ON The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS”

NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals 2025

The No. 1 Seeded Oklahoma City Thunder had themselves a warm up type series in the first round by sweeping the No. 8 Seeded Memphis Grizzlies in 4 games. Now well rested, these young gunners are well equipped and willing to take down their next challenge, the No. 4 Seeded Denver Nuggets who are fresh off a tough game 7 series but prevailed to continue on their journey. The young gunners City Thunder may be the new kids on the block but these Nuggets have been down this road before and won it all so their experience in the trenches will be key in this intriguing matchup.

The No. 6 Seeded Minnesota Timberwolves are riding high after slaying the No. 3 Seeded Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games. Super star Anthony Edwards seems to think that the road to the Finals will be easier after taking down LeBron James and Luka Doncic out the way but I personally think he needs to keep his head in the game because waiting to derail him and his squad are the battle tested No. 7 Seeded Golden State Warriors fresh off a competitive game seven series against the No. 2 Seeded Houston Rockets. Houston had the Warriors on their back but these old heads were battle tested and bred for the ‘Big Stage”. Experience carried them over in this series but a newer and younger challenge await them in the second round.

Both these matchups are must see TV so tune in Monday night May 5, 2025, and witness these series unfold.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Naoya Inoue vs Ramon Cardenas”

Undisputed Junior Featherweight Showdown

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN+ Main Event between Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Featherweight Champion Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 Kos) and challenger Ramon Cardenas (26-2, 14 Kos), single handedly saved the entire heavy weekend of boxing by giving us fans the excitement that was missing throughout the weekend when these two warriors graced the inside of that squared circle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

This bout was action packed from start to finish. Both combatants were very sharp and brought the “HEAT” while exchanging some serious leather with “BOMBS” coming from both sides. Inoue’s aggressive style is very crowd pleasing but can sometimes leave openings when not careful and that is exactly what transpired when he got caught late in the second round with a counter left hook and tasted the canvas for a quick standing 8 count. He brushed himself off though while the fans in attendance erupted with “HYPE” as the action was about to blow up!

From round three, the action picked up from both combatants. I was impressed by Cardenas who stood his ground and fought toe-to-toe and asserted himself quite well and made it an entertaining bout as the rounds progressed.

That being said, a highly motivated Inoue stepped his game up and his pressure as he started to walk down his opponent while administering some heavy shots loaded with combinations. The inevitable was near as Inoue’s onslaught was becoming painfully hard for Cardenas to avoid and he eventually folded in the corner to a standing 8 count in the seventh round. The crowd once again erupted to their feet as Cardenas survived the round.

By the start of round eight the unanswered onslaught came in hot and Cardenas was pinned on the ropes absorbing some serious leather which then prompted the referee to halt the bout. Some will say that the stoppage was premature but truth be told, the end was truly inevitable as the punches were coming in at a higher clip with some serious power behind them.

With this convincing win now under his belt, Naoya Inoue retained his Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Featherweight Championship Titles and continues to reign supreme.

Well done, Champ.

Blaze

DJ Blaze’s Top 15 May 4, 2025

1-Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre f/ALUS-Outta Da Blue
2-Bobby Brackins f/Ray J & Jeremih-My Birthday
3-Maliibu Miitch f/Jeremih-Benjmain Crew
4-Jim Jones f/Rick Ross & Ron E-Deep End
5-Mozzy & Kalan FrFr-My Hood
6-Jim Jones f/Juelz Santana, Vado, Dave East, Suzi-This Sh*t Still In Harlem (rmx)
7-Busta Rhyme, Trillian, Te Money, Connie Diamond & BK Gudda-Get On Your Job
8-DJ Frass & Chip-Gyalis Pree
9-Capella Grey-I’m Weak
10-Fridayy f/Chris Brown-One Call Away
11-Zeddy Will f/French Montana-Back Back
12-Jim Jones f/Taylor Ricard-Skin
13-Gina Thompson f/Fani The Body-Nobody
14-Bow Wow f/Chris Brown-Use Me
15-K Koke-Winning

On The Watch ”It’s All About The Ring Magazine Fatal Fury in Times Square”

Ring’s Fatal Fury “City of the Wolves”

Last night’s three-card Fatal Fury in Times Square Main Event brought to us by his Excellency Turki Alashikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment, sadly, did not live up to the “HYPE” created by the unknown and the expected excitement.

