On The Watch “It’s All About Alycia Baumgardner vs Elhem Mekhaled”

Undisputed Super Featherweight Champion

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Co Main Event between Unified IBF/IBO/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Super Featherweight Champion Alycia Baumgardner (14-1, 7 Kos) and challenger Elhem Mekhaled (15-2, 3 Kos) at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater was a very entertaining bout from start to finish. Real Talk!

Alycia came out the gate by pressing the action looking to overwhelm Elhem with her controlled aggression which kept a high pace in the early rounds. Alycia used her physical strength to her advantage and eventually dropped Elhem twice for two standing 8 counts in the third round but was unable to put Mekhaled away.

Sensing things were going bad for her, Elhem didn’t submit and continued to press the action. She continued to absorb a lot of punishment but definitely showed her durability as the rounds progressed and Alycia slowed her pace down to conserve some energy.

Sensing Alycia looked a little breathless Elhem pressed the action well into the championship rounds making this a tougher bout then expected but Alycia showed determination and bit down on her gum shield and mustered the right amount of energy and shots needed to edge the rounds in my eyes. Her punches were simply more telling.

After 10 full rounds of action the Judges at hand scored it 99-89, 99-89 and 98-90 unanimously for Alycia Baumgardner.

With this win Alycia picked up the vacant WBA Super Featherweight Title while retaining her IBF/IBO/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Super Featherweight Titles, now crowning her the New Undisputed Super Featherweight Champion of the World.

Congratulations Alycia on your latest astonishing accomplishment.

Blaze

DJ Blaze’s Top 15 February 5, 2023

1-Coi Leray-Players (rmx)
2-Diddy f/Bryson Tiller, Yung Miami, Ashanti-Gotta Move On (rmx)
3-AD f/Kalan.FrFr-Still Learning
4-Jim Jones & Hitmaka f/BEAM-Gunshot
5-Joe Moses f/Jeremih-Freak It
6-Diddy f/Rick Ross-Whatcha Gon’ Do
7-J.I. The Prince of N.Y.-It’s Officially Done
8-French Montana f/King Combs, Kodak Black & DJ Drama-Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop (rmx)
9-Mr. Lewis Aka Spliff Star f/Smoova-Live Life
10-Tyga & Chris Brown-Nasty
11-Kai Ca$h f/Capella-Round And Round
12-French Montana & DJ Drama-Choose You
13-Derek King-Cautious
14-VRS-Wide Open
15-A Boogie Wit Da Hoody f/Tory Lanez-Take Shots

On The Watch “It’s All About The 72nd 2023 NBA All-Star Game”

The 2023 NBA All-Star Game

This year, the 72nd annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Utah at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Sunday February 19, 2023. Once again, the starters were chosen by the fans while the rest of the squad was selected by the media and their peers. That said the Western and returning leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, and the Eastern returning leading vote-getter from the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again serve as Captains of their respective Conferences.

Representing the Western Conference “Team LeBron” Starters this year are:

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
-Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

Reserves
-Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
-Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
-Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
-Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

Coach Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets)

Representing the Eastern Conference “Team Giannis” Starters this year:

-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) Team Captain
-Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
-Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
-Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
-Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)

Reserves

-Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
-DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
-Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

Coach Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics)

Now this year the NBA added a kink to the Draft-Style format. For the first time, the NBA All-Star Draft will take place right before the game. (unbelievable!) The two Team Captains Giannis and LeBron, will draft the team rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference.

The Draft will start at 7:30 PM ET on TNT on Sunday February 19, 2023.

Truth be told, I am not a fan of this new format but nevertheless “King of the Court” will still be up for grabs once again come Sunday night February 19, 2023 on NBA TNT. Which Squad will claim “GAME” when the dust settles?

Tune in and enjoy all the festivities of the entire weekend starting February 17 to February 19, 2023.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Emanuel Navarrete vs Liam Wilson”

Vacant WBO Super Featherweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN+ Main Event between WBC Featherweight Champion Emanuel Navarrete (37-1, 31 Kos) and challenger Liam Wilson (11-2, 7 Kos) definitely brought the fans in attendance at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona to their feet.

It was a very intriguing bout where the highly favourite Navarrete got tested early and probably underestimated his opponent when he got dropped and hurt badly in the fourth round but still managed to survive the onslaught coming at him.

With a strong fourth decisive round in the bank for Liam, his confidence grew from that point on but was still unable to capitalize fully as the rounds progressed. Navarrete definitely stepped his game up but still left himself quite open to some unnecessary shots due to his awkward style.

Navarrete’s lack of respect for defense was quite apparent but his high-volume offense and power shots undeniably make up for it as he usually overwhelms his opponents into submission.

As the rounds progressed both combatants exchanged good shots but it was Navarrete who seemed to take control in the later rounds. By the ninth round the inevitable occurred when Navarrete decided to put his punches together and chased down Wilson with a detonating right hand to the dome that dropped a badly hurt Liam for an 8 count that saw him rise up to his feet only to succumb to a barrage of unanswered punches from head to body pinned on the ropes and forcing the referee to put a stop to the bout.

It was a tougher bout then expected for Navarrete who got tested on the night but his higher work rate throughout the bout got the job done in a convincing fashion.

With this win Navarrete became a Three Division World Champion and the new WBO Super Featherweight Champion of the World.

Being that Emanuel is also the WBC Featherweight Champion and now WBO Super Featherweight Champion, he will have 10 days to inform the WBO sanctioning body of which Division he will be campaigning at as Champion in the future.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde”

IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Championship Showdown

Canada stand Up! Tonight’s BT Sport/ESPN + Main Event between IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 Kos) and mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 Kos) at the OVO Arena in London England, definitely lived up to the hype! Real Talk!

This bout was a competitive battle right from the jump with both combatants feeling each other out and working on their respective game plan round by round. Both warriors looked strong and fit and ready for war. To me Beterbiev came out as the aggressor unlike what Anthony predicted prior to the build-up which was very surprising. Anthony felt he would be the one dictating how the bout would unfold but things quickly changed as the rounds progressed and he eventually felt Artur’s power.

Both combatants threw leather with intention to hurt each other by visibly marking each other with some very good shots but it was Artur who seemed to me to have the more telling effect as the rounds progressed.

The home-grown fighter Anthony stood his ground and represented his country to the fullest but clearly found himself in a dog fight as the rounds advanced. Both combatants were going blow for blow administering some serious damage but as the rounds developed it was Anthony who seemed to fade with fatigue in my eyes.

Anthony boxed beautifully but the pressure Beterbiev was moving in with was definitely breaking Anthony down slowly but effectively. By the eight round, the inevitable was on the horizon and when Beterbiev connected with two heavy, well-placed right hands to the dome and dropped Anthony, the writing was already on the wall.

Although Anthony rose to his feet after the standing eight count, he looked confused and defeated but proceeded to continue absorbing further punishment from Beterbiev which then quickly prompted Anthony’s corner to halt the bout.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and although Beterbeiv was the elder of the two combatants it was his durability and his experience that carried him over this tough battle.

With this win Artur maintained his perfect knockout ratio along with his IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Titles patiently waiting for the opportunity at undisputed with WBA Super Light heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 Kos).

Congratulations Artur on another destructive performance.

Blaze