He's one of the jewels in the PBC's crown and the unified IBO, IBF and WBA super-welterweight world champion; he's Philadelphia's own, Julian 'J-rock' Williams. He's humble despite his lofty status as unified world champion and remains as hungry as a young contender. It's unlikely he'll take any opponent lightly and that's the imposing challenge that lies ahead for Jeison Rosario when he challenges 'J-rock' for his world titles on January 18th.

"I think it's a good fight," Williams told me. "Rosario's a good fighter and he only has a lone defeat to Nathaniel Gallimore. I think he's going to put up a real good fight and I think he brings a lot of different things to the table: size, punching power. I've got to be fully prepared and locked-in to look good and win."

The twenty-nine year-old achieved his dream last May when he defeated and dethroned the previously unbeaten IBO, IBF & WBA super-welterweight world champion, Jarrett Hurd, in Hurd's home town, no less. It was a shock to some, but not to Williams himself.

"I knew I was in control from the minute I signed the contract to fight Jarrett Hurd," he said. "He's a good fighter, but I just knew deep down inside that I had what it takes to beat him and I proved it on May 11th."

Unfortunately we're used to seeing some farcical decisions in our sport. With Hurd being the undefeated home town champion, it wouldn't have been beyond the realms of possibility to have seen him walk away with his undefeated record intact. Thankfully, Williams was rightfully announced the victor and new champ.

"When I heard 116-111, I knew it's impossible for him to win 116-111 because I got a knockdown, I can do basic math," he proclaimed! "Then I heard 115-112, 'I said, okay they gave me seven rounds and with a knockdown that's 115--112', so I was pretty confident."

 'J-rock' was visibly emotional in the post-fight interview and even broke down in tears. The realisation of what he had attained was clearly a lot to take in.

"I've been working my whole life for that one particular moment and to see it come to fruition, especially with what I've been through the last couple of years, getting so much backlash for taking the loss (in 2016 to Jermall Charlo) and it was really emotional for me," he proudly said. "I was just happy and I was thankful I got to experience it; a lot of fighters don't get to experience that. This is every fighter's dream - at least it should be."

Initially, Hurd invoked his contractual rematch and the rematch, tantalisingly intriguing to many fight fans, was on. But he then changed his mind and the bout was off. Williams will now move on to the other challenges that lie ahead at 154lbs. "I'm not disappointed at all. He chose to put his health first in not fighting me and I respect that. He wants to go back to the drawing board and get some things situated with himself and his team. Maybe one day we'll see each other in the future."

The notoriously silent and lesser spotted, Al Haymon manages Williams' career and he's just another in a long list of fighters who are more than happy to sing the PBC kingpin's praises.

"One thing I will say, without saying too much, is he's kept every promise he ever made to me," he explained. "With as many fighters as he has - that's extremely hard. I can only imagine what he goes through. Everything he ever promised me, I got. He told me I'd be champion and I am. He told me I'd get another shot (after the loss to Jermall Charlo) and I did. So, I respect him for that."

Elsewhere at 154lbs, Erislandy Lara currently holds a different version of the WBA world title. It all helps to muddy the waters and hinder the casual boxing fans from knowing who the real champions are.

"I think it's a little bit confusing and I think they've taken away from what it is to be a world champion. It's a bit confusing that you've got, for example: the WBA super, the WBA regular, WBA gold, WBA interim. Who's really a world champion? The fans don't really know. All they see is guys with belts and they think they're champions. They're not, you know what I mean? I think it's a bit confusing to the general public. That's all I can say."

So, when Williams defends his three world titles for the first time against the Dominican Republic's Jeison Rosario, I can't envisage that the success of winning those titles will go to his head. He remains grounded and very hungry, just like Rosario will be.

"It's a chance to make his dreams come true and I'm not underestimating him because I was in that same position just six months ago. The same exact position he was in. He's hungry and I'm not mad at him. He's got thirty-six minutes to change his life forever. He's gonna be prepared and I'll be prepared as well and expecting to come out on top."