On The Watch “It’s All About Jared Anderson vs Martin Bakole”

Heavyweight Showdown

His Excellency Turki Alashikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of General Entertainment Authority did it again but this time he brought his first overseas Riyadh Season to the United State and blessed us boxing fans with an incredible competitive undercard at the sold-out BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

First up on the night and probably the most intriguing bout in my opinion was Heavyweight “The Real Big Baby” Jared Anderson (17-1, 15 Kos) taking on the hard-hitting Heavyweight Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 Kos).

This was a case of greatly underestimating your 284-pound monster standing across from you. At the first bell Jared started off well with a stiff jab changing levels head to body with good movement while Martin stayed surprisingly very stationary with a bait of a right hand looking to detonate which he eventually landed with a vicious uppercut and a three-punch combo that dropped Jared for the first time and a quick standing 8 count.

This was the beginning of the end for Jared who proceeded to ignored his coach’s instructions and decided to get his “get back” by going toe-to-toe with the Big Boy. Jared had his moments landing some big shots but Martin took them clean and brushed them off while landing his own hard hitting and destructive shots

As the rounds progressed the action started to look one sided for Bakole who was having his way with Jared busting him up from all angles. Jared refused to bow down and showed some serious toughness but going toe-to-toe with Bakole was not the right plan.

By the fifth round the inevitable was nearby. Bakole landed a well-placed left uppercut
That dropped Jared for the second time. A shaky looking Jared beat the count and was willing to continue only to be met with a barrage of unanswered punches dropping him again for the third time.

Jared once again beat the count to continue but the onslaught of heavy damaging punches coming his way forced the referee to step in and put a stop to the bout.

This was a very entertaining bout from start to finish but truth be told Bakole was simply too much too soon for Jared to handle.

A statement was made on the night that Bakole is a serious threat to anyone in the Heavyweight Division.

Blaze

On the Watch ” It’s All About Jaron Ennis vs David Avanesyan”

IBF Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between IBF Welterweight Champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (32-0, 29 Kos) and David Avanesyan (30-5-1, 18 Kos) (the one who replaced mandatory challenger Cody Crowley) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, was more or less a showcase type of an event that saw his hometown fans in attendance looking quite satisfied by the performance of their Champion.

Jaron pressed the action from the first bell and never looked back while David embraced the pressure and dished out some of his own to show Jaron he wasn’t here to lay down as everyone expected.

David tried heavily to stand his ground in a bravado way but Jaron was simply too big, too strong and too skillful to be contained by him. No disrespect to David but Jaron pretty much toyed with him inside that squared circle. As tough and durable as David usually is, on this night he was severely outgunned and outmatched with simply no answer to the problems that Jaron was throwing his way.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and on this night, David found out the hard way that he did not belong inside that squared circle with Jaron. When “Boots” decided to stop playing with his food in the fifth round he caught David with a hard overhand left and dropped him for a standing 8 count that saw him rise up to further punishment that lasted the entire remaining round.

Having assessed the situation after the fifth round, David’s corner and the ringside Doctor both agreed that any further assault at the hands of “Boots” would be futile and it was best to call an end to the bout.

With this very convincing stoppage win Jaron defended his IBF Welterweight Title and picked up another TKO to be added to his ever-growing knockout percentage to date.

Jaron is the total package. Skillful, powerful and blessed with levels above his opposition on the ring IQ inside that squared circle. Good luck to the competition trying to derail this Dude on their way up.

Who’s next?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Juan Francisco Estrada vs Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez”

WBC Junior Bantamweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between WBC/Ring Magazine Junior Bantamweight Champion Juan Francisco Estrada (44-4, 28 Kos) and undefeated challenger Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (20-0, 13 Kos) was a situation where the Champion did not want to relinquish the mantle but was forced into doing so at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The legend that Estrada is, put everything on the line and stood his ground and banged toe to toe with a much younger Lion who brought the “heat” like no other inside that squared circle.

It was a beautiful display of tactical boxing from both combatants who tried strategically to outmaneuver each other round by round. As experienced as Estrada is inside that squared circle, he had yet to meet up with an exceptional slick and strong boxer like “Bam” who had the patience and the right skill set to deter the Champion from having his way.

“Bam” was making it look easy boxing circles around Estrada who had absolutely no answer, that is right until the sixth round when he connected with a flash knockdown that sat “BAM” down for the first time in his career but did not deter him from strongly finishing the round.

Tasting the floor for the first time was all the motivation “Bam” needed to further press the action his way. “Bam” regrouped and proceeded to put his punches together with a lot more authority and power behind every shot, eventually connecting with a powerful left hand to the body forcing Estrada to the canvas where he couldn’t beat the referee’s count in the seventh round.

It was a very dominant performance by “Bam” where we witnessed another living legend get taken down by the young lion looking to take over the Bantamweight Division. By becoming the New WBC/Ring Magazine Junior Bantamweight Champion, Jesse is definitely on the right path.

