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

Legacy Clash

The youngins are coming. This highly anticipated matchup is finally here. Two of the best in the World of Boxing in three Division World Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (28-0, 26 Kos) and Ryan “King Ryan” Garcia (23-0, 19 Kos) have officially agreed to meet at a catchweight of 136 pounds on Saturday April 22, 2023, on Showtime PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

From enjoying both press conferences from New York to LA, it’s clear them two warriors are both ready for that smoke. Real Talk! There’s been a lot of tough talk from both sides and predictions of a guaranteed knockout by both combatants. There are no belts on the line but their undefeated records and the possibility of claiming the Face of Boxing.

The heat is definitely brewing whenever them two are in the same vicinity of one another. Ryan is feeling himself and projecting some serious confidence at the task at hand while Gervonta has yet to show anything different other than his usual never bothered persona.

Both combatants clearly carry some serious ammunition in their hands, but it might take more than power to get the job done on that night. Both respective corners will have to produce a serious “game plan” to offset the opposition. Ryan, being the much bigger and longer opponent, possesses a considerable advantage, but “Tank” has always been at a disadvantage in the past, but his boxing IQ and boxing skills have always been the original equalizer aside from his high ko percentage bailing him out.

Gervonta’s small stature compared to Ryan’s is a hot topic that can’t go unnoticed but skill for skill, Gervonta has the goods to get the job done regardless of the obstacle ahead and is more proven at this point in his career. It will be up to “King Ryan” to fulfill his destiny of knocking “Tank” off the food chain when push comes to shove when the two combatants meet on Saturday night April 22, 2023, on Showtime PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Regardless of the outcome I expect nothing but fireworks come fight night. Hands Down!

Who you got?

Blaze

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

WBA Super World Featherweight challenge

Tonight’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between WBA Super Featherweight Champion Leigh Wood (26-3, 16 Kos) and Mauricio Lara (26-2-1, 19 Kos) was an entertaining bout that had the fans in attendance on their feet at the Nottingham Arena, Nottingham.

The homegrown Nottingham warrior was well prepared for this bout and proceeded to execute their respective “game plan” as the rounds progressed. I was impressed by Leigh for boxing intelligently and not shying away from Lara who I thought started slower than expected but still kept applying nonstop pressure.

Both combatants stayed true to themselves by standing their ground and exchanging some serious leather back and forth making the bout that much more intriguing as the rounds progressed.

Although I personally felt like Leigh was winning the majority of the rounds, exchanging blow for blow with Lara may not have been the best way to tackle this particular opponent.

Mauricio is known to being a tough competitor with sneaky power that can be unleashed unexpectedly if not careful.

That being said, with a competitive seventh round nearing completion Lara was able to connect and drop Leigh with a devastating well placed left hook on the chin for a quick 8 count that saw Wood rise up on his shaky legs convincing the Referee that he was still able to continue. He visibly looked out on his feet which then hastily prompted Leigh’s trainer to throw in the towel to save his fighter from absorbing any further punishment.

As upset as Leigh was with his cornerman stopping the bout, the right decision was made, Leigh was in no condition to continue.

I tip my “B” hat to Leigh Wood for taking this bout as a voluntary defense. You stepped up and took on a tough contender in your first title defense but fell short – there is no shame in your game for trying to prove the naysayers wrong.

As for Mauricio Lara, congratulations are in order. You walked into enemy territory, and silenced the crowd and snatched the belt from the Champion and are now being crowned the new WBA Super World Featherweight Champion of the World.

Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Amanda Serrano vs Erika Cruz”

Undisputed Featherweight Champion

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event showdown between Unified IBF/IBO/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Featherweight Champion Amanda Serrano (44-2-1, 30 Kos) and WBA Super Featherweight Champion Erika Cruz (15-2, 3 Kos) brought the building down at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater with an electrifying performance by both combatants. Real Talk!

These two warriors made the Main Event worth every penny earned that night. Them two Champions knew exactly what was at stake and wasted no time asserting themselves right from the first bell.

Heavy bombs were being dropped from both combatants standing toe to toe and tightly knit with neither opponent showing signs of backing off. However, Amanda was slicker with her movements – boxing and dodging avoiding the onslaught coming her way.

With both combatants exchanging leather in the phone booth style a clash of heads occurred in the third round causing a deep cut on the forehead of Erika but still did not deter her from continuing to drop bombs at every opportunity

Amanda looked good and strong as the rounds progressed. She boxed and moved beautifully while keeping busy with her hands and landing some serious leather. That said Erika’s own shots did get through and eventually cut Amanda on the forehead making the bout that more interesting.

In the championship rounds Amanda showed her superiority and special skill set by out landing and outworking Erika to the punch. Erika showed crazy toughness, refusing to let the blood dripping in her eyes deter her from the task at hand.

After 10 fully contested rounds of action, the Judges at hand scored it 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93 unanimously for Amanda Serrano.

With this win Amanda collected the WBA Super Featherweight Belt from Erika and retained her IBF/IBO/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Featherweight Championship Titles to now being crowned the first man or woman from Puerto Rico to become Undisputed IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Featherweight Champion of the World. Now that’s “The Real Deal”.

Congratulations Amanda on this historical achievement – well-deserved.

Blaze

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