On The Watch “It’s All About Jared Anderson vs Charles Martin”

Heavyweight Showdown

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN Main Event was a homecoming bout set up for the young and upcoming Heavyweight prospect Jared “Big Baby” Anderson (15-0, 14 Kos) to show off his skills against seasoned veteran and former IBF Heavyweight Champion Charles Martin (29-4-1, 26 Kos) at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

Charles, who accepted the task on 12 days’ notice but was visibly already in great shape, made sure to give Jared a tougher challenge than his previous 14 marks who got dissipated brutally by knockouts.

Jared is a “Big Boy” inside that squared circle with size, strength and a good number of skills that are still developing for a young man his age. Martin had to be strategic with his approach and may have been a little too cautious in the opening rounds restricting his punch output but making Jared work to get his offence going.

That said, it didn’t take long for Jared to land something significant that knocked Martin down in the third round for a quick 8 count but had Martin bounce back still willing and able to stand his ground and put in that work.

Martin’s punch output wasn’t the best but he did manage to connect and stagger Jared at times throughout the bout. As the rounds progressed Martin’s unwillingness to submit to Jared made things inside that squared circle quite entertaining.

For the first time in his professional career to date, Jared was met with a formidable opponent who was battle tested, savvy and willing to go toe to toe, blow for blow and actually give some heat right back to Jared without folding under the pressure of the youngin.

Jared showed growth in this bout and proceeded to get the job done as instructed by his corner man. After 10 fully completed rounds the Judges at hand scored it 99-90, 99-90 and 98-91 unanimously for Jared Anderson. Going the full 10 rounds for the first time in his early career was the best thing that could have happened for Jared. He got in some quality rounds and felt some real heat from an ex-champion that will only make him better the next time out.

Congratulations on your win Jared, last night you got tested inside that squared circle and passed with flying colours. Now on to the next youngin.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Carlos Adames vs Julian Williams”

WBC Interim Middleweight Challenge

Last night’s PBC/Showtime Main Event between WBC Interim Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 Kos) and challenger Julian Williams (28-3-1, 16 Kos) was a controversial but one that was action-pack fight from start to finish at The Armory in Minneapolis.

What started out as an even playing field with both combatants working out their respective “game plan” quicky unravelled when both combatants started to put up some heavy leather along with their combinations, looking for that respect inside that squared circle.

Williams came out the gate with a chip on his shoulder looking to silence all the naysayers who thought he would be outgunned inside that squared circle and actually looked the part in the earlier rounds going toe to toe with Adames standing his ground blow for blow.

With them two warriors standing in the phone booth exchanging leather definitely had the fans in attendance going but I personally think that may have been the wrong “game plan” to use against a dangerous combatant like Adames.

The way that Adames was laying them hard body shots was undeniably braking Williams down round by round. As hard as Williams was fighting back, it was visibly clear that fatigue was settling by the way he was getting plummeted like a punching bag from top to bottom.

As the rounds progressed it was distinctly clear that Williams did not belong inside that squared circle opposite Adames. Williams showed bravery by withstanding the unanswered onslaught coming his way but while he refused to succumb to Adames, the referee at hand saw it fitting to halt the bout in the ninth round.

Although Julian, who was still standing, contested the stoppage, the writing was already on the wall, the inevitable was coming and it could have been a worse ending for Williams. Real Talk!

With this win now intact Carlos retained his WBC Interim Middleweight Title, patiently awaiting his opportunity at the full WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Errol Spence Jr. vs Terence Crawford”

Welterweight Unification Showdown

Two of the best pound-for-pound Welterweight Champions in WBA/WBC/IBF Unified Champion Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 Kos) and WBO World Champion Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 Kos), have finally met face to face to announce their highly anticipated Unification Showdown set for Saturday night July 29, 2023 on Showtime PPV at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

This bout has been a long time coming. Two of the baddest in the game today have put their differences aside and managed to get the right deal done to finally see which of them two will be crowned Undisputed Champion of the Welterweight Division, once and for all.

