile bout against highly rated former title challenger Vanes Martirosyan.  Williams would have liked to have those fights as well but knows if he keeps winning his time will come.

"I do know that Vanes was offered the fight with me but he chose Charlo instead.  Charlo isn't an easy fight.  Jermall and Jermell can fight.  He chose Jermell and lost.  It was a lose-lose situation for him.  I think my time is coming.  I get impatient sometimes and no disrespect to Joey Hernandez but I am not trying to fight guys like that. I don't want to fight that level of guy anymore.  I want to fight a top 10 level guy to catapult me to where I want to be.  I guess my time will come.  I just need to keep winning and stay focused.  It is definitely frustrating though," Williams explained.

There is definitely no love lost between Williams, who is trained and managed by Stephen Edwards, and former champions Austin Trout and Ishe Smith.  Trout has won three fights in a row against non-descript opposition since suffering back to back defeats to Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy Lara in 2013.

"How many f***ing tune ups does a guy need? You know their excuses are that I am not ranked high enough.  Austin Trout, let me tell you, he has never been a pound for pound guy.  He has never been known as the best fighter in the division.  He is just an ex-world champion.  He is just a guy.  Their excuse that I am not ranked high enough - I am ranked right behind them.  They are not ranked number one in the world. Trout is ranked like number five or six and I am ranked number nine.  Why can't two ranked guys in a division fight?  I think it is bullshit.  It is kind of stagnating my career a little bit.  I am pretty sure Al has a plan for me and that Steve (Edwards) has a plan for me but it is frustrating.  I just have to keep winning and keep getting better with the fights that I am getting," said Williams which lead me to ask if he felt the same way about Smith.

"He's hiding behind Mayweather.  That is just it in a nutshell.  He is hiding behind Floyd Mayweather.  Look at the guys that he has been fighting. He gets title shots but besides Lara who has he fought?"

As for getting the big fight that he craves - could forcing himself into a mandatory position be his only chance at securing a big name?

"I don't know.  I hope that is not the situation but I really don't know," Williams told BoxingScene.com. 

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