On The Watch “It’s All About Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr. 2″

Middleweight Throwdown

Tonight’s Sky Sport/Boxxer Main Event was a much-needed rematch between Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 Kos) and Chris Eubank Jr. (33-3, 24 Kos) at the AO Arena in Manchester Lancaster, UK where the outcome of this bout was completely different from their first encounter.

Tonight, Eubank Jr. came into this bout calm and laser focussed with one mission in mind, to rectify and redeem himself from the brutal loss obtained from Liam’s hands seven months ago.

With new head trainer Brian “Bomac” McIntyre leading his corner, Eubank showed dominance once again right from the jump but this time followed the “game plan” constructed and did not miss a beat. Eubank systematically broke Liam down round by round disabling his opponent from ever getting his offense going. Eubank showed way more activity with his punch output and a strong steady jab that kept Liam covered up with nothing to answer with. This version of Eubank seemed too much for Liam inside that squared circle. Liam was being battered around like a punching bag round by round and eventually succumbed to a right uppercut that dropped him for a quick 8 count. However, he survived the round due to the referee taking his sweet time collecting his displaced gum shield and bringing it to his corner giving Liam more time to recover.

Regardless of the referee’s stalling tactics, Eubank continued his dominance by administering constant pressure with some very good work from the body to the head coming from all angles with no real resistance from his opponent. This was a one-sided beatdown that continued all the way to the tenth round where Liam was at the receiving end of a barrage of punches that eventually sat him down once again for another 8 count that saw him rise up to his feet only to again receive another onslaught of abuse prompting the referee to step in and stop the bout.

With this dominant performance over Liam, Eubank has now silenced all the naysayers who doubted his capabilities inside that squared circle. This was a must win for Eubank and tonight he showed improvement and discipline under the guidance of McIntyre.

I’m intrigued to see how well this partnership can be, until then congratulations Chris on another resounding performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois”

IBO/IBF/WBA/WBO Heavyweight Challenge

Tonight’s Heavyweight Championship Main Event at the Stadion Wroclaw, Poland, between Undefeated Unified IBO/IBF/WBA/WBO/Ring Magazine Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 Kos) and WBA World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Dubois (19-2, 18 Kos), was a very entertaining bout but will forever be tainted by what transpired in the fifth round.

Usyk, who came out the gate confident as ever, dominated his opponent with ease as the rounds progressed but was met with a controversial incident in the fifth round when Dubois connected with a vicious body shot that brutally dropped Usyk to the ground to which the referee on hand shockingly ruled a low blow when it was clearly a well-placed legal body shot.

That moment was suspect if you ask me but the time that Usyk was permitted to recover before the fight resumed was just enough for him to return to form and continue his dominance.

Dubois failed miserably to capitalize on the fact that Usyk was still hurt from the body shot and showed no sense of real urgency round by round. Usyk on the other hand showed even more aggression while putting his own punches together throwing four-piece combinations and dropping Dubois for a quick 8 count late in the eighth round. Dubois was unraveling and showing fatigue and signs of breaking down. The inevitable was near and by the ninth round Usyk applied the right amount of pressure and connected with a well-placed right jab straight to the chin of Dubois dropping him once again but this time refusing to answer the count prompting the referee to wave the bout.

Although Usyk showed levels above Dubois inside that squared circle tonight and retained his IBO/IBF/WBA/WBO/Ring Magazine Championship Titles, the wrong call in the fifth round will always be in the back of everybody’s mind.

Just my thoughts.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Emanuel Navarrete vs Oscar Valdez”

WBO World Super Featherweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN Mexican Showdown Main event between WBO World Super Featherweight Champion Emanuel Navarrete (38-1, 31 Kos) and former WBO Featherweight Champion Oscar Valdez (31-2, 23 Kos), brought the heat and the house down with their performance at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

These two warriors wasted no time and proceeded at throwing some heavy leather back and forth right from the first bell dictating how this bout was going to unfold.

