WBC middleweight interim champion Carlos Adames will battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the twelve-round main event live on Showtime on Saturday, June 24th at The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The Showtime Championship Boxing broadcast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also junior middleweights Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias squaring off in a ten rounder. IBF super flyweight champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea in the broadcast opener. Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. Lubin vs. Arias is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.
“Saturday, June 24th 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.”
