On The Watch “It’s All About Juan Francisco Estrada vs Roman Gonzalez 2”

WBA/WBC Super Flyweight Unification

Last night’s highly anticipated rematch between Juan Francisco Estrada (42-3, 28 Kos) and Roman Gonzalez (50-3, 41 Kos) at the American Airlines Arena was well worth the “Hype”. Real Talk!

This DAZN/Matchroom Main Event was blazing from start to finish. These two warriors picked up right where they left off back in November 2012. Both threw non-stop leather with controlled aggression coming from both sides.

Neither warrior backed down, however, as the rounds wore on Roman, seemed to be landing the more telling punches. It was a tight bout to call with enough action that had the fans in attendance standing and screaming on their feet. The combination punches were coming in abundance from Roman while Juan attempted to control the distance and returning heat with similar aggression.

There was so much leather being thrown inside that squared circle from both combatants that they had a combined record of 2,529 total punches thrown in a Super Flyweight Division bout to date. The bar was seriously raised in this Super Flyweight bout last night.

That being said, two Judges on the night scored it 117-111, 115-113 for Juan Francisco while one Judge had it 115-113 for Roman. I’m perplexed by the 117-111 score of that particular Judge cause truth be told, neither one of the combatants deserved a ridiculous score like this. Real talk!!

Score card aside, this bout could have gone either way. Juan won his revenge match and in doing so retained his WBC Belt collected Roman’s WBA Super Belt and picked up the prestigious Ring Magazine Belt for good measure. Not bad for a revenge match.

Congratulations Juan on your great win, you worked extremely hard for this one. Enjoy the fruits of your labour, you deserve it.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jessica McCaskill vs Cecilia Braekhus”

Undisputed Welterweight Championship

Last night’s DAZN/Matchroom co-Main Event Undisputed Welterweight Championship rematch showdown at the American Airlines Arena between Jessica McCaskill (10-2, 3 Kos) and Cecilia Braekhus (36-2, 9 Kos) was a dominant performance by the Champion. Real Talk!

Jessica, who was the first to dethrone the “First Lady” back in August 2020, in what many have called a controversy win, proved last night that her previous victory over Cecilia was justified when she convincingly sealed the deal the second time around.

Jessica asserted herself from round one and never took her foot off the gas pedal and stayed in attack mode dropping heavy leather from all angles. This surprising fast pace that had Cecilia confused, off balance and unable to settle into her own offence all night.

I’m not sure what the “game plan” was for Cecilia but it was very unexpected to see someone with such a high boxing IQ struggle the way she did inside that squared circle. Cecilia did manage to apply some pressure in the later rounds but the damage was already sealed.
The Judges had seen enough and scored it 100-89, 99-90, 98-91 in favor of Jessica.

With this unanimous decision Jessica silenced all the naysayers and retained her WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, IBO and collected the prestigious Ring Magazine Championship Belt and still Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World.

Congratulations Jessica on such a great victory.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About David Benavidez vs Ronald Ellis”

WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator

It was another strong showing for David Benavidez (24-0, 21 Kos) at last night’s Showtime Boxing Main Event card at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut when he battled Ronald Ellis (18-2-2, 12 Kos) in a WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator.

Ellis made it fight for as long as he could but soon found out that Benavidez is a serious problem inside that squared circle. Outside looking in, many competitors think that Benavidez is nothing special with no real special effects to his style, but once that bell rings, they find out really quickly that the kid is strong and very effective with his non-stop offence. Benavidez won’t dazzle you with his footwork but he will cut the ring on you and apply that pressure from round one until the end of the fight.

That being said, Ellis fell victim to the same circumstances when it was painfully evident that the punishment Ellis was absorbing round after round would eventually wear him down. Ellis boxed and moved well and definitely made it interesting but the heavy combinations and deadly body and head shots that Benavidez was administering on Ellis forced the referee to ultimately jump in and stop the bout in the 11th round.

Benavidez is a top 168-Pounder who can no longer be avoided by any of the other top contenders in the Division. With this win Benavidez is one step closer at reclaiming his WBC Super Middleweight Title he lost on the scale by not making weight in the last fight.