The chatter in the boxing forum has already started by stating the obvious from their first meeting about how Errol, at first glance, is so much visibly and physically bigger than Terence. That being said, the size advantage that Spence possesses over Crawford may be the only thing to separate them come fight night due to the fact that both combatants’ ring IQ is top notch. Both have knockout power and the boxing skills inside that squared circle to go round for round if need be.

Personally, I think it will come down to the conditioning of the two warriors. Who will be able to withstand each other’s power the best? Both combatants have a reputation of breaking their opponents down systematically, which makes this bout that much more intriguing. Who will fold first when the pressure starts to become unbearable?

Tune in Saturday night July 29, 2023, on Showtime PPV at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and witness the coronation of a new Undisputed King of the Welterweight Division.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2023 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS”

2023 NBA CHAMPIONS

Nikola Jokic has finally reached the mountain top of the 2023 NBA Season by closing out game 5 of the NBA Finals as best he could with a solid 28 points and 16 boards bailing out the squad as they were struggling heavily to maintain their hold on securing their first NBA Championship in franchise History.

I gotta tip my “B” hat to Jokic. This Dude’s strong mentality and solid composure throughout the NBA Season, the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals were levels above his peers, hands down. History was in the making the moment this year NBA Finals started. Jokic became the first player in history to lead the league in points (600), boards (269) and dimes (190) in a single postseason while practically averaging a triple-double per game, collecting averages of 30 points, 13.5 boards and 9.5 dimes. Worthy and deserving of the Bill Russell trophy as well as the NBA Finals MVP.

Record breaking accolades aside, Jokic couldn’t have completed these historical feats without a healthy Jamal Murray to release some of the responsibility and a driven and motivated squad that showed how battle tested they were throughout the entire Season with only one common goal in mind: the NBA Championship that they have now collected as a team.

The Heat should still keep their heads up high, real talk! Although they fell short once again at claiming the NBA Championship, they became the only second No. 8 Seed to make it to the NBA Finals after running through some very tough opposition. They balled hard night after night on both ends of the court but were met with a better team destined to enter the record books.

Congratulations to the Denver Nuggets for emerging as the NBA Champions of the NBA Season 2023. You Boys dominated the NBA Playoffs and the Finals in such a convincing fashion that the Championship could not be denied.

Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez”

WBO Junior Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN Main Event showdown between WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13 Kos) and Challenger Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 Kos) at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, was a “Takeover” well executed by Teofimo.

There was a lot of trash talking from both combatants throughout the build-up but when the time came, it was Lopez who surprisingly backed up his words inside that squared circle.

Taylor came out the gate real aggressive with bad intentions on his mind but it was Lopez’s well executed “game plan” and ring generalship that controlled the rounds from that point on.

Lopez impressed me last night and came into this bout laser focussed and stayed on track. Josh had absolutely nothing to deter Teofimo from having his way inside that squared circle. As the rounds progressed, Teofimo’s confidence grew round by round.

Lopez showed completely no fear to the man across from him. Taylor, who was naturally the bigger, longer and stronger man inside that squared circle, in my eyes, could not land anything significant enough to win rounds. Taylor’s usual dominance was non-existent and was easily outworked by the younger and driven warrior in Teofimo.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and after 12 fully completed rounds of action the Judges at hand called it 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 unanimously for Teofimo Lopez, the New WBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion of the World and now a two-weight Division Champion.

Well done, Teofimo. You defied the odds and silenced the critics who doubted you. You dominated the night and clearly defeated the former Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion to now becoming the “Top Dogg” of 140-Pound Division.

Who’s next?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jaime Munguia vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko”

Super Middleweight Showdown

Last night’s Golden Boy/DAZN Main Event between Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 Kos) and Sergiy Derevyanchenko (14-5, 10 Kos) was an exciting showdown that undeniably brought the fans in attendance to their feet at the Toyota Arena, Ontario, California. Real talk!

Both combatants moved up from the Middleweight Division to the Super Middleweight Division to have this incredible clash and boy did they bring that heat inside that squared circle.

