On The Watch “It’s All About Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan”

WBA Featherweight Title Defence

Tonight’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between WBA Featherweight Champion Leigh Wood (26-2, 16 Kos) and Michael Conlan (16-1, 8 Kos) at the sold-out Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK, surpassed all my expectations and definitely lived up to the hype. Real Talk!

This bout started out with a bang straight from the jump with Conlan catching Leigh with an overhand left straight to the chin dropping him for a quick 8 count in the first round that had him shook and on the recovery for quite a few rounds. Conlan looked fresh and very accurate in the early rounds boxing circles around Leigh but the Champion in Wood bravely stood his ground and fought through the rough patches one round at a time.

As the second half of the bout progressed Leigh started regaining some ground capitalizing on Conlan who was looking visibly fatigued as the later rounds developed.
Although Leigh himself looked to be on shaky legs at times, Wood never stopped pressing the action and continued to apply pressure that showed cause and effect whenever he kept his hands busy enough to trouble Conlan to retreat to the ropes looking for a way out.

By the championship rounds, Leigh continued his pressure on Conlan by simply outworking him at every corner and eventually evened the odds by dropping Conlan with a left hook to the dome for a quick 8 count near the end of the 11th round.

In the final 12th round, Leigh pressured Conlan once again to the ropes and proceeded to unleash a barrage of unanswered punches that eventually knocked out Conlan between the ropes and out of the ring which then prompted the referee to wave an end to the bout.

These types of bouts, when a combatant has to come from behind and worked their way back one round at a time to finish the bout in a convincing fashion, is what builds Champions in my eyes, and tonight Leigh Woods did just that to secure his Championship Title. Unbelievable performance! I tip my “B” hat to both combatants for giving us fans an incredible show.

Congratulations Leigh on retaining your WBA Featherweight Title. You had to dig deep for this one and came out on top. Job well done Champ.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Roman Gonzalez vs Julio Cesar Martinez”

Vacant WBC Diamond Junior Bantamweight Title

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California was initially supposed to be a highly anticipated third rematch between WBA “Super” Junior Bantamweight Champion Juan Francisco Estrada (42-3, 28 Kos) and former Four Division World Champion Roman Gonzalez (51-3, 41 Kos), however due to Juan Francisco testing positive for Covid-19 back in January he had no choice but to withdraw. In order to save the card replacement combatant Flyweight WBC champion Julio Cesar Martinez (18-2, 14 Kos) moved up in weight on a six weeks’ notice to challenge “Chocolatito”.

While many boxing pundits envisioned that the younger and fresher Martinez would be too much for the aging warrior, fans in attendance received a hell of show when Gonzalez handed the Flyweight young gunner a clinical beating from rounds 1 to 12.

Experience, timing and controlled aggression with precise accurate punches were all on display when “Chocolatito” easily dismantled the overmatched but tough warrior Martinez.

Martinez stood his ground and fought well at times but lacked the right “game plan” or the experience to deter the crafty veteran from having his way with him inside that squared circle.

Gonzalez owned the ring last night and looked like a rejuvenated combatant who had found the fountain of youth by the way he fought and moved inside that squared circle.

Although Martinez came in well over the contractual Junior Bantamweight limit of 115 lbs, the added weight had absolutely no effect on Gonzalez who withstood the power punches coming his way with no real issues and simply outworked the bigger fighter.

After 12 full rounds of action the Judges scored it 118-110, 117-111, 116-112 all in favor of Roman Gonzalez.

This was an exceptional performance by the aging warrior who proved to still have the goods to the get the job done. I’m not sure how much “juice” Gonzalez has left at this point in his career but a rescheduled rematch with WBA “Super” Junior Bantamweight Champion Juan Francisco Estrada would definitely keep that fire blazing for one more unique show if a final curtain call was ever to be in his near future.

Until then congratulations Roman on another brilliant display of skills.

Blaze

DJ Blaze’s Top 15 March 6, 2022

1-Capella Grey-Talk Nice
2-Pusha T f/Kanye West-Diet Coke
3-Dr. Dre-Black Privilege
4-Kali f/Yung Bleu-UonU
5-Mary J. Blige-No Idea
6-Rick Ross f/Willie Falcon, The Dream-Little Havana
7-Marques Houston-Half On It
8-Dreamdoll f/Capella Grey-You Know My Body
9-Mary J. Blige f/Dave East-Rent Money
10-Capella Grey f/Popcann & Chris Brown-Gyalis (rmx)
11-Mary J. Blige Feat. DJ Khaled-Amazing
12-Dr. Dre f/Nipsey Hussle, Ty Dolla $ign-Diamond Mind
13-DJ Era f/O.T. Genasis, Eric Bellinger & AD-On my Way
14-A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie f/Capella Grey-Bestie
15-DJ Inspire f/Kenneth Paige & Derek King-100 Bottles

On The Watch “It’s All About Errol Spence Jr. vs Yordenis Ugas”


WBA/WBC/IBF Welterweight Title Unification Championship

It has now officially been announced that WBC/IBF Welterweight Champion Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 Kos) will be going into a Unification bout with WBA “Super” Welterweight Champion Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 Kos) April 16, 2022 at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

Errol, who has been sidelined by an eye injury, hasn’t graced the squared circle since December 2020 when he last conquered Danny Garcia, is now ready and able and itching to return to once again continue his quest on becoming Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World.

In order to attain that quest Errol will have to pry the WBA “Super” World Title from a highly motivated combatant Yordenis who last defended the prized belt by convincingly defeating the legend Manny Pacquiao (62-9-2, 38 Kos) as a replacement on 10 days’ notice.

