On The Watch “It’s All About Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce 2″

WBO Interim Heavyweight Challenge

Tonight’s Queensberry Promotions/ESPN+ Main Event between WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion Zhilei Zhang (26-1-1 21 Kos) and challenger Joe Joyce (15-2, 14 Kos) at the Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, UK, exceeded all expectation in my eyes.

This rematch between these two Heavyweight mammoths had a lot on it riding tonight. The winner gets to move one step closer to a chance at a full-fledged Championship opportunity while the loser would have to fall back deep at the end of the line in the hopes of working their way back into the Heavyweight rankings, a destination that would look quite bleak considering their age at this point in their career.

That being said, the elder and WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion Zhilei wasted no time in executing the proper “game plan” and proceeded to continue his assault and sheer domination from their previous encounter by completely destroying the “Juggernaut” Joe Joyce in a quicker fashion this time around. Real Talk!

Joe, who weighed in this time about 25 pounds heavier at 281 pounds, had the right idea but not the right “game plan” to even bother the even heavier Zhang at 287 pounds. Zhang’s last win over Joe was a beautiful display of boxing at its best for a Heavyweight but this time around, Zhang wasted very little time inside that squared circle and made quick work of Joe by stopping him once again but in a much more dramatic fashion. Only three rounds were needed and a perfectly placed right hook to the chin closed the show for good. Unbelievable!

Joe, who had never been dropped in his career to date could not answer the count in time enough to prove to the Judge at hand that he was fit and ready to go. Joe’s unsteady legs were clear enough for the referee to wave the bout off.

As a strong 40-year-old, Zhang has once again proven to the boxing world and the Heavyweight Division, that as long as he’s got them hands and that power behind that punch, he will be a problem for anyone who steps foot inside that squared circle against him.

With this devastating win now secured under his belt for the second time, Zhang now retains his
WBO Interim Heavyweight Championship and hopes one day to be able to challenge Unified IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk or WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury inside that squared circle.

Until then, enjoy this victory Zhilei, your time is now!

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 Luis Alberto Lopez vs Michael Conlan”

IBF Featherweight Challenge

Tonight’s Top Rank/BT Sport/ESPN + Main Event was a showcase type of an event by the visiting IBF Featherweight Champion Luis Alberto Lopez (28-2, 16 Kos) who came down to defend his Championship Belt on foreign ground against challenger Michael Conlan (18-2, 9 Kos) at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The pro Conlan crowd in attendance soon found out that Lopez was not someone to be taken lightly inside that squared circle. Lopez came out the gate looking for that smoke and proceeded to press the action but Conlan stood his ground as best he could and boxed and moved and attempted to make things quite interesting at times with a very effective and active jab. However, the pressure Lopez was applying round by round was noticeably taxing on Conlan and it was only a matter of time before the inevitable occurred.

That being said, by the fifth round the heavier fisted Lopez landed a perfectly placed right uppercut straight to the chin of Conlan that dropped him lifeless to the ground for the count which then prompted Conlan’s corner to throw in the towel signalling the referee to halt the bout.

This was a statement bout for Lopez who walked it like he talked it by sticking to the script and making sure the Judges at hand were not needed by knocking out Conlan senseless and retaining his IBF Featherweight Championship.

The other Champions in the Featherweight Division need to keep a close eye on this dude as he said it loud and clear that he’s coming for all of them one by one.

Congratulations Luis Alberto Lopez on another destructive statement.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang”

WBO Interim-Heavyweight Challenge

Tonight’s Queensberry Promotions/ESPN + Main Event between WBO Interim-Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce (15-1, 14 Kos) and challenger Zhilei Zhang (25-1-1, 20 kos) at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, London, Uk, was a case of a cherry pick by Joe’s team gone wrong. Real Talk!

Joyce walked inside that squared circle with absolutely no respect for his opponent but quickly found out within minutes of the first round that he was in there with a “Big Bang” of an opponent who was gamed and willing to bang toe-to-toe with the “Juggernaut”.

Zhang stood his ground early and asserted himself quite well-hitting Joyce flush with some serious heavy shots straight to the dome and drawing first blood from his nose. It was clear to me from the first two rounds that Joyce’s team definitely drew up the wrong “game plan” cause Joyce was there boxing but looking shaky every time he got hit hard.

It was certainly unfamiliar ground for Joyce who was caught off guard at the receiving end of a game warrior. Zhang showed absolutely no fear inside that squared circle. Zhang welcomed the opportunity presented to him and broke Joyce down round by round.

Although Joyce looked more active with his hands, it was Zhang who was doing the most damage with his. Zhang’s power punches completely closed Joyce’s right eye out prompting the ring physician to check his eye in between rounds to eventually having the referee stop the bout in the sixth round.