At first sight it was clear that Navarrete’s unorthodox pressured style and physical strength was definitely going to be a problem for Valdez to deter. Navarrete’s punches were coming from all angles nonstop making it really hard for Valdez to counter back since punches were coming at him in bunches at a time.

That being said, Valdez’s counterpunches were visibly effective when thrown but not damaging enough to discourage Navarrete’s high-volume attack of six punch combinations coming back at him.

Although Valdez stood his ground going toe to toe with Navarrete, the assault that Oscar was absorbing was visibly breaking him down round by round. Navarrete’s overall style was simply too much for Oscar on the night.

After 12 blistering rounds of action, the Judges at hand called it 119-109, 118-110, 116-112 all in favor of Emanuel Navarrete.

With this convincing win Navarrete retained his WBO World Super Featherweight Title and recorded his biggest win of his career to date.

Well done, Champ!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Canelo Alvarez vs Jermell Charlo”

Undisputed vs Undisputed

It has now officially been announced. The “Kingpin” Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 Kos) will be defending his Crown in the Main Event of a Showtime PPV on Saturday night September 30, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, against Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Middleweight Champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 Kos), who will be moving up two Divisions to the 168-Pound Division and attempt at making history once again at becoming a two-weight Division Undisputed Champion.

This is an intriguing matchup bringing out all the talks. Two Undisputed Champions going head-to-head in the first matchup of the four-belt era is a game changer that will surely bring out the fans to witness this historical moment.

Two of the best in their respective divisions will be putting it all on the line and attesting to be the best of the best in the Pound-for-Pound discussion.

Some naysayers are already complaining about Jermell moving up from the 154-Pound Division to the 168-Pound Division, could be a hard task, but truth be told Jermell is naturally a “Big Boy” campaigning in the Junior Middleweight Division. Real Talk! Dude will look right at home come fight night on every level. Size will not be a deciding factor for Jermell.

That being said, what will be a factor is the experience, the boxing IQ and the skill level that will be displayed inside that squared circle on fight night. Who will prevail as the superior combatant when all is said and done and the one true Champion remains standing on the biggest stage?

Tune in Saturday night on Showtime PPV September 30, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and witness the outcome of this historical moment in Boxing History.

Who you got?

Blaze

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

Undisputed Welterweight Champion

Last night’s Premier Boxing Champions/Showtime PPV Main Event between Pound-for-Pound WBA/WBC/IBF Welterweight Unified Champion Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 Kos) and Pound-for-Pound WBO World Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 Kos), far exceeded my expectations when those two combatants finally graced the inside of that squared circle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Real Talk!

This highly anticipated bout took some years to get here but the two undefeated Champions stayed the course and eventually made it happen and the wait was well worth it. There was a lot of tough talk going back and forth from both combatants about who was going to do what to each other inside that squared circle but when all was said and done it was the fisherman “Bud” who had caught himself a “Big Fish” at the end of the night. Real Talk!

All the talk about “Bud” ain’t fight nobody in the Welterweight Division was undeniably put to rest when Crawford entered that squared circle and bullied the naturally bigger combatant in Spence straight from the gate.

I’m not sure if Errol underestimated his opponent on the night but he found out quickly after being dropped in the second round for a quick 8 count that this warrior standing across from him was coming for that kill.

Having been knocked down for the first time in his career motivated Spence to raise the heat inside that squared circle but the cool and calm Crawford had already figured out his opponent by that time and proceeded to execute the flawless “game plan” round by round.

Crawford, the visible smaller man inside that squared circle began imposing himself by walking down Spence with some vicious powerful punches that were visibly shaking him from head to toe. There are levels to this Boxing sh*t and last night Crawford proved to be the stronger and more skillful of the two combatants inside that squared circle.

The usually strong and durable Spence surprisingly had absolutely nothing to deter Terence from having his way with him inside that squared circle. For the first time in his career Errol got manhandled from start to finish and never quite recovered and eventually got dropped twice in the seventh round.

The inevitable was moments away and by the ninth round after being badgered with a series of unanswered punches, the referee jumped in and stopped the bout saving Errol from absorbing any further punishment.