It was clear from the way this bout started out that Munguia did not expect this type of resistance from his older opponent but what he soon found out was that this “Technician” was not someone to be taken lightly inside that squared circle.

Derevyanchenko brought his “A” game on the night and showed the young buck how serious things can get when you move up in competition. Both combatants threw some serious leather at each other round by round but it was Sergiy’s consistent aggressive pressure that troubled Munguia as the rounds progressed.

Munguia had a good jab whenever he let it go but his lack of defense on the night was quite evident and disturbing considering the heavy shots he kept on absorbing. I mean the dude is tough but when you’re met with a resilient warrior like Derevyanchenko, you have to quickly reassess the “game plan” at hand.

Both combatants were hurt multiple times and showed fatigue throughout the bout but as the championship rounds approached, Munguia seemed to have the edge in the power department. By the 12th and final round Jaime may have sealed the deal with a devastating body shot that sent Derevyanchenko down for a quick 8 count which then had Sergiy backpedaling in survivor mode for the remainder of the round.

After 12 hard fought completed rounds, the Judges at hand scored it 115-112, 114-113 and 114-113 unanimously for Jaime Munguia. It was a tough battle that I think personally, could have gone either way.

That being said, Munguia definitely fought the toughest opponent of his career to date. With this hard-earned win Munguia picked up the vacant WBC Silver Super Middleweight Title positioning himself one step closer to a possible clash with the “Kingpin” of the Super Middleweight Division Undisputed Champion Canelo Alvarez.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA FINALS 2023”

2023 NBA FINALS

With the completion of the NBA’s version of the Final 4 now officially over, the two remaining teams to represent their respective coasts are the No. 1 Seeded Denver Nuggets for the WESTSIDE and No. 8 Seeded Miami Heat for the EASTSIDE.

Denver stayed true to their identity and their No. 1 Seed by running through their competition and crushing them with an iron fist one series at a time, proving that they were destined to grace the NBA Finals for their first appearance.

As good as the Nuggets have been looking throughout the Playoffs, it’s been the Heat stealing the spotlight with their No. 8 Seed placing and still standing after a hard, gruelling battle with the No. 2 Seeded Boston Celtics went down to a game 7 on enemy territory to decide who would be representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

Miami nearly dropped the ball on this one, going up 3-0 on the Celtics to eventually losing their choke grip on Boston who managed to make it a very interesting series by rallying back to an unforeseen 3-3 series tie, in a blink of an eye.

Boston was back in the game and the favorite to pull it off on home court. However, Miami saw the writing on the wall, drying up rapidly and they had to revert back to what got them there: nonstop toughness from both ends of the floor, teamwork and a very motivated Jimmy Butler leading the way hitting big shots after big shots eventually crushing the Celtics to submission and winning a ticket to the NBA Finals.

Regardless of how this NBA Finals unravels, history will be in the making. The Denver Nuggets have never won an NBA Title let alone been the No. 1 Seed in the Western Conference. Denver has looked overpowering throughout the Playoffs and steadily peaking round after round. With Nikola Jokic and a healthy squad leading the way, the Nuggets should be the Finals favorite to win it all.

That being said, No. 8 Seed has ever won an NBA Championship and the Miami Heat squad is determined to enter the record books as the only team to accomplish the impossible. The Heat have displayed some exceptional play throughout the Playoffs and knocked off some serious competition on their way to the Finals. Them Boys are a legit threat and deserve to be in the NBA Finals. The Nuggets may have the better team but them “heat seekers” have the “DOGG” in them and have proven to be the higher seed killers of these Playoffs series. Another Seed must fall for them to become NBA Champions once again.

Tune in this Thursday night June 1, 2023 and be part of this intriguing NBA Finals matchup.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Mauricio Lara vs Leigh Wood”

WBA Super Featherweight Challenge

Tonight’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between WBA Super Featherweight champion Mauricio Lara (26-3-1, 19 kos) and challenger Leigh Wood (27-3, 16, Kos) was a rematch that desperately needed to be rectified by Leigh at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

Having succumbed to an upsetting stoppage by Lara back in February 2023, Leigh wasted no time at applying the “game plan” at hand right from the jump. Leigh’s confidence was on point and looked quite focussed and determined to remedy the mishap of their last meeting.

