On The Watch “It’s All About Vasyl Lomachenko vs Jose Pedraza”

Lightweight Title Unification Challenge

Last night, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, WBA Lightweight Champion Vasyl Lomachenko (12-1, 9 Kos), fresh off a seven-month layoff due to shoulder surgery, performed exceptionally well to outgun WBO Lightweight Champion Jose Pedraza (25-2, 12 Kos) and unify the Lightweight Division.

It was a very interesting bout that was definitely more competitive than expected. Pedraza showed heart and determination and undeniably fought like a willing opponent out there but simply was met with a much more cerebral opponent in Loma. This kid is the truth inside that squared circle. There are levels to this “Boxing Game” and he knows too well how and when to step it up.

Loma systematically broke down Pedraza as the rounds wore on and punished him with a fury of combination punches that knocked him down twice in the 11th round. That being said I still tip my “B” hat to Pedraza for enduring the 11th round beating and completing the full 12 rounds on his feet like a true warrior.

With this win Loma is now Unified WBA/WBO Lightweight Champion and once again confirming his seating on the Pound-for-Pound list.

Congratulations Champ on securing another great accomplishment.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Terence Crawford vs Jose Benavidez Jr.”

WBO Welterweight Championship

Last night at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, Terence Crawford (34-0,25 Kos) shut the place down in a spectacular fashion by dropping down previously unbeaten Jose Benavidez (27-1, 18 Kos) to the point of stoppage at 2:42 of round 12.

Benavidez who trashed talked his way into a bout with Crawford showed a lot of heart and durability throughout the fight but damn was I ever confused by their game plan! Benavidez taunted Crawford into a fight but didn’t seem to have a plan “B” when Crawford got into his groove and started laying combination after combination on his ass round after round.

Don’t get me wrong, I rate Benavidez as a very good fighter but last night proved that Crawford is truly levels above most competitors when they’re inside that squared circle with him, Real Talk! Terence is that silent assassin toying with his prey waiting for that right moment to put you down. Henceforth in round 12 when he administered that timely snapping uppercut that took Benavidez straight up off his feet and straight down for an 8 count which then led to a flurry of unanswered punches until the referee officially stopped the fight. Nuff Said!

Last night, Crawford showed Benavidez and us fans that he truly walks it like he talks it. He specifically told Benavidez he was going to knock him out and he delivered as promised.

With this win Terence retained his WBO Welterweight Title and once again puts the Welterweight Division on notice that he’s definitely looking for that work.

Who’s up next?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Manny Pacquiao vs Lucas Matthysse”

WBA Welterweight Fight of Champions

Last night, in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur at the Axiata Arena, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 Kos) in a convincing fashion earned his 60th win by dismantling Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse (39-5, 36 Kos) with a dominant performance.

There was a lot of talk about how old Pacquiao was and what he was attempting to do in challenging a stronger younger opponent in Matthysse but after last night’s performance some naysayers will probably have to reconsider their thoughts on where Pacquiao stands at this later stage in his career to date.

Pacquiao was focused; patient, strong, fast, and determined to put on a good show last night for all his fans. He controlled every round and showed no fear of his worthy opponent. Manny just displayed what he always knew he possessed. There are levels to this boxing sh*t and Matthysse found out the hard way what it meant to step into that squared circle with Manny.

As tough and strong as Matthysse was, I believe, he mentally and physically got broken down, round by round by Pacquiao. Matthysse showed absolutely no punch resistance at all, which to me was very unexpected.

Pacquiao was able to drop Matthysse in the third round, fifth round and finally close out the show with a seventh-round knockout. Nuff said!

With this win Pacquiao became The New WBA “Regular” Welterweight Champion and put the rest of the Welterweight Division on notice once again.

The “Pacman” is not done yet, now who wants next??

Congratulations on your victory Champ!!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jeff Horn vs Terence Crawford”

WBO Welterweight Title

Last night, Saturday, June 9, 2018, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vagas, Terence Crawford’s (33-0, 24Kos) welcoming to the Welterweight Division was a thing of beauty. Terence handed the tuff and rugged WBO Welterweight Champion Jeff Horn (18-1-1 12Kos) his first defeat by systematically breaking him down round by round to a TKO in the ninth round. Unbelievable.

I witnessed a bully in Horn get tamed in a humbled fashion. Horn had absolutely no answer to Crawford’s non-stop pressure attack. He was overwhelmed and manhandled from all angles. Seeing Terence move up from the Light Welterweight Division to the Welterweight Division with such ease is a testament to how great of an athlete he truly is.

