Question: The junior middleweight division looks to be stacked with talent. What are your thoughts on the fighters rated in your division by THE RING?
J-Rock's response:
C – Floyd Mayweather – Floyd is the best in the business right now. I can’t really say nothing else about him but he’s the best in the business. He’s succeeded from all angles, he won world titles, he makes the most money, he draws the biggest crowds, he draws the biggest rating. There’s absolutely nothing bad I can say about Floyd Mayweather inside and outside the ring.
1 – Canelo Alvarez – I think Canelo is a star. I think he’s very beatable and I can’t wait until I have the opportunity to prove to everybody how beatable he is but also he is a good fighter. A lot of people think because he’s a superstar that he’s privileged but just because he’s privileged doesn’t mean he’s not great. That guy’s fought some great competition over the past two years or so, (Austin) Trout, Floyd (Mayweather), come right back and to fight (Alfredo) Angulo, then he fights (Erislandy) Lara, so I have nothing bad to say about him. I just think he’s beatable.
2 – Erislandy Lara – He’s a good fighter, he’s another guy who’s tricky. I wouldn’t consider him as the best junior middleweight in the world. I think he’s a good solid fighter but I think he’s beatable.
3 – Carlos Molina – He’s tricky. If you look at him on tape you see no threat but he’s the kind of guy looking at him and being inside the ring with him is two different things. Just ask James Kirkland. James Kirkland is probably the most feared man in the division and Carlos Molina was taking it to him. I’m a big fan of Carlos Molina.
4 – Austin Trout – Is a good guy, he can fight too. He’s more physically tough than skilful. He’s one of those guys he has no quit in him. I can definitely respect that. He’s fought in good competition (Miguel) Cotto, Canelo, Erislandy Lara, he’s got a pretty decent resume even though he’s dropped a few. He’s a tough guy with a good skillset.
5 – Demetrius Andrade – Is probably the most difficult guy in the division because he’s so long and he’s a southpaw. He throws a lot of punches. I don’t think he has the biggest punch but he’s super busy. I think he’s going to be difficult for anybody to beat.
6 – Vanes Martirosyan – He’s another one, he’s pretty good. He’s just solid. I have nothing bad to say about him. Every time out you’re going to be in for a fight with him, he’s not going to lay down. He’s got plenty of heart, he’s got decent skillset.
7 – Willie Nelson – Is a good fighter, his size is threat to anybody. I don’t think he has the best chin in the world but one thing he does have is a big heart and a good gas tank and those two combinations could be a threat to anybody in the junior middleweight division.
8 – Jermell Charlo – He’s got solid boxing skills. I think he punches harder than a lot of people give him credit for, he’s a good fighter.
9 – Ishe Smith – I think he’s a good fighter but to be honest I think his best days are behind him and he’s trying to cash out and maximize his earning potential and fight the biggest fights he can, which I don’t blame him for, he’s had a long career. He’s ready to make some money and get out. He paid his dues.
10 – Jermall Charlo – I think Jermall is a good fighter. I think Jermall has a really good skillset but doesn’t have a big punch but to me he hasn’t fought anybody. I’ve seen him fight plenty of times but he hasn’t fought anybody. I don’t know how he is when he gets tired or hurt.
Question:
How far do you feel you are from the top guys at 154-pounds?
J-Rock's response:
I think I’m right there. I think I have been fighting better competition than a few of the guys you mentioned that’s in the top 10. I mean no disrespect, but definitely Jermall (Charlo). Sometimes I wonder how he’s in the top 10 and I’ve fought way better opposition that him. That’s just the way the dice roll sometimes I guess, but things like that keep me motivated.
Question:
Looking at the division it seems there are some good young fighters coming through. There’s Canelo and Andrade, we spoke about the Charlo brothers, there’s also you. There seems to be a strong youth presence at 154-pounds?
J-Rock's response:
Yes definitely it’s definitely a good division. There’s always guys coming up, there’s about five guys nobody talks about. Guys like Chris Pearson, Steven Martinez, those kind of guys. Steven Martinez has a loss but it was a split decision to another unbeaten prospect and that was a few years ago, and he’s kind of rebounded a little bit and you have Chris Pearson he’s with the Money Team and he’s getting the best work and he’s trying to better himself, he’s getting better with every fight, you always have guys like that that you have to watch for. Then you got guys from overseas (Sergei) Rabchanka, Jack Culcay, Liam Smith, I think the division will thrive. There’s no shortage of talent in the junior middleweight division. Then you have the welterweights moving up. Kell Brook he looks like he’s busting out at the seams at (1)47, you’re gonna have guys moving up, up and coming guys, guys from overseas. The division is gonna be in good hands.
Question:
In closing, do you have a message for the junior middleweight division?
J-Rock's response:
Nope, I don’t. I wanna stay as quiet as possible because I wanna make a big splash. I know I’m not a secret anymore but I still feel as though there are a lot of people underestimating me. I’ve been fighting pretty good competition and I’m in nobody’s top 15 in the four sanctioning bodies. I know I’m 16-0 but I look at other guys and I see who they fought and I’ve been fighting better guys. I believe they’re underestimating me, overrating other people. I’m gonna prove everybody wrong. I don’t wanna call nobody out, I don’t wanna talk trash, I’m just do what I’ve always been doing and that’s working and keep getting better and keep improving and keep beating these guys up.
Full article by Anson Wainwright here: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/355411-qa-julian-williams
The props he gave to Carlos Molina
And of course Andrade is a really good fighter. No one wants to fight him, even though he's the Champion, which is why he's moving up to 160 and about to beat Korobov and GGG when he gets the chance
Nah, GGG might just KO him
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