On The Watch “It’s All About Teofimo Lopez vs Jamaine Ortiz”

WBO Junior Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN + Main Event between WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 Kos) and challenger Jamaine Ortiz (17-2-1, 8 Kos) did not live up to the hype brought in by the Champion at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Throughout the buildup of this match up Teofimo and Jamaine both talked a good game and promised excitement and pure domination from both sides however, what transpired on the night was a pretty doleful outing for a Main Event that had the crowd booing and showing their disappointment.

No disrespect to both combatants but this was not what we the fans expected on the night.
Jamaine had a very good “game plan” working for him where he boxed and moved well, frustrating Lopez constantly throughout the night and picking up rounds in my eyes but failed to sit down on his punches to assert himself at times.

Lopez on the other hand, had the wrong “game plan” on the night. He did not expect Jamaine to come out the gate fighting southpaw all night causing him confusion. He lacked the proper knowhow to cut off the ring on Jamaine who was using a lot of movement enabling him to set his own offence up.

Although Teofimo did have his moments inside that squared circle he looked lost and discouraged on how the bout was unfolding. Teofimo was the aggressor inside that ring but lacked the right tactics to show dominance over his opponent.

After 12 completed rounds the Judges on hand called it 115-113, 115-113 and 117-111 all in favor of Teofimo Lopez. Personally, I think neither combatant deserved a win here and that score of 117-111 was way out of pocket.

Nevertheless, with this win Teofimo made his first defense of his WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Titles and retained the hardware to see another day as Champion.

That being said, Teofimo’s call out of Unified Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 Kos) at a catchweight after a lacklustre performance like that is troublesome if you ask me.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Regis Prograis vs Devin Haney”

WBC Junior Welterweight Champion

Last night’s DAZN/Matchroom PPV Main Event between Junior Welterweight Champion Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 Kos) and challenger former Undisputed Lightweight Champion Devin Haney (31-0, 15 Kos), was the type of homecoming any young champion moving up in weight would love to have in front of their fans at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Real Talk!

The undefeated former Undisputed Lightweight Champion Devin Haney ascended into the 140-Pound Division with a “BANG” and completely dominated the Champion Regis on the biggest stage. Devin walked it like he talked and tamed, boxed, dropped, embarrassed, and utterly disarmed the “Rougarou” inside that squared circle.

Devin showed growth last night and had himself a flawless performance where he made the Champion look like an amateur who did not belong in the ring with him. Regis talked a lot of sh*t in the build-up to the fight but had absolutely no answer or the right “game plan” to keep up with Devin on the night. Regis looked out of place and uncomfortable after being dropped in the third round and rocked multiple times throughout the bout. It was clear that his confidence was nowhere to be found.


After 12 one-sided rounds of domination, the Judges at hand unanimously called it a shutout 120-107 for the New WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Devin Haney.

With this compelling performance Devin now becomes a two-weight Division Champion and should be worthy of a spot on everybody’s Pound for Pound list hands down.

Congratulations Devin on another great win. I can’t wait to see what your next challenge will be.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Chantelle Cameron vs Katie Taylor”

Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion

Tonight’s rematch Undisputed Junior Welterweight redemption showdown between Undisputed Junior Welterweight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion Chantelle Cameron (18-1, 8 Kos) and Undisputed Lightweight IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 Kos) was exactly the redemption that Katie was looking to bring her fans in attendance at 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland.

Both combatants came into this bout with the utmost confidence but it was Katie who has carried a chip on her shoulders for the past six months coming from a loss and fought like someone who needed to unleash havoc on her opponent of the night.

Both warriors threw heavy leather at each other right from the jump and did not stop giving each other time to breath which made the action inside that squared circle that much more interesting round by round.

Katie’s aggression this time around was key as she constantly kept her hands going and landing punches with combination that kept Chantelle on her toes but did not deter the champion from throwing her own heavy shots during the exchanges.

Chantelle showed her power early by dropping Katie clean but the referee at hand ruled it a slip which I personally think was the wrong call and may had caused Chantelle to lose focus for the remainder of the bout as the referee continuously ignored the constant head butting and holding that Katie was doing throughout the bout.

Chantelle did good work and kept the fight close but seemed distracted by the way the referee was calling the fight. That being said, Katie bit down on her gum shield and fought toe to toe and accepted every advantage going her way and executed her “game plan” round by round.

Things got rough and ugly inside that squared circle but both combatants put on a hell of a show. After 10 full rounds of nonstop action the Judges at hand called it 98-92 and 96-94 for Taylor while the third Judge had a draw 95-95 giving Katie the majority decision.

Katie, who came into this bout as the underdog for the first time, took charge and never wavered when the going got tough and gave out an amazing winning performance in front of her adoring fans to now being called a two weight Undisputed Champion by snatching away the Junior Welterweight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine titles from Chantelle Camron. Unbelievable.