Nobody in attendance expected this bout to unravel like this but tonight the “Juggernaut” had met his match and succumbed to the hands of the “Big Bang” Zhang.

Congratulations Zhilei Zhang on becoming the New WBO Interim-Heavyweight Champion of the World. Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Shakur Stevenson vs Shuichiro Yoshino”

Lightweight WBC Eliminator

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN + Main Event between former Two-Division Champion Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10 Kos) and Shuichiro Yoshino (16-1, 12 Kos) was quite an impressive introduction that Shakur needed to announce himself to the world in the 135-Pound Division in his own backyard at the Prudential Center in Newark Newark, N.J.

The hard-hitting Yoshino did not expect to deal with this version of Stevenson inside that squared circle. It didn’t take long to notice that Shakur was the stronger combatant of the night. This version of Shakur was fiercer and aggressive with a come forward style of offense that only comes out from time to time and last night, Stevenson was on full display from all angle.

I personally expected Shakur to deal with some type of resistance but every time Yoshino attempted to press the action, he was at the receiving end of Shakur’s able ready heavy shots that eventually dropped him in the second and fourth round for a quick 8 count.

Stevenson uncharacteristically stood his ground from the jump and bullied the supposedly stronger combatant round after round and eventually breaking him down to the point where the referee saw no other option but to halt the bout saving Yoshino from any further unnecessary abuse in the sixth round.

With this very convincing win now under his belt, Shakur has officially put the Lightweight Division on notice. He personally called out the Undefeated Undisputed Lightweight Champion Devin Haney, since this win was a WBC title eliminator placing him in route to an inevitable showdown with the Champ.

Shakur is looking for that smoke and will not be denied.

Until then, congratulations Shakur on a very impressive win.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Robeisy Ramirez vs Isaac Dogboe”

Vacant WBO Featherweight Title

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN + Main Event between Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 Kos) and Isaac Dogboe (24-3, 15 Kos) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa was a one-sided showcase by the Two-Time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy. Real Talk!

Dogboe came in fit, ready as usual and gamed to throwdown but was met with a superior opponent with exceptional skills who managed to negate every attempt thrown at him. Ramirez was visibly the better skilled athlete inside that squared circle who always seemed one step ahead at all times.

Even when Dogboe would have a slim moment of success Ramirez would simply outwork him and secure the rounds. Dogboe did his best and tried to assert himself at every opportunity but Ramirez’s slick footwork and accurate punches kept Dogboe looking desperate and confused as the rounds progressed.

In the championship rounds Dogboe continued to press the action but to no avail and managed to get dropped in the 12th round for a quick 8 count clearly handing the round to Ramirez.

After 12 full rounds of action the Judges at hand scored it 119-110, 118-109 and 117-110 unanimously for Robeisy Ramirez.

Robeisy, who walked inside that squared circle with the aura of a Champion, successfully completed the task at hand to become the New WBO Featherweight Champion of the World.

Congratulations Robeisy on an exceptional performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko”

Undisputed Lightweight Championship Showdown

A very intriguing matchup has officially been announced. Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Lightweight Champion Devin Haney (29-0, 15 Kos) will once again be defending his hard-earned hardware against the highly rated Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-2, 11 Kos) on Saturday night May 20, 2023 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

This is a bout that Devin has been calling for since way back to 2019 but to no avail; however, now that he is the Undisputed Lightweight Champion of the World, the call for the matchup has miraculously been answered.

Lomachenko’s personal goal is to become the Undisputed lightweight Champion of the World but in order to achieve this, he will need to defeat the young King presently reigning at the top of the 135-Pound Division and pry away all the jewels from Devin.

This will be a formidable task for Lomachenko. Devin has improved dramatically over the years and has grown in strength and leveled up skill wise. Devin’s confidence is at an all-time high right now and being an Undefeated Undisputed Champion brings out an aura of invincibility that he plans on keeping and he will not be denied a victory on Saturday night May 20, 2023 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Both combatants are highly skilled and both have strength and drawbacks that can be exploited by one another with the right “game plan”. I expect a high-level chess match come fight night when both warriors grace the inside of the squared circle and battle it out for the Undisputed Crown of the Lightweight Division.

Who you got?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Emanuel Navarrete vs Liam Wilson”

Vacant WBO Super Featherweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN+ Main Event between WBC Featherweight Champion Emanuel Navarrete (37-1, 31 Kos) and challenger Liam Wilson (11-2, 7 Kos) definitely brought the fans in attendance at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona to their feet.

It was a very intriguing bout where the highly favourite Navarrete got tested early and probably underestimated his opponent when he got dropped and hurt badly in the fourth round but still managed to survive the onslaught coming at him.

