On The Watch “It’s All About Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury II”

Unified Heavyweight Championship

The highly anticipated Heavyweight Showdown rematch between Unified Heavyweight Champion IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 12 Kos) and former WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 Kos) lived up to the “HYPE” but not without some controversy at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Usyk came in this bout laser focused and clicking on all cylinders while Fury walked in much heavier and armed with a different “game plan” that had him stand his ground in a much more aggressive manner.

Tyson’s jab was on point and very active at keeping Usyk at bay but not enough to deter him from the task at hand. Usyk fought toe-to-toe with the Big Man and bobbed and weaved as best he could while Fury did his best at maintaining his distance while being more attentive round by round.

Both combatants had their moments round by round but as the fight progressed to the second half of the bout you could see Fury slowing his work rate down probably due the excess weight he was carrying.

Nevertheless, this bout was a highly contested showdown where both combatants had to work through their respective skill sets to cancel out one another in this chess like bout inside that squared circle. Both combatants threw enough leather at one another but the accuracy of the punch output favored Usyk.

This was a very close bout to call from start to finish but after 12 full rounds of action all three Judges at hand scored it unanimously 116-112 for Oleksandr Usyk.

Listen, I don’t have a problem with Usyk being declared the winner, but I personally think that Fury, in his second go around with Usyk did a lot better than being awarded only 4 rounds in this highly competitive bout.

Controversial scores aside, Usyk retained his IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Championship belts and is still King of the Heavyweight Division.

Well done, Champ!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA-Who’s On Top?

The NBA-Who’s On Top?

We are officially passed the Quarter mark of this year’s NBA Season and with the successful completion of the second NBA In-Season Tournament, now dubbed the Emirates NBA Cup, proving that even with a bad start at the beginning of the season you can still have enough time to change the negative to a positive.
Although the NBA ratings are down this year, the added Emirates NBA Cup cash prize brought life to all participating teams and raised the competition to an NBA Playoff level type vibe.

The two teams who represented their respective coasts for this Emirates NBA Cup in Las Vegas were the No. 5 Seeded Milwaukee Bucks (14-11) for the Eastside and No.1 Seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5) for the Westside. Staged on a neutral floor, both teams balled out like it was the NBA Finals and made the game that much hyper, but it was the Bucks who showed up and played with that hunger and armed with a two-time League MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo determined to lead the way by making his presence felt with his 26 points, 19 boards and 10 assists on the night. Giannis walked it like he talked and delivered on his promise on claiming the Emirates NBA Cup for the Bucks by defeating a very gamed Oklahoma City Thunder team who fell short on the night. Hopefully the Bucks can use this accomplishment as momentum and build towards their main goal of another NBA Championship.

In Season Tournament aside, the true and surprising team holding down the No. 1 Spot is none other than the Cleveland Cavaliers (23-4). Them Boys are looking stronger and stronger game by game improving on every aspect on the floor. The defending Champions the Boston Celtics (21-5) are proven and still the team to beat and are well-equipped for the long haul this early in the season. The New York Knicks (16-10) with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson and an improved team defense, are prime to keep things interesting. The Orlando Magic (17-11) is surprisingly in the mix with a young nucleus competing night in and night out. The Milwaukee Bucks (14-11) fresh off winning the Emirates NBA Cup, the momentum is on their side, now its up to them stay in the running and keep climbing up with Giannis in top MVP form. The Miami Heat (13-11), the Atlanta Hawks (14-13), the Indiana Pacers (12-15) and the Chicago Bulls (12-15) are all still in the running but gotta fight hard in these early stages to maintain a spot.

As for the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5) may have fallen short in the Emirates NBA Cup Finals, but they still hold the No. 1 Spot in the competitive Western Conference looking like the team to beat. Let’s not get it twisted-them Boys are a powerhouse on any given night and with Shai Gilgeous Alexander leading the squad the sky is their only limit. The Memphis Grizzlies (18-9) are picking up steam with a healthy Ja Morant on the floor. Now it’s all about building their way to the top and maintaining a strong hold. The Houston Rockets (17-9) are just now getting it together and improving as a young unit game by game. They have the potential and the goods to stay competitive all season long. The Dallas Mavericks (17-9) are steadily getting it together with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving gelling game by game with their supporting cast playing their positions. Them Boys will remain a threat throughout the season. The Denver Nuggets (14-10) are not to be overlooked. Them Boys are going through the motions right now but remain in contender status and could easily take over the Western Conference at any time with Nikola Jokić averaging 30 points, 13 boards and 10 assists leading the pack. The Phoenix Suns (14-11) are definitely in the mix for contender contention but only if the 3 headed shooters Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal can stay healthy long enough to maintain a position in the running. Real Talk! As for the Golden State Warriors (14-11), the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-11), the LA Clippers (15-12), and the Los Angeles Lakers (14-12), any one of these competitive teams could easily move up in the tough Western Conference so don’t be surprised at an inevitable shuffle in the future standings.

Stay locked to another interesting Season.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace”

Super Middleweight Showdown

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN + Main Event between Jaime Munguia (44-2, 35 Kos) and Bruno Surace, (26-0-2, 5 Kos) at his hometown of Tijuana, Mexico, turned out to be a cherry pick gone wrong for the homegrown fighter.

This bout was meant to be a stay busy fight with no real threat ahead but what transpired was quite different when the little-known Frenchman, Surace asserted himself quite well and surprised the opposition.

Although Munguia did score an early knock down in round two with a powerful left hook, he was unable to get the Frenchman out of there. Surace stood his ground and fought toe-to-toe and took some abuse but fended off the attack quite well.

Surace, who is not known for being a power puncher did have quickness and good punch selection making this bout quite interesting at times. Munguia was physically the bigger and stronger combatant but still had to work inside that squared circle with his opponent showing much resistance.

Judging by how the bout was unfolding, it was clear that Munguia did not respect Surace’s power and that cost him dearly in the sixth round when he got caught with his hands wide open to a counter one two combination straight to the chin that dropped Munguia to the floor struggling to get up to the referee’s count who inevitably stopped the bout before he could come to his senses.

No one anticipated this type of an outcome but Surace and his team who had never fought outside of France before seized the opportunity bestowed to them and accepted the challenge with open arms and silenced all naysayers who had counted them out. Surace, who is not a true Super Middleweight proved to be a formidable opponent on the night and for that I tip my “B” hat to him for handing us possibly the Upset Of The Year.

Blaze

DJ Blaze’s Top 15 December 15, 2024

1-Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre f/ALUS-Outta Da Blue
2-DJ Frass & Chip-Gyalis Pree
3-Dej Loaf f/2 Chainz-Faded
4-Capella Grey-I’m Weak
5-Ella Mai-One Of These
6-Capella Grey f/French Montana & Fivio Foreign-Strings
7-Snoop Dogg, Dave East & Whoistevenyoung-Love You More
8-Capella Grey-One More Chance
9-Mary J. Blige f/Fabolous-Breathing
10-Kyle Banks & Eric Bellinger-Fantasies
11-Kehlani f/Lil Mo & Vince Staples-Know Better
12-J-Doe f/G-Eazy-Let Me See It
13-Lola Brook f/Jeremih-No One Else
14-Chris Brown-Press Me
15-Dave East & Scram Jones f/Trini-Secrets