Horn was simply outclassed inside that squared circle. The smaller but much more cerebral Crawford was levels skill wise above Horn on that night. Crawford showed Horn and the rest of the Welterweight Division that he’s here now for the takeover and anyone of the other Champions in the Division can get it.

With this statement win Crawford became the latest inductee as a Three-Division Champion. Nuff Said!

If there was any doubt on whether Terence belonged in the 147-pound Division, all got answered last night. Real Talk! There’s a new sheriff in town and he go by the name of Terence “Bud” Crawford the New WBO Welterweight Champion.

The Welterweight Division keeps on getting better and better but peeps need to keep a keen eye on this Kat right here cause he’s definitely going to be a problem to the competition ahead.

Until then, congratulations Champ on your empathic victory. Who’s next?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jorge Linares vs Vasyl Lomachenko”

WBA Super World Lightweight Championship

Listen!!! Last night’s fight between Jorge Linares (44-4, 27 Kos) vs Vasyl Lomachenko (11-1, 9 Kos) at the Madison Square Garden in New York city was amazing from the jump Real Talk!!

This Kat Lomachenko had himself a fight. Linares proved himself to be a worthy opponent but real talk Lomachenko is the truth inside that squared circle and last night Lomachenko came back from a knock down in the 6th round to knockdown Linares and stopped him in the 10th with a wicked body shot. Real Talk!

Lomachenko moved up to the 135-pound Division and showed the world what he was all about last night, he kept his patience and stayed focus and was the aggressor throughout the bout. I was impressed with this fight from both fighters; it was a very competitive bout from round to round.

Last night, Lomachenko defeated in my eyes his most worthy opponent to date, and in doing so he now becomes the WBO Super World Featherweight Champion and WBA Super World Lightweight Champion.

I have to tip my “B” hat to this Kat hands down! History has once again been written last night. A two–time Olympian gold medalist, in just his 12th professional bout, Lomachenko becomes the fastest Three-Division Champion to achieve this goal and secure his pound-for-pound claim in this here Boxing Game. Nuff said!

Congratulation Champ for another extraordinary performance, now who’s next?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Manny Pacquiao vs Lucas Matthysse”

WBA Welterweight Fight of Champions

It’s official; Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 Kos) will be challenging WBA “regular” Welterweight Champion Lucas Matthysse (39-4, 34 Kos) on July 14, 2018 in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur at the Axiata Arena.

Manny, in my eyes is out to prove to all the naysayer’s and the haters that he’s still got it despite his recent controversial loss to Jeff Horn. Hand picking Lucas Matthysse as his latest opponent proves just that. Matthysse is no slouch in that squared circle. This Dude can crack and box with the best of them while still fighting at a high level.

Real talk, this is a dangerous 50/50 fight for either combatant. At this point in their careers both are still very strong with knockout power. Their aggressive styles mesh really well and should make for a very thrilling bout.

This bout will undoubtedly be Matthysse’s most important of his career considering he will be facing an eight-time Division World Champion in Pacquiao. This also being his first defense of his recently acquired WBA “regular” Welterweight Belt.

A lot will be riding on the line here for both fighters on July 14, in Malaysia. Matthysse has earned himself a version of a title that he is not ready or willing to part ways with by any means necessary. As for Paquiao this is a must-win situation. He needs to show up and deliver a very convincing performance along with a win, if he plans on continuing to compete at this level and remain relevant in the Welterweight Division.

The momentum at this present time is on Matthysse’s side. He is the Champion. A win for him could propel his career in the Division for the future. Pacquiao requested this bout now it’s up to Matthysse to silence the “Legend” and Future Hall of Famer by successfully and convincingly retaining his title.

That being said I personally anticipate this bout to be very competitive, so tune in Saturday night July 14, 2018 from the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia, courtesy of ESPN.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jeff Horn vs Terence Crawford”

WBO Welterweight Championship

Undisputed Junior Welterweight Honcho Terence “Bud” Crawford (32-0, 23Kos) has moved up to the Welterweight Division with one thing in mind and that’s to conquer the 147-pound Division and become a Champion once again.

First on the to do list is WBO Welterweight Titleholder Jeff Horn (18-0-1, 12Kos).
Jeff took the world by storm when he defeated 8 Division World Champion Manny Pacquiao for the WBO Belt. On that night Jeff showed the world that he’s got heart, determination and can definitely scrap with the best of them. Real Talk!

That being said, on Saturday, June 9, 2018, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vagas, Terence Crawford will be putting up his skills against Jeff Horn’s and attempting to snatch that WBO Belt from him.