Katie showed up tonight and redeemed herself on the same grounds where she took her first loss and for that I tip my “B” hat to Taylor. Congratulations Katie on becoming the New Junior Welterweight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion of the World.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Regis Prograis vs Devin Haney”

WBC Junior Welterweight Challenge

It has been officially announced! WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Regis Prograis (29-1, 24 Kos) will be defending his Championship belt Saturday night December 9, 2023, at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California against the Undisputed Lightweight Champion Devin Haney (30-0, 15 Kos), who will now be moving up in weight in pursuit of becoming a two-Division World Champion.

This matchup is very interesting to me because Devin is the one who surprisingly called out the Champ. Choosing a heavy fisted Champion like Prograis for your first fight at a heavier weight is telling me that your confidence is at 100% from the jump. As skilled as Devin is he needs to be mindful of Prograis because this Dude is no walk in the park inside that squared circle. Prograis is strong, durable and aggressive with them hands once he gets going.

That being said, Devin is on a mission to take over the Junior Welterweight Division and his first mark is Prograis. Judging by how the press conference unfolded today, there is definitely no love lost here. The disrespect displayed today will certainly have to be settled inside that squared circle, hands down.

Prograis will have to make sure to be ready for everything Devin brings to the table because your Boy Dev got the right attributes and the skill set to possibly offset Regis’ strength if he’s not well prepared. Regis considers himself the best in the Division and it will be up to him to walk it like he talks it and deter the young hungry lion from using him as a stepping stone to the top of the Division.

Tune in Saturday night December 9, 2023, at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California and live on DAZN PPV, and witness the outcome of this intriguing Junior Welterweight Showdown.

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 Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron”

Undisputed Junior Welterweight Challenge

Tonight, we were privy to another great event of boxing when Matchroom/DAZN provided us a Main Event between Undisputed Lightweight IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion Katie Taylor (21-1, 6 Kos) who moved up in weight to challenge Undisputed Junior Welterweight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion Chantelle Cameron (18-0, 8 Kos) for all her jewelry and home court advantage at 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland.

The night was set for Katie to perform on the highest stage in front of her adoring crowd and mesmerise them inside that squared circle but what unfolded on the night was completely different from what was expected by the fans in attendance.

Chantelle came into this bout with her own “game plan” and executed it to a “T”. Cameron showed Taylor her respect but still proceeded to apply just the right amount of controlled offensive pressure to also gain Katie’s respect inside that squared circle.

Chantelle proved to be a formidable opponent – strong and skilled enough to trouble Katie round by round. Chantelle kept a steady active pace administering some heavy shots clearly concerning Katie as the rounds progressed.

Katie was well matched tonight and fought quite well but to me lacked the right amount of effective damage to deter the relentless and focused Cameron from constantly pressuring her from all angles. Chantelle cut the ring effortlessly and boxed beautifully even when Katie would rally up her punch output from time to time.

Nevertheless, this bout was quite competitive and crowd pleasing from start to finish with Katie making a statement in the Championship rounds but after 10 rounds of nonstop action, the Judges at hand scored it 95-95, 96-94-96-94 all in favor of Chantelle Cameron.

It took 12 years for Chantelle to avenge her loss to Katie from the amateur days but tonight’s win on foreign ground, makes this win even sweeter and still Undisputed Junior Welterweight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion of the World.

Congratulations Chantelle, this was definitely a performance worthy of Pound-for-Pound status in my eyes.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Teofimo Lopez vs Sandor Martin”

WBC Junior Lightweight Eliminator

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN Main Event between Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 Kos) and Sandor Martin (40-3, 13 Kos) at Madison Square Garden, New York wasn’t quite the “TAKEOVER” by Teofimo that the fans in attendance expected.

Teofimo was inside that squared circle with a slick defensive southpaw in Sandor who was able to defuse and frustrate Lopez all night long. What Teofimo had in mind did not unfold as planned. The “game plan” constructed by Teofimo’s corner never really got a chance to see the light of day.

Sandor hadn’t come to New York just to lay down for Teofimo, as a matter of fact it was Sandor who actually dropped Teofimo for a quick 8 count in the second round forcing Lopez to step his game up from that point on.

Lopez tried round by round but it was painfully obvious that frustration was getting the best of him as Sandor boxed and moved disabling Lopez from ever catching a proper flow throughout the bout.

Although Teofimo was the aggressor of the two combatants inside that squared circle, Lopez’s body language showed me he was the defeated fighter, irritated that he wasn’t able to get Sandor out of there.

After 10 fully completed rounds, the Judges at hand scored it 97-92 and 96-93 for Lopez and the third Judge 95-94 for Martin, giving the split decision to Teofimo Lopez.

Although Teofimo won the bout, the lack of focus and confidence displayed by Lopez last night lets me know that he’s going to have to step his game up in a major way if he still has aspirations of ever being a full fledged Champion in the Junior Lightweight Division because them “Boys” at the top of the food chain do not play with their food and this version of Teofimo is looking like food ready to be taken.

