On The Watch “It’s All About Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson”

WBO Junior Welterweight Challenge

A very intriguing matchup in the Junior Welterweight Division has officially been announced concerning the WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 Kos) and WBC Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 Kos), who will be moving up in weight for this challenge to the 140-Pound Division on the Ring VI card as the Main Event on Saturday January 31, 2026, in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Both combatants consider themselves elite warriors who are at their utmost prime of their respective careers, willing to lay it all on the line to determine who truly is the best of the best. Skill for skill, both combatants have the goods to cancel each other out, but trash talk aside they will have to settle their differences inside that squared circle.

As of right now, the odd makers don’t see this bout as a 50/50 and favor Shakur the defensive genius to upset the Champion. As much as Teofimo relishes the thought of being the underdog, he will have to execute a flawless “game plan” and be focussed from start to finish to defeat Shakur because one slip up in this bout could cost him dearly.

I have no doubt Shakur will be properly prepared to deal with Teofimo’s style, but it will be interesting to see just how well prepared Teofimo is to deal with this defensive wizard of an opponent on fight night. Style wise Shakur is all wrong for Teofimo but he’s been tested before and prevailed when counted out.

Tune in Saturday night January 31, 2026, live on DAZN from Madison Square Garden in New York City and witness this electrifying Championship bout unfold.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Isaac Cruz vs Lamont Roach Jr.”

Interim WBC Junior Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s PBC/Prime Video Pay-Per-View Main Event between Interim WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Isaac “PitBull” Cruz (28-3-2, 18 Kos) and challenger Lamont “The Reaper” Roach Jr. (25-1-3, 10 Kos) who was moving up in weight to yet another Division, surpassed my expectations. However, the fight still managed to end in a controversial way at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Isaac came out the gate in his usual “Pitbull” fashion ready to take out his prey with some heavy blows coming from all angles. His steady aggressive style of approach was expected and even managed to connect with a knock down due to Lamont’s glove touching the canvas in round three but what transpired after that is what changed the outcome of the fight.

After round three, Lamont flipped his “game plan” up and started fighting Isaac in the pocket going toe-to-toe and asserting himself in a very foolish but impressive way where his respect had to be earned. That approach caused Isaac to retreat and lower his punch output as Lamont started to build up his momentum with his own punch output coming at Isaac disrupting him from coming forward.

Isaac’s seek and destroy ways were being outmaneuvered by the way Lamont was boxing and moving and asserting himself, when need be, just enough to keep Isaac from bullying him as the rounds progressed.

The adjustments that Lamont made round by round were quite visible and effective in his favor. Lamont had literally put a leash on the “Pitbull” and controlled the action inside that squared circle.

That being said, the Judges who had the last say at the completion of this bout scored it 115-111 for Isaac Cruz but vetoed by the other two Judges who scored it 113-113, resulting it in a majority draw. Unbelievable!

I will admit that this bout was definitely a close one but judging by the punch output and the body of work that Lamont poured out in this fight overall, it should have been a clear-cut win for “The Reaper” hands down!

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and last night Lamont showed us once again that his skill set is real while moving up in weight and for that I tip my “B” hat to Lamont. Win, lose or draw this kid brings it every time out.

Blaze