On The Watch “It’s All About Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin”

Heavyweight Showdown

Tonight’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between former Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 Kos) and Jermaine Franklin (21-2, 14 Kos) was a much-needed reception that AJ required to have in his own backyard at the 02 Arena, Greenwich, London, UK to uplift his spirit. Real Talk!

Everyone in attendance and me included expected to see AJ dispatch of his opponent in a very quick and destructive fashion but instead we got to see Anthony display a little of what he’s been working with alongside his new trainer Derrick James.

The detractors are going to be going for AJ’s head for not taking Jermaine out before the last bell but let’s keep it real AJ is on his third head trainer change and needed to execute the “game plan” at hand and build from there.

I personally would have appreciated seeing AJ being a little more aggressive in this bout but Franklin was not some chump who was inside that squared circle to lay down without a fight. Franklin did his best and stood up going toe to toe with the hulking AJ for 12 full rounds.

Franklin showed AJ no respect inside that squared circle but lacked the power to deter Anthony from having his way with his own stiff and heavy jab alongside some serious power combination shots as the rounds progressed. Had AJ sat on his punches with a little more aggression I believe he could have collected his 23rd knockout. Real talk!

At the completion of this bout, the Judges at hand scored it 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111 unanimously for Anthony Joshua. Although we didn’t get to see a destructive performance by Anthony, he did what was necessary to secure a much-needed win under his belt.

My personal opinion after watching this bout is that with Derrick James having more time with Joshua, I expect to see a much more improved and imposing Anthony in his next bout.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall”

IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO Unified Middleweight Championship Showdown

Tonight’s highly anticipated Sky Sports/Boxxer Main Event between IBF/WBA/WBC Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields (13-0, 2 Kos) and WBO World Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall (12-1, 10 Kos) was a bout that represented the best of the best on the biggest platform of them all.

The self-proclaimed GWOAT of women’s boxing walked it like she talked it and asserted herself right from the jump and took it straight to Savannah who had absolutely no answer to Claressa’s non-stop action.

Although Savannah was the bigger combatant inside that squared circle, it was Claressa who pressed the action from start to finish making it real unconfutable for Savannah to establish any type of consistent offensive attack. Real Talk!

Claressa’s high-volume punches prevented Savannah from settling in with her strong jab. For every jab Savannah landed Claressa answered with flurries of punches making every round that much harder for Savannah to establish her own “game plan”.

Claressa was focussed and on point round by round physically and mentally ready for everything Savannah was throwing at her. Claressa showed the World tonight what she was all about inside that squared circle. Savannah was in a real fight tonight and had no proper “game plan” to deter Claressa from having her way with her.

After 10 full rounds of non-stop action, the Judges at hand called it 96-94, 97-93, 97 -93 unanimously for Claressa Shields – the New Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO and Ring Magazine Middleweight Champion of the World. A beautiful display of boxing at its finest by the self-proclaimed GWOAT of women boxing to date.

Congratulations Claressa on another dominating performance. You truly are women’s boxing at its finest. Good luck to the competitors attempting to dethrone you.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Alycia Baumgardner vs Mikaela Mayer”


IBF/IBO/WBC/WBO Super Featherweight Unification Championship Showdown

Tonight’s Sky Sports/Boxxer Unification championship bout between Super Featherweight Champion IBF/WBO/Ring Magazine Mikaela Mayer (17-1, 5 Kos) and WBC/IBO Champion Alycia Baumgardner (13-1, 7 Kos) put it all on the line as co Main Event at the 02 Arena in London and did not disappoint.

This highly anticipated grudge match unraveled as a highly played out chess match with both girls executing their respected “game plan” round by round to a “T”. However, Alycia asserted herself as the aggressor right from the jump pressuring Mikaela with some very good combinations making it real uncomfortable for Mikaela to assess.

That being said, Mikaela did eventually figure out her range and jab her way out to make this fight quite interesting as the rounds progressed.

Both girls were letting their hands go from the phone booth to the outside administering some heavy blows coming from both sides. It was a calculative bout from the jump and both girls had their moments.

At times, both girls fought with caution making it real hard to call a clear winner of some rounds but after 10 full rounds of action the Judges at hand had a tough decision to make but called it 97-93 for Mikaela and 96-95 twice for Alycia making her the winner by split decision and New Unified IBF/IBO/WBC/WBO and Ring Magazine Super Featherweight Champion of the World.

Both combatants talked enough trash before this big night but it was Alycia Baumgardner who managed to pull off the narrow close win to walk away the Unified Super Featherweight Champion.

Well done, Alycia, you have clearly established yourself as the No. 1
Featherweight Champion of the Division. Undisputed is definitely in your near future.

Blaze