While many peeps in the boxing community believe that Errol will have an easy night ahead of the bout, I personally anticipate this bout will be quite competitive. Real Talk! Peeps shouldn’t sleep on Ugas, this Kat is an exceptional boxer with a very high Boxing IQ when focussed and highly motivated, and having beaten a legend in Pacquiao to now gracing the ring with a Pound-for-Pound Champion like Errol, that alone will definitely bring that warrior mentality needed to maybe upsetting the odds against him.

I’m quite intrigued by this bout and can’t wait to see the outcome when both combatants will be putting their Championship Belts up for this highly anticipated Unification bout that will bring the Champion one step closer to Undisputed April 16, 2022 at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

Blaze

DJ Blaze’s Top 15 February 27, 2022

1-Capella Grey-Talk Nice
2-Pusha T f/Kanye West-Diet Coke
3-Dr. Dre-Black Privilege
4-Kali f/Yung Bleu-UonU
5-Mary J. Blige f/Fivio Foreign-On Top
6-Rick Ross f/Willie Falcon, The Dream-Little Havana
7-Marques Houston-Half On It
8-Dreamdoll f/Capella Grey-You Know My Body
9-Mary J. Blige f/Dave East-Rent Money
10-Capella Grey f/Popcann & Chris Brown-Gyalis (rmx)
11-Mary J. Blige Feat. DJ Khaled-Amazing
12-Dr. Dre f/Nipsey Hussle, Ty Dolla $ign-Diamond Mind
13-DJ Era f/O.T. Genasis, Eric Bellinger & AD-On my Way
14-A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie f/Capella Grey-Bestie
15-DJ Inspire f/Kenneth Paige & Derek King-100 Bottles

On The Watch “It’s All About Chris Colbert vs Hector Luis Garcia”

WBA Super Featherweight Title Eliminator

Last night’s Showtime/PBC/TGB Promotions Main Event between highly favourite and undefeated Chris Colbert (16-1, 6 Kos) and undefeated Hector Luis Garcia (15-0, 10 Kos, 3 NC)
brought quite the show to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hector Luis Garcia who came in as a late replacement due to the original opponent WBA Super Featherweight Champion Roger Gutierrez forced to withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19, stepped up to the plate and embraced this opportunity with open arms and the right “game plan” at hand.

Hector came out the gate with aggressive but controlled pressure, landing some heavy gloves from head to body that clearly caught Chris off guard right from the jump. Hector boxed with a sense of confidence round after round showing absolutely no fear to his opponent. As a late replacement, Hector looked quite prepared for everything Chris had to offer inside that squared circle.


That said, it was clear to me as the rounds progressed that Chris noticeably underestimated his opponent and although he talked a good game prior to the bout, his performance last night lacked that quick twitch and high-rated type action that Colbert is known for.

Chris’ usual tight defence was a no-show last night by the way he was getting touched up and due to him being overzealous at times, Chris succumbed to his fist knockdown by a clean left hand that landed flush on his chin, down for a quick 8 count.

Chris was outgunned and overmatched by Hector who simply outworked the No. 1 ranked WBA Super Featherweight on his biggest night of his career to date.

After 12 full completed rounds, the Judges scored it 118-109, 118-109 and 119-108 all in favor of Hector Luis Garcia.

Congratulations on your latest and highly convincing win Hector, you have now earned the right to challenge WBA Super Featherweight Champion Roger Gutierrez (23-3, 20 Kos).

Can’t wait to see the outcome of that particular bout.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall”

IBF/WBC/WBA/WBO Undisputed Junior Welterweight Challenge

Tonight’s Undisputed Junior Welterweight Title defense between IBF/WBC/WBA/WBO and Ring Magazine Champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 Kos) and mandatory challenger Jack Catterall (26-1, 13 Kos) at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland was a straight up ROBBERY to the challenger hands down.

No disrespect to the Champion Josh Taylor who brought it tonight and fought a tough bout but truth be told, Jack came in and defeated the Champion convincingly after 12 full rounds of action but unfortunately got robbed by the Judges on his biggest night inside that squared circle.

Jack came out the gate with confidence and the right “game plan” which was executed perfectly. Standing his ground round after round boxing beautifully while asserting himself as the better man throughout the entire bout and dropping Josh in the 8th round clearly putting Josh in the deficit by then.

Personally, I thought Josh looked weight drained and struggled to assert himself throughout the bout and looked desperate as the rounds progressed. Although the referee deducted a point in round 10 from Catterall, Jack was still comfortably in the lead in my eyes with the higher work rate and punch connection going his way.

That being said, this bout was very entertaining and clearly surpassed the expectation that most people anticipated considering everybody thought this was going to be a cake walk for Taylor. After 12 full rounds of non-stop action the Judges scored it 113-112 for Catterall, 114-111 for Taylor, and 113-112 for Taylor giving him the spit decision win. Unbelievable!

I’m sorry, I’m a big fan of Josh Taylor but tonight homeboy clearly lost this bout hands down.
Jack put his paws all over him and fought a great fight and clearly deserved the win. This was another case of a straight up ROBBERY!! Real talk!

Jack did everything right and fought his heart out to secure the win but, in the end, got ROBBED by the Judges at hand. These three Judges should be barred from ever judging a sanction bout again. Real Talk!

Tonight, we should be celebrating the coronation of a new Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion in Jack Catterall but instead the home grown Champion Josh Taylor reaped the benefits and retained his controversial Undisputed Crown.

These are the types of outcomes that gives Boxing a bad reputation.

Just my thoughts.

Blaze