Carlos Adames strengthened his claim as the world’s leading middleweight on Saturday night, outpointing Austin “Ammo” Williams over 12 rounds to retain his WBC title at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.
Adames, 31, won by unanimous decision with scores of 118-108 and 117-109 twice, after a performance built on accuracy, discipline and consistent pressure. He scored a knockdown in the second round and, despite losing a point in the final session for low blows, was in control for most of the contest.
Williams, 29, began with intent in the opening round, working behind a firm jab and landing several straight left hands to head and body. He took the initiative early, pushing Adames back and making the champion reset. Adames had some success with single shots, but Williams’ activity and timing gave him the edge in the first three minutes.
The fight changed early in the second. Adames, a natural counter-puncher with extensive amateur experience, started to read Williams’ entries. Spotting Williams’ static head on the centre line, he drove home a pair of right hands through the middle, sending the challenger to the canvas in the opening minute. Williams rose, beat the count and held on under pressure as Adames tried to close the show.
Williams steadied himself in the third, again finding a home for the left hand and keeping Adames honest with volume. It was likely his last clear round. From the fourth onwards, the champion tightened his defence, established his jab and took command of the geography of the ring. Adames began to hold the centre, forcing Williams to retreat to the ropes and fight off the back foot, a role that does not suit the Texan’s usual front-foot style.
Through the middle rounds, Adames repeatedly landed the right hand as Williams continued to come in on straight lines. The Dominican’s 230-fight amateur background was evident in his balance and shot selection; he made Williams miss, then tagged him with counters upstairs.
When it became clear in the sixth that Williams’ chin would hold up under head shots, Adames switched focus to the body. He dug in hooks and straight shots downstairs, drawing visible reactions and leaving Williams breathing heavily by the end of the round. The challenger’s output dropped and his feet slowed, making him even more vulnerable to Adames’ timing.
Williams’ trainer, Kevin Cunningham, had asked for more uppercuts from his fighter, but it was Adames who delivered the most telling one. In the eighth round, the champion snapped Williams’ head back with a sharp uppercut, further underlining the gap in class on the night.
Behind on the cards, Williams tried to rally in the 10th. He came out fast, forced Adames back briefly and threw in combination. The surge lasted less than a minute before Adames reasserted his control, responding with measured punches and walking Williams down again.
In the final round, Adames was docked a point for repeated low blows, a rare blemish on an otherwise disciplined display. Even with the deduction, the result was never in doubt. Adames pressed for a stoppage in the closing seconds, landing heavy shots as both men traded to the bell, but Williams stayed upright and saw out the fight.
Williams leaves with a second professional defeat but also with credit for his resilience and willingness to compete to the end. Adames, now 25-1-1 (18 KOs), remains WBC champion and, with Janibek Alimkhanuly inactive, has a strong case as the division’s number one.