With a strong fourth decisive round in the bank for Liam, his confidence grew from that point on but was still unable to capitalize fully as the rounds progressed. Navarrete definitely stepped his game up but still left himself quite open to some unnecessary shots due to his awkward style.

Navarrete’s lack of respect for defense was quite apparent but his high-volume offense and power shots undeniably make up for it as he usually overwhelms his opponents into submission.

As the rounds progressed both combatants exchanged good shots but it was Navarrete who seemed to take control in the later rounds. By the ninth round the inevitable occurred when Navarrete decided to put his punches together and chased down Wilson with a detonating right hand to the dome that dropped a badly hurt Liam for an 8 count that saw him rise up to his feet only to succumb to a barrage of unanswered punches from head to body pinned on the ropes and forcing the referee to put a stop to the bout.

It was a tougher bout then expected for Navarrete who got tested on the night but his higher work rate throughout the bout got the job done in a convincing fashion.

With this win Navarrete became a Three Division World Champion and the new WBO Super Featherweight Champion of the World.

Being that Emanuel is also the WBC Featherweight Champion and now WBO Super Featherweight Champion, he will have 10 days to inform the WBO sanctioning body of which Division he will be campaigning at as Champion in the future.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde”

IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Championship Showdown

Canada stand Up! Tonight’s BT Sport/ESPN + Main Event between IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 Kos) and mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 Kos) at the OVO Arena in London England, definitely lived up to the hype! Real Talk!

This bout was a competitive battle right from the jump with both combatants feeling each other out and working on their respective game plan round by round. Both warriors looked strong and fit and ready for war. To me Beterbiev came out as the aggressor unlike what Anthony predicted prior to the build-up which was very surprising. Anthony felt he would be the one dictating how the bout would unfold but things quickly changed as the rounds progressed and he eventually felt Artur’s power.

Both combatants threw leather with intention to hurt each other by visibly marking each other with some very good shots but it was Artur who seemed to me to have the more telling effect as the rounds progressed.

The home-grown fighter Anthony stood his ground and represented his country to the fullest but clearly found himself in a dog fight as the rounds advanced. Both combatants were going blow for blow administering some serious damage but as the rounds developed it was Anthony who seemed to fade with fatigue in my eyes.

Anthony boxed beautifully but the pressure Beterbiev was moving in with was definitely breaking Anthony down slowly but effectively. By the eight round, the inevitable was on the horizon and when Beterbiev connected with two heavy, well-placed right hands to the dome and dropped Anthony, the writing was already on the wall.

Although Anthony rose to his feet after the standing eight count, he looked confused and defeated but proceeded to continue absorbing further punishment from Beterbiev which then quickly prompted Anthony’s corner to halt the bout.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and although Beterbeiv was the elder of the two combatants it was his durability and his experience that carried him over this tough battle.

With this win Artur maintained his perfect knockout ratio along with his IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Titles patiently waiting for the opportunity at undisputed with WBA Super Light heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 Kos).

Congratulations Artur on another destructive performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Naoya Inoue vs Paul Butler”

Undisputed Bantamweight Championship

The first-ever Undisputed Bantamweight Champion in the four-belt era was crowned last night when Undefeated Unified WBA/WBC/IBF and Ring Magazine Champion Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 Kos) took on WBO Champion Paul Butler (34-3, 15 Kos) and completely outclassed him in front of his hometown at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

I expected to see two warrior Champions go blow for blow inside that squared circle vying for that Undisputed Crown but instead I witnessed the “Monster” Inoue establish immediate fear into his opponent causing him to retreat into survivor mode from round 1 and on.

For Butler to travel from the United Kingdom to Tokyo and not perform like the Champion that he is, was very disappointing. Butler talked a good game from the jump but failed miserably when faced head on with Inoue inside that squared circle.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and clearly Inoue was 10 notches above Butler who had absolutely no answer and lacked a “game plan” to contain or deter the stronger, faster, smarter combatant from having his way with him inside that squared circle.

Inoue’s punches were thumping with accuracy round by round and even when Butler attempted to utilize the ring by moving away, he was met with an aggressive flurry of punches at every corner. Butler looked like a moving punching bag trying to survive a never-ending onslaught.

Entering the 11th round Inoue was ready to close the show and close the show he did when the crowd in attendance rallied behind their star, motivating him to punish his opponent with a flurry of body to head shots breaking Butler down who was unable to answer the count by the referee.

Although Butler did not behave like a Champion on this night, he did prove to be a tough Dude to withstand such a one-sided beatdown for eleven rounds at the hands of Naoya “Monster” Inoue – the New Undisputed WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF and Ring Magazine Bantamweight Champion of the world.

Congratulations Naoya on you latest history making accomplishment.

Blaze