Benavidez is now officially the new mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez’s WBC Super Middleweight Title. With that in mind Benavidez has no shortage of confidence and truly believes he’s the man who will dethrone Canelo from the No. 1 Spot.

This is an interesting bout between the two that needs to happen but with Canelo’s quest of unifying the Super Middleweight Division this year, we may have to wait to see this intriguing clash come into fruition.

Until then keep piling up the wins David.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The 70th 2021 NBA All-Star Game”

This year, the 70th annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena on Sunday night March 7, 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic still looming in the world, and unlike past All-Star weekends, the usual entertainment like the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest will all take place on the same night as the NBA All-Star Game. The 3-Point Contest and the Skills Challenge will be preceding the game while the Dunk Contest will take place at the halftime break of the NBA All-Star game.

Once again, the league is maintaining the Draft-Style format and the starters were chosen by the fans while the rest of the squad was selected by the media and current players. That said the Western leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and the Eastern leading vote-getter from the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant will serve as Captains of their respective conferences.

Representing the Eastern Conference Starters this year are

-Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets) Team Captain (injured)
-Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
-Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
-Jason Tatum (Boston Celtics) (selected as replacement for injured Kevin Durant)

Reserves

-James Harden (Brooklyn Nets)
-Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) (selected as a replacement for injured Anthony Davis)
-Zion Williams (New Orleans Pelicans)
-Zack LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
-Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic)
-Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
-Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) (injured)

Coach Doc Rivers (Philadelphia 76ers)

Representing the Western Conference Starters this year are

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Reserves

-Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
-Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns)
-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
-Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)
-Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
-Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)

Coach Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz)

“King of the Court” will be up for grabs once again come Sunday night March 7, 2021 on NBA TNT. Which Squad will claim “GAME” when it’s all said and done?

Tune in and take in all the festivities of this entertaining night!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Canelo Alvarez vs Avni Yildirim”

WBA/WBC Super Middleweight World Challenge

Last night’s DAZN/Matchroom Main Event between Pound-for-Pound “KingPin” Unified WBA Super/WBC and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 Kos) and Avni Yildirim (21-3, 12 Kos) at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, was a necessary mandated WBC title defense that could not be avoided.

That being said, it was clear from round one that Avni had absolutely no business inside that squared circle opposite of Canelo. For someone who had the privilege of being in camp with Canelo in the past and shared quite a few rounds with the “Champ” you would think that the fear factor would be nonexistent but that was not the case last night.

Avni, who was visibly the bigger fighter got bullied and abused straight from jump with little to no resistance which made it painful to watch. Avni stood there like a punching bag while Canelo battered him on all angles from the head to the body.

The onslaught by Canelo continued in the third round where Alvarez dropped Avni with a devastating right hand to the dome for an 8 count that saw him survive the round. However, Joel Diaz, Avni’s trainer had seen enough in his non-responsive fighter and pulled the plug before the 4th round even started.

With this successful defense of the WBA “Super”/WBC and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Championships, Canelo now has a clear path to a unification bout against WBO slick Champion Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 Kos) which has already been set for May 8, 2021 Cinco De Mayo weekend.

Billy Joe is no cakewalk when focussed inside that squared circle. I’m anticipating a calculated and exciting bout between them two come fight night.

Congratulations Canelo. The road to “Undisputed” is that much closer. Now on to the next.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Miguel Berchelt vs Oscar Valdez”

WBC Super Featherweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank Main Event bout between WBC Super Featherweight Champion Miguel Berchelt (37-2, 34 Kos) and Oscar Valdez (29-0, 23 Kos) at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, did not disappoint.

Oscar, the underdog of the night executed their “game plan” to a “T” from start to finish. Oscar boxed and moved beautifully with a steady and accurate jab that prevented Miguel from effectively settling into his own offence.

Miguel who was visibly the bigger guy inside that squared circle, was unable to assert himself physically to use his well-known power. The “game plan” that Oscar was displaying all night was clearly keeping Miguel overthinking his options inside that squared circle which cost him dearly in the fourth round when Oscar connected with a vicious left hook that sent Miguel staggering off the ropes. This prompted the referee to give Miguel a standing 8 count since the ropes saved him from falling out of the ring.