With this dominating performance by Terence who captured the WBA/WBC/IBF Welterweight Titles from Errol and retained his WBO World Title, Crawford now becomes the New Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Welterweight Champion of the World crowning him as the second Boxer male/female of all time to secure back-to-back Undisputed Supremacy in two different Weight Divisions during the four-belt era. (The other boxer to accomplish this achievement is Claressa Shields)

The debate is officially over, the King of the Welterweight Division is Terence “Bud” Crawford.

Congratulations, Champ – well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue”

Unified Junior Featherweight Champion

Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 Kos) repped his moniker “The Monster” to the fullest this morning at the Top Rank/ESPN Main Event when he completely dominated and stopped WBC/WBO Junior Featherweight Champion Stephen Fulton (21-1, 8 Kos) at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue, who was fresh off capturing the Undisputed Bantamweight Championship status, moved up in weight to the Junior Featherweight Division in search of accomplishing the same by challenging the No. 1 Dude in the Division, Stephen Fulton and relieving him of his prized possessions the WBC/WBO Junior Featherweight Belts.

Fulton was rated as an exceptional worthy Champion that would definitely bring that “Heat” to Inoue but what transpired inside that squared circle this morning proved to me just how serious of a competitor Inoue really is. Dude really walks it like he talks it and backs every word with absolutely no fear of any opponent standing opposite of him. Real Talk!

I anticipated a very competitive bout to unfold but to my surprise, this was a systematic one-sided beatdown at the hands of “The Monster” Inoue who received very little resistance from the Champion Stephen. There are levels to this Boxing sh*t and this morning Inoue showed us and the World watching that, skill wise, he was far ahead of the game when placed inside squared circle with Fulton.

Stephen had utterly nothing to deter Inoue from having his way with him inside that squared circle. As great as Fulton is today, he was no match for Inoue and eventually succumbed to a stoppage in the eighth round.

With this convincing win under his belt, Inoue has now captured the WBC/WBO Junior Featherweight Championship Titles making him a four-weight Division Champion. Inoue has once again proven to the World that he’s nothing to play with inside that squared circle.

The 122-Pound Division has now been put on notice. “The Monster” is out here looking for that smoke and driven to Undisputed once again. IBF/WBA Junior Featherweight Champion Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 Kos), you’re next!

Until then, congratulations Naoya on another convincing win!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Alycia Baumgardner vs Christina Linardatou”

Undisputed Super Featherweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between Undisputed Super Featherweight Champion Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7 Kos) and challenger Christina Linardatou (14-3, 6 Kos), was the type of an event that was perfectly set for Alycia’s homecoming at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan.

Alycia had her fans in attendance cheering her name from start to finish and she did not disappoint them. Although Christina did put up a good fight and definitely had some moments throughout the bout, it was Alycia who controlled the rounds and prevented Christina’s pressure style of fighting from ever deterring Alycia from her “game plan” at hand.

Alycia showed patience round by round and boxed beautifully, administering some vicious blows visibly stunting Christina as the rounds progressed. Alycia looked strong and focussed and always in control of her emotions.

Alycia definitely showed growth and maturity from her last encounter with Christina who gave her the first loss of her professional career back in 2018. This version of Alycia was the Undisputed Super Featherweight Champion of the World and possessed the higher ring IQ of the night.

Alycia desperately needed and wanted that revenge bout to be dealt with and deal with it she did in a very convincing manner. Alycia dominated Christina who was very active with her hands but this time lacked the power to deter the Champ from having her way.

That being said, after 10 rounds of action the Judges at hand scored it 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 all in favour of Alycia Baumgardner.

With this convincing win, Alycia retained her Undisputed Super Featherweight status and can now set her eyes on bigger challenges ahead in the likes of Undisputed Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor, Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion Chantelle Cameron or even Undisputed Featherweight Champion Amanda Serrano.

Alycia is clearly seeking the biggest fights available regardless of the Champion. I can’t wait to see who will sign up for the challenge.

Until then, congratulations on your latest win Alycia.

Blaze

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