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

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

On The Watch “It’s All About Chris Eubank Jr. vs Liam Smith”

Middleweight Throwdown

Tonight’s Sky Sports/Boxxer Main Event between Chris Eubank Jr. (32-3, 23 Kos) and Liam Smith (33-3-1, 20 Kos) at the Manchester Lancaster, UK was a proper domestic showdown that shocked the fans in attendance and the world watching. Real Talk!

Former WBO Light Middleweight Champion Liam moved up in weight to challenge the former WBA Interim Middleweight Champion Eubank Jr. at the full Middleweight Division and asserted himself quite well at the new weight and stood his ground going toe-to-toe with the naturally bigger man inside that squared circle.

While Eubank used a nice stiff jab from the jump to keep Liam at bay, Smith kept coming forward never deterred in applying as much pressure as he could round by round.

Both combatants had their moments looking very active with their hands but in the third round, it looked like Eubank was about to take the lead until the unexpected happened throughout the fourth round when Liam backed Eubank to the corner and teed off on him with a series of accurate punches that dropped Eubank for the first time in his career. Although Eubank did get up, he clearly had no legs or the sense to survive the round. Seeing Eubank visibly hurt, Liam wasted no time at putting Eubank out of his misery by seizing the moment and dropping him to the canvas one more time prompting the referee to stop the bout at 1:09 of round four. Unbelievable!

No disrespect to Liam who is a good fighter, I never anticipated this type of finish by his hands. Liam flattened Eubank who was said to be the bigger and stronger fighter of the two in such a devastating fashion never seen before by any of his previous opponents. This is the type of finish that has you rethinking what the hell went wrong.

The build-up to this bout had a lot of heat from both sides but it was Liam who walked it like he talked it and stole the show in the blink of an eye.

This bout was a great domestic win for Liam but it was also the type of win that will bring up even greater opportunities ahead in the 154- or 160-pound Division.

Congratulations Liam, you walked inside that squared circle the underdog but walked out the “Top Dog” of the night. Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA-Who’s On Top?”

The NBA-Who’s On Top?

We are officially past the midpoint mark for the NBA Season with 42 plus games played to date and still holding down the No. 1 Spot in the league are the Boston Celtics (32-12). Them Boys are mission driven this year playing some very good basketball from both ends of the floor. However, holding on to the No. 1 spot won’t be easy with the other Eastern Conference teams staying quite competitive. The Brooklyn Nets (27-15), the Milwaukee Bucks (27-16), the Philadelphia 76ers (27-16), the Cleveland Cavaliers (27-17), the New York Knicks (25-19), the Miami Heat (24-20) and the Indiana Pacers (23-21) have all showed some serious improvement making the second half of the Season that much more intriguing.

The Western Conference teams have been playing musical chairs with their standings while the new faces climbing up have been making a serious stand of their own. The Denver Nuggets (30-13) now hold the No. 1 Spot with their back-to-back MVP player Nikola Jokic doing just about everything on the floor to keep them afloat for the time being. However, breathing down their necks are the Memphis Grizzlies (29-13), the New Orleans Pelicans (26-17), the Sacramento Kings (24-18), the Dallas Mavericks (24-21), the Los Angeles Clippers (23-22) while the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-22), the Golden State Warriors (21-22) and the Portland Trail Blazers (21-22) are struggling to rectify their situation but are not counted out yet.

The drastic changes of power within both conferences are exciting and mind-boggling but the second half of the season could still bring some more drama so stay locked in.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Gervonta Davis vs Hector Luis Garcia”

WBA “Regular” Lightweight Challenge

Last night’s Showtime PPV/PBC Main Event between WBA “Regular” Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis (28-0, 26 Kos) and Super Featherweight Champion Hector Luis Garcia (16-1, 10 Kos) brought the heat to another sellout crowd of 19,731 at the Capital One Arena where “Tank” made sure the fans in attendance left the arena satisfied.

The bout started out as expected in a strategic fashion where both combatants were working on angling out their respective “game plans”. Garcia proved to be a worthy opponent that kept things very interesting as the rounds progressed.

Both combatants boxed well. Garcia kept his jab working keeping Davis at bay but a jab can only take you so far when you’ve got “Tank” opposite of you. “Tank” did what was expected of him and worked his way in touching Garcia with some heavy fast combinations clearly getting to Garcia as the rounds piled up.

Garcia showed some serious resilience going toe to toe with Davis but “Tank’s” power could only be avoided for so long. Although Garcia kept things exciting, Davis made sure he stayed one step ahead by countering Garcia’s attack with some serious leather with power behind every punch landed.

Gervonta had figured out Garcia by round 8 and in this round “Tank” put it all together and applied just the right amount of pressure with some serious accurate shots from head to body that clearly affected Garcia.

Before the start of round 9, Garcia complained about his vision being blurred and opted not to come off his stool for the beginning of the round and by doing so trusting Gervonta with a TKO.

