On The Watch “It’s All About Dmitry Bivol vs Jean Pascal”

WBA Light Heavyweight Challenge

WBA World Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (15-0, 11 Kos) had himself another dominating performance last night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City when he easily dismantled former Champion Jean Pascal (33-6-1, 20 Kos).

As dominant as Bivol was last night it was certainly not his best performance to date. Bivol has shown us time and time again that he is fundamentally sound with a very high Boxing IQ inside that squared circle; however, I still think he’s holding back at times when he’s got his opponent hurt.

I was confused by Pascal’s game plan or lack thereof. Dude had heart but absolutely no jab or strategic offence whatsoever? It was embarrassing to see a former Champion go out the way he did. Real Talk! Sporadic bursts of punches doesn’t do anything if you’re not consistent with your pressure throughout the rounds!!

Bivol clearly outclassed Pascal inside that squared circle last night but seemed to have run out of juice in the championship rounds. As polished as Bivol is as a fighter, there are still some unanswered questions that can hopefully be addressed as his competition improves.

Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Daniel Jacobs vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko”

IBF Middleweight Title

Last night, on HBO at the Madison Square Garden in New York, Daniel Jacobs (35-2, 29 Kos) once again became Middleweight Champion by defeating a very worthy opponent in Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-1, 10 Kos) for the vacant IBF Belt.

This was by far his toughest opponent since his last bout with Gennady Golovkin.
Jacobs came out the gate early by dropping Sergiy in the first round and establishing himself from that point on. Sergiy, a familiar sparring partner bounced back and composed himself and made the fight as competitive as expected. Sergiy maintained an aggressive approach round by round but Jacobs’ experience and slick boxing made it very difficult for Sergiy to land any real significant punches all night. In my eyes Jacobs’ ring generalship combine with precise and accurate punches was what separated both warriors in a very tight bout.

Jacobs fought a brilliant fight against a very determined adversary who laid it all on the line. It was a very technical bout but the more seasoned Jacobs executed the game plan at hand to perfection to secure the victory when it counted under the bright lights.

Sergiy proved to masses in attendance that he belonged amongst the top of the Middleweight Division and can definitely bounce back from this defeat. He needed this fight just as much as Jacobs.

With this win and the IBF Middleweight Title in his possession, Jacobs has good options ahead for himself; a rematch against “GGG” might be on the horizon or possibly a unification bout against newly crowned WBO Middleweight Champion (if the price is right) or a date with the “King” in the Middleweight Division, Lineal Champion, IBO, WBA and WBC Title holder Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 Kos).

Until then, congratulations on a great win Daniel; you belong in the “winner’s circle”.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Daniel Jacobs vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko”

Vacant IBF Middleweight Championship

It’s just been announced that stable mate Daniel Jacobs (34-2, 29 Kos) and Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 Kos) will do battle for the vacant IBF Middleweight Title on October 27, 2018 on HBO Championship Boxing at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

This is going to be an exciting bout and very interesting to say the least. These two combatants have sparred together quite a few rounds. The fear factor is non-existent when you’ve gone so many rounds with one another.

This challenge would not be going on if it weren’t for the IBF Title being on the line. Friendship aside, this is an opportunity that neither fighter could afford to look over.
That being said these two warriors know each other inside out, strength and weaknesses accounted for. Both carry power and know how to use it.

It’s not often you see a head trainer having to decide which fighter from his camp he will have to side with but for this one head trainer, Andre Rozier, will be in Jacobs’ corner while assistant trainer Gary Stark Sr., to Jacobs and Sergiy, will be in Derevyanchenko’s corner.

I’m intrigued to see what the game plan will be when these two combatants and head trainers meet inside that squared circle, not for sparring but for a legitimate title bout that could push forward the winner’s careers in a major way. Real Talk!

Although these two competitors match up really well, I personally see this as a chess match that will come down to execution, patience and experience.

Who will deliver the goods when it’s all said and done?

Blaze