Adames dropped Williams early and controlled the fight with heavier punches and constant pressure. The result keeps Adames ahead of the WBC title picture while handing Williams a second career defeat.
Williams came out behind the southpaw jab, but Adames quickly answered. Late in the opening round, Adames landed a hard punch that sent Williams to the canvas. Williams beat the count and acquitted himself before the bell, but the moment set the tone.
Adames took command through the early rounds. He stepped forward, planted his feet and let his hands go as Williams stayed compact behind a tight guard and looked to counter. A short break in the fourth followed a low blow, but once the action resumed, Adames returned to throwing with power.
By the middle rounds, Adames began to wear Williams down. He worked the body, placed right hands through the guard and kept Williams on. Williams had moments in exchanges, but he could not match the power or impact of the champion’s punches.
Adames continued to press, digging to the body and landing shots as Williams continued to fire back in spots. In the eleventh, Adames hurt Williams again, pushing him close to the point of a stoppage.
Williams showed toughness and pushed through the final rounds, although Adames lost a point in the twelfth to a low blow. The challenger finished on his feet, but he absorbed the heavier shots throughout the fight.
Effective aggression and cleaner hitting determined the outcome.
“I’m just a very accurate puncher and I just couldn’t miss with that shot,” Adames said after the fight. “With all due respect, he’s just not on my level.”
Williams acknowledged the performance.
“He did a good job,” Williams said.
Adames retains the WBC middleweight title and remains positioned at the top of the division. Williams leaves with a second loss but showed durability over twelve rounds against a champion who set the pace and controlled the exchanges.
