Tank-Roach Undercard: Undefeated 154-pounder Yoenis Tellez puts on a clinic against Julian Williams
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 Mar 2025
In the first pay per view undercard of the highly anticipated Gervonta 'Tank' Davis vs Lamont Roach WBA lightweight championship at Barclays Center in New York Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) rising star Yoenis Tellez (10-0-0, 7KOs) from Cuba now residing in Stafford, Texas won over solid veteran Julian Williams (25-5-1, 17KOs) of Philadelphia, PA by wide unanimous decision capturing the WBA interim super welterweight title.
Yoenis Tellez put on a masterclass Julian Williams in a 12-round battle that showcased the Cuban prospect’s precision, power, and relentless body attack. The judges’ scorecards reflected Tellez’s dominance, with Tony Paolillo scoring it 119-109, Robert Perez at 117-111, and Waleska Roldan at 118-110.
The fight began cautiously, with Williams attempting to disrupt Tellez’s rhythm in the opening round using lateral movement and a probing left hand. However, Tellez found his groove in Round 2, landing a stinging right hand that briefly backed Williams to the ropes and followed it with a left hook to the body, signaling his intent to break the veteran down.
By Round 3, Tellez’s body work became a central theme. A pair of hooks to the midsection and a right hand-right uppercut combination showcased his ability to string punches together, targeting Williams’ liver as analysts had predicted pre-fight. Williams, known for his sturdy chin and defensive acumen, weathered the storm but struggled to mount consistent offense.
The middle rounds saw Williams employ savvy movement and feints to slow the pace, frustrating Tellez’s attempts to land clean in Round 6. A counter left hook from Williams briefly halted Tellez’s momentum, but the younger fighter remained undeterred. In Round 7, Tellez’s consistent left hand began to wear on Williams, who stayed on the back foot, content to survive rather than engage.
Tellez turned up the heat in Round 8, focusing heavily on the body with a 1-2 combination downstairs. Though Williams blocked and countered effectively at times, he couldn’t deter Tellez’s aggression. By Round 9, Tellez’s jab and a devastating right hook-uppercut combo on the inside visibly rocked Williams, who appeared fatigued heading into the championship rounds.
Round 10 saw Tellez double down on his body attack, landing a trio of right hands and a triple jab to Williams’ midsection. Williams countered with a right hand of his own, but Tellez’s focus on the torso was clearly taking its toll. As the fight entered Round 11, Tellez capped the stanza with a right uppercut, setting the stage for a final push.
In the 12th and final round, Williams’ corner urged him to target Tellez’s liver with a hook, believing the fight was still within reach. Tellez, however, came out swinging with a 1-2-left uppercut sequence. Though the round ended slowly, with Tellez landing inconsistently with the left hand, his earlier work had sealed the deal. Williams fought valiantly but couldn’t overcome the Cuban’s relentless pressure and volume.
With the victory, Tellez not only claimed the WBA interim super welterweight title but also solidified his status as a rising star in the division. Williams, meanwhile, showed resilience but couldn’t turn back the clock against the younger, hungrier fighter.
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