Congratulations Champ!

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On The Watch “It’s All About Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois”

IBF World Heavyweight Challenge

With Oleksandr Usyk recently announcing that he has vacated the IBF Heavyweight Title, Interim IBF Heavyweight Champion Daniel Dubois (21-2, 20 Kos) has now been elevated to full IBF Heavyweight Champion of the World, clearing a perfect path to make the first defense of his Title against former Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 Kos) in an all-British Showdown on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, courtesy of Riyadh Season.

This is a very intriguing matchup where both combatants look the part and carry the power to end the night in a dramatic fashion. The youth that Dubois has over AJ could come into play and the momentum that Dubois is rocking after stoppage wins over Jarell Miller and Filip Hrgovic has him feeling unbeatable.

That being said, Anthony himself has been looking on point in his last few fights as well and very much focussed on the task at hand. Regardless of the opponent across from him, his sole purpose is to dominate the Heavyweight Division once again and regain the Championship Titles by any means necessary.

The experience AJ has on the biggest stage will definitely play a part but the young Lion in Dubois will bring a significant amount of a challenge on the night. Both combatants have shown much improvement as of late with the confidence beaming from both sides, but the million-dollar question in the room is who will prevail victorious.

Tune in and be part of this mega British Heavyweight Showdown on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall 2”

Junior Welterweight Showdown

The highly awaited rematch between Former Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 Kos) and Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 Kos) took a couple of years to get here but with tonight’s final result at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, it was well worth it.

Although no titles were on the line this time around, Jack treated this revenge match like his life depended on it. This bout was personal for both warriors considering their previous encounter was highly controversial.

The built-up anger that Jack retained from their previous showdown was quite evident by the way he pressed the action from round to round. Jack basically picked up the action from their last meeting and kept that intolerable feeling at Josh’s neck keeping him from getting into any type of a flow inside that squared circle.

Throughout the many struggles that Josh was dealing with inside that squared circle he still managed to stand his ground and bang toe-to-toe with Catterall. Both combatants had their moments exchanging heavy leather with serious battle wounds to show for it but this time around, Jack made sure he was the one with the eye-catching shots to help sway the Judges.

After 12 full completed rounds of action, the Judges at hand called it 117-111, 117-111, 116-113 unanimously for Jack Catterall. Although this bout was a lot closer than the score card suggest, I personally agree with the overall outcome.

With this credible win now under his belt, Jack believes that a title opportunity against the WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 Kos) is warranted but after Josh Taylor’s promoter Bob Arum’s outburst of disappointment after the scorecards were revealed, I can’t see Bob gifting Jack that much meriting opportunity any time soon.

I’m not sure what is to come next for Jack but until then, congratulations on a very good win.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov”

WBA Junior Middleweight Challenge

His Excellency Turki Alashikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority, will be bringing his Riyadh Season to its first overseas event in the United States on Saturday August 3, 2024, at the BMO Stadium, Los Angeles.

The Main Event of the night will consist of Pound-for-Pound former Undisputed Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 Kos) who will be moving up in weight to the Junior Middleweight Division in pursuit of another title in a fourth Division by challenging newly crowned WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 Kos).

That being said, Madrimov is a serious step up and a worthy challenger who will not be easily taken down. The hunger for greatness that Madrimov has been displaying as of late goes hand in hand with his physical strength and boxing IQ that this warrior will be walking in with come fight night. Madrimov is a well-schooled technically sound combatant who will definitely bring the “Heat” inside that squared circle.

Although Terence will have been out of the ring for a full year by the time these two combatants square up, the task at hand still remains the same, to conquer another Division by any means necessary and become Undisputed Champion in a third weight Division.

Crawford has been the underdog before and has proven the naysayers wrong as well. That’s why on August 3, 2024, he will show the world once again, why he’s one of the greatest Pound-for-Pound fighters to ever lace on a pair of gloves in this era.

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On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol”

Undisputed Light Heavyweight Supremacy

The most intriguing matchup in the Light Heavyweight Division has officially been announced thanks to his Excellency Turki Alashikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, who took it upon himself to bankroll one of the most anticipated fights in Boxing to be made today.

Undefeated IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 Kos) is out there belt chasing looking at Undisputed in the 175-Pound Division but standing in his way with the same objective is the undefeated Super WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 Kos).

Both undefeated combatants want and need each other’s hardware to lay claim as the sole Undisputed Champion in the Light Heavyweight Division and on June 1st 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this high-level chess match will be on full display for the Boxing World to see.

Our own Russian/Canadian representative Beterbiev is a man of few words but one who does 100% of his talking inside that squared circle. His unblemished record and 100% knockout ratio speak volumes but it’s his boxing IQ that most opponents underestimate whenever they go up against him inside that squared circle. The man is a “Beast” who’s broken down every opponent when all is said and done.