It was a technical matchup where the more elusive fighter in Valdez, was gaining more confidence as the rounds wore on. Although Miguel did have some moments inside that squared circle, it was clear that Oscar’s power shots were breaking Miguel down round by round.

In the 9th round Oscar connected with a nasty three-punch combination that sent Miguel straight down for his second knockdown of the night but Miguel’s resilience beat the 8 count to see the next round.

Miguel was clearly taking too much punishment and his corner contemplated stopping the bout but still sent him out there in the 10th round. Oscar saw a wounded combatant ready to be dispatched and Oscar did just that when he landed a devastating left hook that closed the show indefinitely. Miguel dropped flat on his face knocked out cold as the referee waved it off.

With this emphatic win, Oscar now becomes the new WBC Super Featherweight Champion of the world.

Job well done Oscar. You defied all odds and proved the naysayers wrong while putting the 130-pound Division on notice. There’s a New Champion on deck and he goes by the name of
Oscar Valdez.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Adrien Broner vs Jovanie Santiago”

Welterweight Showdown

Last night’s Showtime Main Event between Adrien Broner (34-4-1, 24 Kos) and Jovanie Santiago (14-1-1, 10 Kos) from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut wasn’t as eventful as I expected. Real Talk!

Broner, who hadn’t graced the inside of a squared circle in more than two years, may have looked the part last night but definitely didn’t look like the AB that I grew to appreciate throughout his career. AB still got “problems” letting his hands go.

It’s clear that things haven’t been the same for AB since his loss to Marcos Maidana which to me was a respectable loss cause AB fought his heart out that night and simply got beaten by the better man. That’s the version of AB that could still be a “Problem” to anybody stepping inside that squared circle with him.

That being said, the AB who showed up last night was a shell of the Broner I grew accustomed to seeing. Real talk! Although AB was awarded the win last night, I personally think he failed to show us the work rate that would have sealed the deal convincingly.

Broner clearly landed the harder shots throughout the bout but Santiago was visibly the more consistent with his work rate round by round. The Judges clearly didn’t appreciate Jovanie’s activity and determined aggression when they scored it 117-110, 116-111, 115-112 all in favor of Broner.

Let’s keep it real, that’s some serious suspect scoring and I’m an AB fan from time. A draw in my eyes would have been more acceptable.

Activity is key for you AB so make it happen for yourself Money! You are way too skilled to be having questionable fights like this one.

Just my thoughts.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell”

Interim WBC Lightweight Championship

Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 Kos) is no longer a contender. Tonight’s Main Event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas between Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell (20-4, 16 Kos) lived up to the hype as expected.

The unbeaten young warrior “King Ryan” had himself a true test inside that squared circle tonight when he exchanged leather with a formidable opponent in the two-time title contender Campbell.

Straight from the jump, Ryan thought sh*t was going to be nice and easy until he found himself in uncharted territory when he got dropped early in the 2nd round for a quick 8 count. Being that this was the first time Garcia had ever tasted the canvas, Ryan bounced right back up and shook it off.

Luke’s confidence was up from dropping Garcia in the second round but it wasn’t enough to deter Ryan from moving forward on him like a lion on a hunt for his kill. Luke had the right “game plan” throughout the rounds and fought exceptionally well, while still holding his ground efficiently.

However, I was impressed by Garcia throughout the rounds. Garcia kept it cool and worked his way back on the cards with a steady jab along with some very good power shots while still maintaining his height and reach advantages. It was only a matter of time before Ryan caught up with Campbell.

That being said, Garcia’s non-stop pressure eventually overwhelmed Luke in the 7th round to where Ryan was able to pick up a spectacular left body knockdown that had Luke gasping in pain for air which then prompted the referee to stop the bout since Luke was unable to beat the count.

It was an intriguing bout from start to finish. Both combatants showed up and performed exceptionally well. This was an important fight for Ryan, one that he needed to win in a convincing fashion to show his worth in the Lightweight Division.

With this imposing victory, Ryan now possesses the Interim WBC Lightweight Championship giving him a guaranteed mandatory shot at the WBC Lightweight Champion Devin Haney (25-0, 15 Kos).

Although the mandatory position is his for the taking, Ryan seems adamant on calling out and facing WBA “Regular” Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis (24-0, 23 Kos). Whichever opponent accepts the challenge, Ryan will have his hands full.