The closed-out location at Times Square, the production and the Ring, created a different scene and atmosphere that will forever be remembered but where things went left is with the performances that some of the chosen talent for the night who neglected to perform at their peak form on this historical night. Real talk!

First up on the Main Event night was WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 Kos) defending his Championship Belts against undefeated mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 Kos). Although Barboza earned his way to the mandatory position and talked a good game throughout the build-up, he quickly found out that there are levels to this boxing sh*t and on this night, Lopez produced a dominant performance that will forever haunt Barboza. Lopez outworked, outhustled, outboxed and outgunned Barboza who is a very good boxer but lacked the proper skill set and “game plan” to dethrone the Champ on the night. After 12 one-sided rounds of action, the Judges at hand scored it 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 unanimously for Teofimo Lopez. Well done!

Next up was Devin Haney (32-0, 15 Kos) and Jose Ramirez (29-3, 18 Kos) who met up at a catch weight of 144 Lbs. Haney, who talked a good game during the build-up of the bout failed miserably to capture the hearts of viewers at home and in attendance. Neither combatant pressed the action or threw enough leather to land anything significant. I expected Devin, who hadn’t fought in a year, to come out the gate pumped up and ready for some action but what we got was a shell-shocked safety-first reluctant fighter, who put the viewers and fans in attendance to sleep. Ramirez did himself no favours as well with his own lack of activity. It was a very disappointing performance by both combatants on such a big stage like this. Nevertheless, the Judges at hand called it 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110 unanimously for Devin Haney.

The final bout of the night belonged to Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 Kos) and Rolando “Rolly” Romero (17-2, 13 Kos) who met up at the Welterweight Division. With “Rolly” being counted out and labeled the underdog, he wasted no time asserting himself and pressed the action to score an impressive second-round knockdown over Garcia that changed the flow of the bout as it progressed. Garcia looked flat and disengaged, unable to pull the trigger on “Rolly” who was calm and disciplined out-boxing Garcia round by round. “Rolly” stuck with the “game plan” and executed it to a “T” and gained mad confidence round by round while Garcia neglected his corner’s instructions and urgency to let his hands go. Although neither combatant threw an abundance of leather, “Rolly” made his presence felt more than none by landing the more telling punches.

After 12 rounds of action, the Judges at hand scored it 118-109, 115-112 and 115-112 unanimously for Rolando “Rolly” Romero. You were counted out and you prevailed and silenced all the naysayers. With this impressive win under your belt, you are now the proud owner of the vacant WBA “Regular” Welterweight Championship Title. Well done Champ and enjoy this well-earned victory

Blaze

ON The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS”

The NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals

With the first round officially over, we can now set our attention on the second round of action where the No. 1 Seeded Cleveland Cavaliers just swept the Miami Heat in four games to now welcoming the No. 4 Seeded Indiana Pacers, fresh off dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. The Pacers have prevailed in their head-to-head meetings winning three of their four encounters throughout the season but truth be told, the Cavs have proven to be the most dominant team throughout the season playing levels above their competition. That said, both squads are coming in highly motivated and will definitely put their best foot forward come “Gametime”. One thing for sure is this Pacers team is not to be taken lightly so I expect a serious shootout in this series.

The No. 2 Seeded Defending Champions Boston Celtics stayed busy by dismantling the Orlando Magic in five games but awaiting them are the No. 3 Seeded New York Knicks who had a tougher time getting rid of the Detroit Pistons in six games. The Knicks got tested and pushed but eventually prevailed to move on. The way Jalen Brunson has been balling out in the first round and their squad following suit, the Celtics have a serious threat on their hands that will surely challenge them. I’m expecting a very interesting series with these two battling it out. That being said, the Celtics have been here before.

Tune in this Sunday May 4, 2025, for round two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Blaze