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

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On The Watch “It’s All About Emanuel Navarrete vs Oscar Valdez II”

WBO World Super Featherweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN Mexican Rematch Showdown Main Event between WBO World Super Featherweight Champion Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 Kos) and challenger former WBO Featherweight Champion, Oscar Valdez (32-3, 23 Kos) was a continuation of their last meeting where both combatants picked up where they left off at round 13 with only one difference: Navarrete’s power was on full display at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Navarrete wasted no time asserting himself from the jump and proved to be too strong for Valdez who got dropped in the opening round while being dominated from that point on. Navarrete’s unorthodox style continued to be a problem that Valdez and his corner had no clue how to deter this combatant from having his way. Although Valdez tried his best to stay competitive, it was painfully obvious that he stood no chance on the night.

Valdez’s power had utterly no effect and his aggressive attempts only opened him up to being dropped once again by a vicious right uppercut that indicated the inevitable was nearby. By the sixth round the onslaught coming towards Valdez was a tough one to watch but a well-placed body shot by Navarrete dropped Valdez for the third time who could not answer the count administered by the referee who called an end to the bout.

This was a very impressive and dominating performance by Navarrete proving that when he’s 100% inside that squared circle, he could well be unbeatable.

Well done, Champ!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Liam Paro vs Richardson Hitchins”

IBF Junior Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Liam Paro (25-1, 15 Kos) and challenger Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 Kos) was a technical matchup that greatly favoured the challenger at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I was impressed by Richardson who walked it like he talked it and handled his business inside that squared circle like a “G”. Richardson told anybody that would listen that he was levels above Liam and backed every word of it when the time came to prove it.

It took Richardson a few rounds to figure Liam out but once he did it was a boxing session where Richardson outboxed Liam with ease and conviction that he could not be denied. Richardson’s jab was on point along with his punch selection and accuracy that clearly bothered Liam who had no answer to slow down this determined combatant from having his way with him.

“Game Plan” for “Game plan”, Richardson had the right formula. After 12 full rounds of action the Judges on hand called it 117-111 for Liam, 116-112 and 116-112 for Richardson.

The Judge who had it 117-111 for Liam was out of pocket for that but nevertheless, with this convincing win under his belt Richardson is now the new IBF Junior Welterweight Champion of the World. Well done!

A hyped up and full of confidence Richardson wasted no time in calling out his next future challenger, if possible, in WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 kos).

That’s a unification bout that would be fun to watch but will Teofimo answer the call? Only time will tell.

Until then, congratulations Richardson and enjoy this great well-earned victory.

Blaze