Until an official opponent is confirmed, congratulations Ryan on your latest accomplishment.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2020/2021”

The NBA Season 2020/2021

The NBA Season is set to start this upcoming Tuesday December 22, 2020 but with 10 games shorter than the previous seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic still looming over the World.

So many things are going to be different and unpredictable for this upcoming season but one thing is for sure, the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to repeat as Champions regardless of the obstacles ahead. The Lakers’ squad is still well-intact and well-built for the long haul. As for the Los Angeles Clippers, they may have fallen short in the Playoffs last season but redemption will be their motivation throughout this season. The Houston Rockets are an uncertainty right now considering they have done some major changes starting with their front office and the coaching staff and their star player, James Harden, looking for a way out of the city. Assuming Harden’s indecision to still run with the team, only time will tell how they will look as the season progresses. The Western Conference will still be competitive as usual with the strong play coming from the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, the Oklahoma City Thunder and let’s not forget The Golden State Warriors who may still have a say in the Western standings, – they are not done yet in my eyes.

The Eastern Conference is steadily improving with major players changing conferences to help balance the forces. The Milwaukee Bucks fell short once again at reaching the Finals but have managed to secure their MPV player Giannis Antetokounmpo to an extended contract giving them another opportunity at the task at hand, an NBA Title. With a few added pieces to the team, things could be looking up for them. The Miami Heat shocked the league last season when they worked their way to the NBA Finals. They showed they belong and plan on getting it going right back where they left off. The Brooklyn Nets will be looking for a “Takeover” type season with a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the pack along with a new coaching staff to draw up the winning format. Our own Canadian team the Toronto Raptors are still in the running and still have the ability to stay competitive with any team from any conferences. The Philadelphia 76ers have done some revamping with their team and the coaching staff in the hope of changing their future outcome. Let’s see how everything unfolds throughout the season. The Boston Celtics is still a major player with a proven squad that can definitely upset the apple tree once they get going. They are a proven squad that can definitely disrupt the standings in the Eastern Conference. As for the Indiana Pacers, the Washington Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets, the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic, the jury is still out on what they can bring to the table.

We are entering the unknown with this year NBA Season. There is no script on how things will evolve and for that alone we should all tune in this Tuesday night December 22, 2020 and be part of another roller-coaster type NBA Season 2020/2021.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Canelo Alvarez vs Callum Smith”

Super Middleweight Supremacy

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas between Canelo Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 Kos) and Callum Smith (27-1, 19 Kos) was the perfect way to end the Year 2020.

Canelo, who was clearly the shorter fighter standing at 5 foot 8 to the towering Callum at 6 foot 3, displayed some serious Boxing IQ that had Callum confused all night inside that squared circle. It was a thing of beauty to watch the smaller man walk down his opponent the way he did considering Callum had all the physical advantages coming into this bout.

I was surprised by the fact that Canelo showed absolutely no fear at all throughout the rounds. Canelo’s jab and body attack were so vicious and precise that Callum stayed on his back foot trying to avoid the heavy pounding he was receiving all night.

I expected Callum to be Canelo’s toughest challenge to date but judging on how Canelo dominated and dismantled Callum from round one to twelve, Canelo proved once again why he is the Pound-for-Pound best in the World today. Real Talk!

There are levels to this Boxing sh*t and Canelo’s masterclass performance last night showed us just how superior he can get when faced with so many drawbacks.

Callum, who was rated as the No. 1 Super Middleweight in the Division, took the worst beating I’ve ever seen him take in his career to date. The “game plan” that his corner drew up had absolutely no effect on Canelo whatsoever. Dude got heart though and he withheld the onslaught coming his way like the fighting man that he is.

That said, after 12 rounds of one-sided action, the Judges scored it 117-111, 119-109 and 119-109 in favor of Canelo. With this convincing win, Canelo is now the New WBC/WBA “Super” and Ring Magazine Champion of the World and now the No.1 168-Pounder in the Division.

With a new Division to dominate, Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion is the latest task at hand for the No. 1 Pound-for-Pound King they call Canelo Alvarez.

Congratulations Canelo on your latest accomplishment.

Blaze