That said, Bivol has proven numerous times to have the skillset needed to disarm heavy punchers from ever using their strongest assets inside that squared circle. The man is a genius that knows how to follow a good “game plan” and on fight night he will attempt to box his way to the crown.

Styles makes fights and these two highly skilled warriors have individually dominated the 175-Pound Division for quite some time now. That being said, there can only be one true ruler of this Division and the time has finally arrived, on June 1st 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and these two combatants will be putting it all on the line for a chance at Undisputed Light Heavyweight Supremacy. The crowning of a New King is inevitable.

Tune in live on DAZN/ESPN+ at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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On The Watch “It’s All About Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou”

Heavyweight Showdown

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN/Queensberry Promotions Main Event between former Two-Time Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 Kos) and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou (0-2) surpassed expectation by creating a type of crime scene scenario that brought the house down at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It was a very intriguing matchup that had every fight fan’s attention on edge but the highly motivated “Predator” in Francis, the immovable force had finally met a man superior than him inside that squared circle.

Ngannou and his team overplayed their hand and did not prepare for this type of force from AJ to be this strong on fight night. Ngannou’s overconfidence cost him dearly but the performance that Anthony brought inside that squared circle is exactly what was needed to be done to save boxing from any further embarrassment.

The former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou had envisioned himself knocking AJ out and to taking over the Heavyweight Division by storm from that point on but what transpired was the complete opposite. The laser focused AJ put the entire Heavyweight Division on his back and put the nonsense talk to bed by emphatically dropping “The Predator” three times on the night with the same vicious right hand that eventually put his lights out for good in the second round forcing the referee to officially wave the bout off.

Anthony walked it like he talked it and executed the “game plan” to a “T” and silenced all the naysayers out there who doubted the fact that he could pull this off in such a convincing fashion. Nobody in the MMA world has ever manhandled Ngannou this way prior to this beating but that being said, the respect was rightfully earned when Francis came back to his senses.

This version of Joshua under the leadership of Ben Davison is a dangerous man inside that squared circle and I can’t wait to see who his next target will be.

Until then, congratulations Anthony on another great performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Zhilei Zhang vs Joseph Parker”

WBO Interim Heavyweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN/Queensberry Promotions Co-Main Event Between WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 Kos) and challenger Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 Kos) once again shook the Heavyweight Division up with an unpredicted outcome of this bout at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Zhang, fresh off two back-to-back dominant knockout performances over the “Juggernaut” Joe Joyce, had been feeling himself too much and did not approach his latest challenge the right way. Zhang, who anticipated to dispatch of Parker with ease, found out that this combatant was as resilient as they come.

This version of “Big Bang” on the night heavily relied on his power to take over and proceeded to do the job by dropping Joseph for a quick standing 8 count in the second round and once again in the eighth round but the resistance Parker fought with made things a lot harder than expected. Parker stood his ground and picked himself off the floor to win rounds by simply being active with his hands – unlike Zhang who barely let his hands go as the rounds progressed.

It was uncharacteristic of Zhang to not go for the kill or to not be active with his hands. Parker took full advantage of the situation and boxed and pressed the action in a very convincing way by clearly out landing Zhang in the championship rounds.

After 12 completed rounds, the Judges at hand called it 113-113, 114-112 and 115-111 in favor of Joseph Parker.

Zhang dropped the ball on this one and only has himself to blame for the outcome while Joseph can continue his “Cinderella story” by becoming a full fledged Heavyweight Champion again after picking up the WBO Interim Heavyweight Title from the “Big Bang” Zhang.

A rematch is already in play for the two combatants to meet again but until then, well done Champ!

Blaze

On The Watch “Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin”

Heavyweight Showdown

Tonight’s final PPV Showdown Main Event at the “Day of Reckoning” between former Two-Time Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (27-3, 24 Kos) and Otto Wallin (26-2, 14 Kos) did not disappoint at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

With the pressure of success weighing heavily on his back, AJ made sure to bring his “A” game on the night and proceeded to bring the “Heat” to Otto straight from the jump. AJ knew the importance of this bout and stayed locked in with an accurate heavy jab that did the damage very early into the bout.

AJ looked sharp with calculated aggression that took Otto by surprise. Although Otto tried his best to stand his ground, AJ’s offensive approach prevented him from being able to assert himself in a competitive manner. AJ boxed beautifully and administered a one-sided beatdown round by round that was very impressive to watch.

AJ was systematically breaking his opponent down visibly having his way with him inside that squared circle. It was painfully obvious that the usually tough and durable Otto Wallin had absolutely no answer to derail Anthony inside that squared circle.

The inevitable was closing in and by the end of the fifth round, Otto’s corner had seen enough and prevented him from coming out in the sixth round giving AJ the win by technical knockout.

This was the type of performance that AJ’s fans were craving for. A strong and aggressive AJ that beats his opponents down in a convincing fashion. Just the type of performance needed to close out an amazing historical great night of boxing.

Well done Anthony, you played your position right and delivered on the biggest night of Boxing.

Blaze