Just my thoughts.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Regis Prograis vs Jose Zepeda”

Vacant WBC Junior Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s MarvNation Promotions Main Event Between Regis Prograis (28-1, 24 Kos) and Jose Zepeda (36-3, 28 Kos) at the Dignity Health Sport Park, was a strategic bout displayed by both combatants that heated up in the championship rounds and had the fans in attendance on edge but definitely entertained.

Both combatants came out the gate sizing each other up and feeling out each other’s power but it was Prograis who picked up the pace and the action as the rounds progressed. Regis showed improvement with his patience round by round staying on point with the “game plan” at hand. He looked focussed and determined to stay one step ahead of Zepeda round by round.

Zepeda, who carries power of his own seemed a little too tentative at letting his hands go at times making it easier for Prograis to keep up his work rate round by round. Although Zepeda did manage at times to touch Prograis with some heavy shots, his low work rate wasn’t enough to edge the rounds in my eyes.

As the rounds progressed it was clear to me that Zepeda was in survivor mode. A very tough competitor inside that squared circle but clearly outgunned when facing Prograis.

That said, Zepeda actually picked up the pace in the championship rounds and even buzzed Prograis in the 10th round but Regis was clearly the stronger and determined warrior of the two inside that squared circle. In the 11th round Prograis proceeded to end the show in a convincing manner when he blitzed Zepeda and unloaded some vicious powerful shots from head to body that dropped him and prompted the referee to step in and stop the bout.

It was a beautiful display of skills by Prograis who broke his opponent down round by round to now becoming a two time 140-Pound Champion and the new WBC Junior Welterweight Champion of the World.

It was a hard road back to the top for Prograis and his hard work and self-belief kept him on path back where he belongs, calling the shots. Who wants next?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica McCaskill”

Undisputed Junior Welterweight Championship

A new Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion was crowned tonight at the Matchroom/DAZN Co-Main Event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates between WBC/IBF
Junior Welterweight Champion Chantelle Cameron (17-0 8 Kos) and Undisputed Welterweight Champion Jessica McCaskill (12-3 5 Kos) who moved down in weight to accept the challenge.

The move down in weight wasn’t as eventful as Jessica expected as she was met with a formidable Champion in Chantelle who boxed and moved circles around Jessica while still maintaining a level of discipline and patience inside that squared circle.

Jessica did not make it easy with her rough house tactics but Chantelle’s superior boxing IQ soundly carried her round by round. I’m not sure what type of “game plan” Jessica’s corner constructed for this bout but truth be told, Jessica looked amateurish the way she was swinging wildly left and right with no real destination at hand. Jessica did not look like an Undisputed Welterweight Champion but rather like a fighter getting caught up in a street fight. Real Talk!

This version of Jessica made it really easy for Chantelle to collect the vacant WBA and WBO titles missing to complete the puzzle of Undisputed. Chantelle literally schooled the aggression out of Jessica and made it embarrassingly easy while doing so. After 10 rounds of action the Judges at hand called it 97-93, 96-94 and 96-94 all in favor of Chantelle Cameron.

With this convincing win over a Pound-for-Pound combatant in Jessica McCaskill, Chantelle retained her WBC/IBF Championship titles and collected the vacant WBA and WBO Titles, crowning her Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion of the world.

Congratulations Chantelle on becoming the 5th female Boxer to presently claim Undisputed Champion in the 4 Belt era. Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Teofimo Lopez vs Pedro Campa”

Junior Welterweight Showdown

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN Main Event between former Unified Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez (17-1, 13 Kos) and Pedro Campa (34-2-1, 23 Kos) at the Resorts World Las Vegas, was the perfect bounce-back bout needed to introduce Teofimo into the Junior Welterweight Division.

Campa thought he could bully his opponent by standing his ground and going toe to toe in the pocket with Lopez and it looked good in the first few rounds but soon found out that Teofimo just needed a few feeling out rounds of his own to get his action going.

Teofimo fought at a slower pace than usual but was very effective with his output and punch selection while visibly administering damages to his opponent. Campa fought a good fight and kept it competitive but was clearly showing effect from the power shots Lopez was hitting him with.

As the rounds progressed Teofimo was clearly breaking Campa down. The inevitable occurred in round seven when Lopez connected with a strong right hand and left hook that dropped Campa for a quick 8 count that saw him bounce back up but clearly looked hurt by that time. Once action renewed Teofimo wasted no time and proceeded to administer a series of power punches from all angles with absolutely no resistance coming his way, forcing the referee to stop the bout.

Teofimo looked good last night inside that squared circle and fought a good fight by taking his opponent out. That being said I personally think he should still ease his way into the 140-Pound Division before calling out the “top dogs” in the Division. Them Dudes at the top will be a hell of a tougher obstacle then what you just conquered last night, no disrespect to Pedro Campa.

Until then congratulations Teofimo on your win. I can’t wait to see who’s next in line.

Blaze