This was a competitive bout from start to finish. Gervonta had to work for this one and prevailed like the superior boxer that he is and in doing so reattained his WBA “Regular” World Lightweight Title.

With this win now completed the next task at hand is a scheduled showdown encounter with Ryan Garcia in the upcoming months. Now that’s a very intriguing matchup that will surely have the attention of the boxing community at large.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Michel Rivera vs Frank Martin”

Lightweight Showdown

Last night’s Showtime Main Event between undefeated Michel Rivera (24-1, 14 Kos) and undefeated Frank Martin (17-0, 12 Kos) unfolded in a very unpredictable fashion at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Both combatants came out the gate confident and attempting to work out their respective “game plans” but as the rounds progressed, Frank is the one who shined round by round by applying nonstop pressure with a set of heavy hands making it very hard for Rivera to establish any type of comfort inside that squared circle aside from his jab which was good, but lacked volume to deter Martin.

Both combatants showed exceptional skills but as the rounds’ progressed Frank was clearly ahead securing each and every one of them. Michel had met his match. Frank was simply too slick, stronger, faster and the one controlling the action inside that squared circle.

Desperation was mounting in Rivera’s corner and by round seven Frank took the lead and never looked back when he dropped Rivera to the floor for a quick 8 count. It was at that moment when Rivera looked defeated.

There was no coming back for Rivera. As the rounds continued to pile up, Martin continued to dominate in a very convincing but impressive way. After 12 fully completed rounds, the Judges at hand scored it 120-107, 118-109 and 117-110 all in favour of Frank Martin.

It was a clear shutout by the rising contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin who has now put the 135-Pound Division on notice that he’s coming for all that smoke and looking for that work. Man Down!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Naoya Inoue vs Paul Butler”

Undisputed Bantamweight Championship

The first-ever Undisputed Bantamweight Champion in the four-belt era was crowned last night when Undefeated Unified WBA/WBC/IBF and Ring Magazine Champion Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 Kos) took on WBO Champion Paul Butler (34-3, 15 Kos) and completely outclassed him in front of his hometown at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

I expected to see two warrior Champions go blow for blow inside that squared circle vying for that Undisputed Crown but instead I witnessed the “Monster” Inoue establish immediate fear into his opponent causing him to retreat into survivor mode from round 1 and on.

For Butler to travel from the United Kingdom to Tokyo and not perform like the Champion that he is, was very disappointing. Butler talked a good game from the jump but failed miserably when faced head on with Inoue inside that squared circle.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and clearly Inoue was 10 notches above Butler who had absolutely no answer and lacked a “game plan” to contain or deter the stronger, faster, smarter combatant from having his way with him inside that squared circle.

Inoue’s punches were thumping with accuracy round by round and even when Butler attempted to utilize the ring by moving away, he was met with an aggressive flurry of punches at every corner. Butler looked like a moving punching bag trying to survive a never-ending onslaught.

Entering the 11th round Inoue was ready to close the show and close the show he did when the crowd in attendance rallied behind their star, motivating him to punish his opponent with a flurry of body to head shots breaking Butler down who was unable to answer the count by the referee.

Although Butler did not behave like a Champion on this night, he did prove to be a tough Dude to withstand such a one-sided beatdown for eleven rounds at the hands of Naoya “Monster” Inoue – the New Undisputed WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF and Ring Magazine Bantamweight Champion of the world.

Congratulations Naoya on you latest history making accomplishment.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Terence Crawford vs David Avanesyan”

WBO Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s BLK Prime Main Event between WBO Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 Kos) and challenger David Avanesyan (29-4-1, 17 Kos) was an event that Terence’s home-grown fans in attendance fairly enjoyed at the CHI Health Center.

The night in particular was an exciting event leading up to the showdown that Terence closed out in emphaptic fashion. I witnessed a man who hadn’t fought in over 13 months showing no rust whatsoever when he systematically broke down his opponent round by round, never looking rattled or bothered by Avanesyan’s aggression at times.

Terence was cool and calm and in control, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to close it out at his own will. As much as Avanesyan tried to deter Terence by landing a few good shots, none of them affected “Bud” inside that squared circle. No disrespect to Avanesyan who is a tough competitor and fresh off six straight knockout wins, but when faced with an elite combatant in Crawford, David was levels below the reach.

That said, when “Bud” was done toying with Avanesyan he shut the whole show down in a dramatic fashion with a well-placed left uppercut-right hook combination that sat Avanesyan down for the count in the 6th round forcing the referee to call an end to the bout.

With this resounding win Terence has now defended his WBO Welterweight Championship Belt for the sixth time and recorded his 10th straight knockout. Pound-for-Pound one of the best to ever do it inside that squared circle, Hands Down!

Congratulations Terence, you did your city proud on this one.

Blaze