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Carlos Adames Defends Interim Title Against Former
Unified Champion Julian Williams June 24
Hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames
will battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams
in the 12-round main event of action live on SHOWTIME
Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event
presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will begin at 9
p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and featured top super welterweight
contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias
squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Super flyweight
world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his IBF
title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade
Bornea in the telecast opener.
“Saturday, June 24 will see three high-stakes matchups play
out in the ring, topped by rising middleweight star Carlos
Adames looking to take out hungry former champion Julian
Williams, who has his eyes set on championship gold in a
second division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB
Promotions. “With Erickson Lubin and Luis Arias squaring
off, the winner will be in prime position for a 154-pound
title shot, while Fernando Martinez can send a message to
the rest of the super flyweight division with a decisive
victory against the undefeated Jade Bornea. This lineup
shapes up to deliver another electric night at The Armory in
Minneapolis.”
Adames (22-1, 17 KOs) has become a force in the middleweight
division as he nears a chance to earn a world title
opportunity at 160 pounds. Adames scored a career-best
victory by overcoming top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in
December 2021 and followed that up by knocking out Juan
Macias Montiel in the third round to capture his interim
belt last October. The 29-year-old Adames was born in
Comendador, Dominican Republic and now lives in Washington
Heights, New York. He established himself as a contender
with a slew of victories over the likes of former champion
Carlos Molina, Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro
Barrera, with his only defeat coming by narrow decision in a
2019 154-pound title fight against Patrick Teixeira.
"I've trained hard for this fight and I'm ready to defend my
interim WBC middleweight title against Julian Williams, who
we all know is a very tough fighter,” said Adames. “I've
worked tirelessly to earn my way in the sport and I'm ready
to prove I belong at the top of the middleweight division.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills on
SHOWTIME, and I'm determined to put on a great performance
for the fans. On June 24 The Armory in Minneapolis will be
electrifying. I’m coming to win.”
Philadelphia’s Williams (29-3-1, 16 KOs) became a unified
world champion at 154-pounds in May 2019 when he upset
Jarrett Hurd in one of the year’s best fights, winning a
close-quarters brawl by unanimous decision. The 33-year-old
dropped the titles in his first defense, losing to Jeison
Rosario in January 2020, before coming up on the short end
of a narrow decision to Vladimir Hernandez in October 2021.
He most recently returned to his winning ways last November,
dominating Rolando Mansilla at The Armory on his way to a
unanimous decision.
“Training has been going great and I'm extremely
well-prepared for this fight,” said Williams. “I've just
been grinding and making the best of everything that I have.
I haven’t seen that much of him, so I’m preparing for
anything Adames can bring. A win on June 24 would mean
everything. This is what I strive for. It’s been a little
choppy, but I’m just looking forward to a tough fight in
Minneapolis.”
The 27-year-old Lubin (24-2, 17 KOs) will return to the ring
after going toe-to-toe in one of 2022’s best fights, which
saw him trade knockdowns with fellow contender Sebastian
Fundora on SHOWTIME in April 2022. Heading into the Fundora
fight, Lubin had put together an impressive six-bout winning
streak since a loss to unified 154-pound champion Jermell
Charlo in 2017, a run that included triumphs over Jeison
Rosario, Terrell Gausha and Ishe Smith. A native of Orlando,
Fla., Lubin turned pro at 18 years old in 2013 and became
one of the youngest prospects to ever appear on the
developmental series SHOBOX: The New Generation and soon
after was named “Prospect Of The Year” by ESPN and Ring
Magazine in 2016.
“I’m looking forward to making my return on SHOWTIME,” said
Lubin. “Every fight is important and I treat them all the
same. This one is no different because I’m coming in with a
chip on my shoulder. I’m planning to dominate Luis Arias so
I can get my rematches with Jermell Charlo and Sebastian
Fundora. I want to avenge my defeats and that starts with a
big performance on June 24. It’s ‘Hammer’ time on SHOWTIME.”
A native of Milwaukee who now trains out of Las Vegas,
Mayweather Promotions’ Arias (20-3-1, 9 KOs) most recently
dominated Jimmy Williams in May 2022 on his way to a
unanimous decision. Arias had scored a career-best victory
in June 2021, as he earned a decision over former unified
champion Jarrett Hurd on the Mayweather vs. Paul SHOWTIME
PPV undercard. Arias has also battled former champion Daniel
Jacobs and owns a draw against veteran contender Gabriel
Rosado.
“I’m back on the big stage and this time I’m staying here
for the long haul,” said Arias. “I’m planning on bringing an
all-out war as soon as the bell rings. June 24 has a great
lineup, but this fight will definitely steal the show. I
want to thank Floyd Mayweather and the Mayweather Promotions
team for getting me this opportunity. I’m coming to make the
most of it. War is coming!”
The unbeaten Martinez (15-0, 8 KOs) became the first world
champion promoted by his countryman, former two-division
world champion Marcos Maidana, with a scintillating victory
over Ancajas on SHOWTIME in February 2022. The 31-year-old
from Avellaneda, Argentina made the most of the opportunity,
landing a division record 421 power shots of the 427 total
punches landed to secure a unanimous decision victory over
Ancajas. They rematched in October 2022, with Martinez
putting on an even more convincing performance to retain his
title via unanimous decision.
“This is going to be my first time fighting in Minneapolis
and I hope the fans know that I’m coming to put on a show
for them,” said Martinez. “My goal isn’t just to win, it’s
to show that I’m getting better and that I’m on my way to my
goal of unifying the titles.”
Fighting out of General Santos City in the Philippines,
Bornea (18-0, 12 KOs) will fight in the U.S. for the second
time on June 24 after earning a decision over Ernesto
Delgadillo in their January 2020 clash. Since then the
27-year-old has added three victories, including a pair of
2022 triumphs that saw him best Mohammed Obbadi in January
and Ivan Meneses in August. A pro since October 2014, Bornea
is part of a boxing family as his twin brother Jake also
fights professionally.
“I have been waiting for this opportunity ever since I
turned pro,” said Bornea. “I have watched Martinez twice
fight against my friend and countryman Jerwin Ancajas, so I
know his style well. On June 24, I am going to win that
title and bring it back to the Philippines where it belongs.
I’m thankful to my whole team for this opportunity and I’m
going to make the most of it.”
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