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Julian Williams vs Jeison Rosario Odds & Picks

Dylan Bowker

by Dylan Bowker in Boxing

Updated Mar 31, 2021 · 2:15 PM PDT

Julian Williams throwing a jab to the body of Jarrett Hurd
Julian Williams, left, hits Jarrett Hurd during their IBF, WBA and IBO super welterweight title boxing bout in Fairfax, Va., Saturday, May 11, 2019. Williams won by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
  • Williams vs Rosario goes Saturday, January 18th at 8:00 pm EST
  • Can Williams fire up the hometown crowd with a big title defense?
  • Can Rosario come into enemy territory and score the big upset victory?

Williams vs Rosario goes down at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Williams is the hometown lad and will likely get a warm partisan welcome from the audience. Three world titles at super welterweight are on the line with the winner leaving with hardware from the WBA, IBF, and IBO. January 2020 has been a great month for huge prizefights at 154 lbs. This is the main event prize fight for the latest Premier Boxing Champions card. Check out the odds for this title fight and my sweet science breakdown below.

Williams vs Rosario Odds

Fighter Odds
Julian Williams -2250
Jeison Rosario +950

Odds taken Jan. 13

Since getting knocked out by Jermall Charlo in December 2016, Williams has put together a five-fight win streak. His opponent Rosario will enter the ring having gone unbeaten in his last eight bouts. Williams will be looking to make the first successful defense of these belts after besting previously undefeated Jarrett Hurd in a May 2019 upset victory.

Williams and Hurd put on a fight of the year contender in 2019 and there were some talks of Hurd getting an immediate rematch. Julian Williams was the upset victor in the Hurd bout and now the roles have been reversed with Rosario now in the underdog role. I think Wiliams gets a highlight reel win to validate his status as the perceived favorite coming in.

Williams Gets the W

Williams is cognizant of this aforementioned role reversal where he himself went from underdog contender to the heavily favored defending champion. He is taking Rosario very seriously and doesn’t all of a sudden have this arrogant dismissive mindset that some settle into when reaching the top of the mountain. Both men have only lost a single time in their respective careers. Williams suffered the aforementioned Charlo loss while Rosario was TKO-ed in April 2017 by Nathaniel Gallimore. The same Gallimore that Williams has beaten in the past.

This will mark only the third time Williams has fought in his hometown and will be the first time since 2011.

Considering the respective nicknames of Williams and Rosario, J-Rock and Banana, it sounds more like two battle rappers or something out of a lost Trailer Park Boys episode. These two are serious athletes though and this looks like a barnburner on paper.

These two 154 lb-ers are taking part in an intriguing crossroads fight. This is a chance for Williams to reaffirm that he is #1 in his weight class per the rankings of Ring Magazine. Rosario is slightly taller and does have a better knockout rate but the experience edge and the strength of schedule undoubtedly go to Williams.

Williams vs Rosario Tale of the Tape

Williams
VS
Rosario
27-1-1 Record 19-1-1
16 Knockouts 13
5’10 Height 5’11
72.5″ Reach 70″
Jarrett Hurd, Nathaniel Gallimore, Ishe Smith Significant Wins Jorge Cota, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Jamontay Clark
Orthodox Stance Orthodox

The two seem to have mutual respect for one another as evidenced by the respectful rapport at media events prior to this fight. These men aren’t bloviating and conjuring up bad blood that isn’t there. They have engaged in cordial press appearances and will sort things out on the night of the fight itself.

Two gentlemen and true pugilistic professionals who realize the confluence of grittiness as well as ring craft that their opponent has. I don’t think the judges will need to get involved in this twelve round contest. I see Williams securing a stoppage win inside of eight rounds.

Pick: Julian Williams (-2250)

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