We all know that styles make fights but on that night, I will be most intrigued to see just how Crawford’s game plan will do vs Horn’s roughhouse tactics. On one side, we have Crawford, a cerebral assassin, with many different tools to slay his opponent inside that squared circle. On the opposite side, we have Horn a naturally bigger, stronger, aggressive blue-collar type fighter with an exceptional chip on his shoulder.

The Boxing Community has Horn as a huge underdog in this bout, which in return as fueled him even more to prove the doubters wrong. The trash talking has been real heavy from both sides as of late. The heat is on and both are ready to outdo each other come fight night.

A lot of suspect questions will be answered on that night. Will Crawford become a 3 Division Champion and put the 147-pound Division on notice or will Horn show the world that he’s the real deal and finally earn his peers’ respect as a true Champion?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux”

Super-Featherweight Championship

What was believed to be the most anticipated fight of the year turned out to be a one-sided affair between Vasyl Lomachenko (10-1, 8 Kos) and Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-1, 11 Kos, 1NC).

I know that anything can happen in a boxing ring but real talk, when you have two 2 Time Olympic Champions going at it inside that squared circle you expect firework! No Mas was not what I expected from Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Vasyl brought his “A” game last night but to say that Rigondeaux did the same is an understatement. The first two rounds started out like a chess match where both fighters were testing each other unsure of their next move, but from the 3rd round to the 6th round things didn’t look right for Rigondeaux. Vasyl started having his way being the aggressor with Rigondeaux without any real resistance from him. Now both fighters are supposed to be warriors with exceptional skills set to go toe-to-toe with anybody, no excuses! I was baffled when Rigondeaux decided to retire on his stool after the 6th rounds. Speechless! All that trash talking with all that hype only to have the bout end in a technical knockout due to an alleged injury suffered to Rigondeaux.

With that being said, history was still made last night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Lomachenko walked it like he talked it and retained his WBO Super Featherweight Title and won the first ever-professional bout between a pair of Two-Time Olympic gold medalists.

Congratulations are in order to the superior Olympian Vasyl Lomachenko.

Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Enrico Koelling”

IBF Light Heavyweight World Title

There is a new player in the Light Heavyweight Division ready to shake things up. With Andre “SOG” Ward now retired the IBF Light Heavyweight World Title was up for grabs last night at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California.

Undefeated #2 IBF two-time Russian Olympian Artur Beterbiev (12-0, 12 Kos) and Enrico Koelling (23-2, 6 Kos) were the two fighters enlisted to take part for the IBF Light Heavyweight World Title.

Beterbiev has won on every level he has competed at to date and this opportunity wasn’t about to be any different. His dream of becoming a World Champion was his for the taking by any means necessary.

That being said, in a not so exciting bout Beterbiev quietly dismantled Koelling by dropping him two times in the 12th round when the referee decided enough was enough and halted the bout. The fans in attendance weren’t too impressed with Artur’s performance on that night but having seen first hand how Beterbiev usually handles his opponents, I wouldn’t stress this one too tough cuz your Boy Artur can crack with extreme power and box very well. I personally would worry about the next Dude to duke it out with him because the Light Heavyweight Division is in trouble once this Dude gets it going. REAL TALK!

Congratulations “King Artur” on becoming the New IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux”

“History In The Making”

I can’t front on Boxing this year 2017, the Boxing Gods have given us entertaining bouts after bouts every month to date. REAL TALK!

One of the highly anticipated clashes of the year has finally been set. WBO Super Featherweight Titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1-0 7 KOs) and WBA Super Bantamweight Titleholder Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0-0 11KOs) are set to collide in that squared circle on Saturday December 9, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Rigondeaux will be moving up two weight Divisions to 130-pounds to challenge Lomachenko for his WBO Super Featherweight Belt. This is another history fight in the making considering that this will be the first time a pair of two-time Olympic Gold-Medal winners will be sharing that squared circle together.

Their amateur careers speak volumes. Lomachenko was (396-1) as an amateur and Rigondeaux was (463-12) as an amateur. To top it all off, they also won two World Amateur Championship apiece-Nuff said! To me they are arguably two of the greatest utmost skilled amateur boxers in history to ever lace up some gloves.

Regardless of the weight class, these two combatants are ready to match it up skill for skill and deliver us an unforgettable high-octane performance.

So far, Lomachenko is seen by many experts in the Boxing community as the favourite in this match up but personally, I don’t think peeps should be sleeping and overlooking Rigondeaux on what he brings to the table. The way Rigodeaux moves and thinks in that squared circle is like a cerebral assassin. Will Lomachenko’s “Matrix” style be enough to penetrate Rigondeaux’s impenetrable style of defense? Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze