Julian “J-Rock” Williams, Antoine Douglas & Tony Harrison Saturday at Sands in Bethlehem

By Ken Hissner, Dog House Boxing (March 5, 2016)

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Philadelphia’s Julian "J-Rock" Williams, 21-0-1 (13), held a press conference at Shuler’s Gym Tuesday in West Philadelphia. One of the finest gyms in the city ran and owned by Buster Custus. This is a Showtime Boxing event promoted by Marshall Kauffman’s Kings Promotions. This is a triple header. Later in the week another press conference was held at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem which I also attended with five of the main bouts boxers.

Main event match features Williams who is No. 5 and his opponent Marcello Matano, 16-1 (5), of Veneto, Italy is No. 6 in the IBF rankings. The winner gets a shot at champion Jermall Charlo’s super welterweight title.Matano holds the IBF Inter-Continental title. “I have had plenty of sparring. I’ve seen Matano on you tube. He is a rough fighter.” said Williams.

Matano’s last three fights have all been 12 rounder’s. “I have only gone 10 rounds once though I had other bouts scheduled for 10 (7 of his last 8 fights have been ko’s),” said Williams. At the Sands Williams said “I know Matano expected to be here for a short visit but after I put him IN THE HOSPITAL it will be a little longer than expected.

“We are to get a title fight with a win over Matano to meet IBF champion Jermall Charlo,” said Breadman (trainer).

In two other 10 rounds bouts which will be included on Showtime at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA, Saturday night. Antoine Douglas, 19-0-1 (13), out of DC holder of the WBO super middleweight International title meets Avtandil Khurtsidze, 31-2-2 (20) a Georgian now out of Brooklyn, NY. He has won 6 of his last 7 fights and is remembered for his fight with Tony Marshall back in 2005 when the referee’s premature stoppage caused a near riot after Khursidze was winning big. This could be the best bout scheduled. Both fighters had little to say.

Tony Harrison, 22-1 (18), of Detroit, meets Dominican southpaw Fernando Guerrero, 28-3 (20), out of Salisbury, MD. Harrison lost for the first time two fights ago but bounced right back with a win. On the other hand Guerrero lost in a WBO middleweight title fight to Peter Quillin and two former champions in his three losses. Harrison had not arrived yet for the press conference.

Ukranian super middleweight IevgenKhytrov, 12-0 (11), now out of Brooklyn is a hard hitting fighter being matched with Kenneth McNeil, 9-1 (6), out of Birmingham, AL, who has scored stoppages in his last five fights.Khytrov is one to watch with a pedigreed amateur background and over 500 fights.

In this 9 bout card Philadelphia heavyweight Joey “Tank” Dawejko, 16-4-2 (9), takes on 2012 Ecuador OlympianYtaloPerera, 6-2-1 (4). Dawejko is trained by former super lightweight champion Buddy McGirt. Both were in attendance along with Level 57 manager Mark Cipparone. A pair of southpaw super middleweights in Terrance Williams, 4-0 (1), of York, PA, faces Anthony Miller, 2-1 (2), of Wilmington, DE.

Amir Shabazz, 2-0 (0), out of Philadelphia takes on Hakeem Atkinson, 2-1 (1), out of GA, light heavyweights. Chordale Booker makes debut against Pat Kehoe, 1-2 (0), of Reading, PA, super welterweights.

Please send all questions and comments to Ken Hissner at: Kenhissner@gmail.com

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