Lara talked a good game prior to this bout but surprisingly did not back it up inside that squared circle. Lara looked slow, disengaged and one step behind every move Leigh had for him inside that squared circle.

Leigh looked stronger on the night and managed to dropped Lara twice early in the second round for two quick 8 counts but to me, it was the exceptional boxing skills displayed on the night and bewildering Lara round after round that sealed the deal. Leigh’s patience and determination was key to securing the win after 12 fully completed rounds of action with the Judges at hand calling it 118-109, 118-109 and 116-111 unanimously for Leigh Wood.

With this convincing win now under his belt, Leigh is now a two-time WBA Super Featherweight Champion of the World with an even brighter future ahead.

Congratulations Leigh Wood. Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Luis Alberto Lopez vs Michael Conlan”

IBF Featherweight Challenge

Tonight’s Top Rank/BT Sport/ESPN + Main Event was a showcase type of an event by the visiting IBF Featherweight Champion Luis Alberto Lopez (28-2, 16 Kos) who came down to defend his Championship Belt on foreign ground against challenger Michael Conlan (18-2, 9 Kos) at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The pro Conlan crowd in attendance soon found out that Lopez was not someone to be taken lightly inside that squared circle. Lopez came out the gate looking for that smoke and proceeded to press the action but Conlan stood his ground as best he could and boxed and moved and attempted to make things quite interesting at times with a very effective and active jab. However, the pressure Lopez was applying round by round was noticeably taxing on Conlan and it was only a matter of time before the inevitable occurred.

That being said, by the fifth round the heavier fisted Lopez landed a perfectly placed right uppercut straight to the chin of Conlan that dropped him lifeless to the ground for the count which then prompted Conlan’s corner to throw in the towel signalling the referee to halt the bout.

This was a statement bout for Lopez who walked it like he talked it by sticking to the script and making sure the Judges at hand were not needed by knocking out Conlan senseless and retaining his IBF Featherweight Championship.

The other Champions in the Featherweight Division need to keep a close eye on this dude as he said it loud and clear that he’s coming for all of them one by one.

Congratulations Luis Alberto Lopez on another destructive statement.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko”

Undisputed Lightweight Championship Showdown

Last night’s highly anticipated Top Rank/ESPN PPV Main Event between Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Lightweight Champion Devin Haney (30-0, 15 Kos) and mandatory challenger Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3, 11 Kos) definitely lived up to the hype at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Real Talk!

It was evident from round one that Devin quickly realized that he was in there with a hungry and motivated Loma who brought the heat and his extensive experience inside that squared circle.

Styles make fights and last night both combatant dug deep into their arsenal going toe to toe and blow for blow trying to get an advantage at any cost. Loma looked exceptionally strong and applied the most pressure in my eyes. Loma showed absolutely no fear and constantly initiated the offence not waiting for a counter from Devin.

Devin stood his ground and hit the body quite well but definitely looked surprised by how strong and witty Loma was inside that squared circle. At times Devin looked bewildered, not knowing how to deter Loma from applying such controlled aggression. Devin may have been the bigger and longer fighter on the night but Loma found a way in and neutralized Devin’s noticeable advantages.

Both combatants put in that work and it was a back-and-forth type battle round after round keeping it real tight to call but to me Loma asserted himself as the aggressor with the most controlled activity with punches landed round by round.

After 12 fully completed, exciting rounds of action the Judges at hand called it 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 unanimously for Devin Haney.

Judging by the scorecard handed in, it was evident that the work being done inside that squared circle by both combatants made it hard to call but truth be told, I can’t sit here and honestly say that Devin was the clear winner here and disregard the heavy work that Loma administered on the night. Loma turned back the clock on this one and stole the show if you ask me.

Just my thoughts.

Blaze