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 Billy Joe Saunders vs David Lemieux”

WBO Middleweight Championship

Last night at the Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada, I witnessed firsthand how seemingly easy BJ Saunders (26-0, 12 Kos) dismantled heavy fisted David Lemieux (38-4, 33Kos) in his hometown. REAL TALK!

I have to seriously tip my “B” hat to BJ’s masterful display of skill he performed with in that squared circle. BJ had absolutely no “RESPECT” nor “FEAR” for David Lemieux perceived and well-known abilities on that stage last night. BJ came on enemy soil and schooled, dazzled, out boxed and outsmarted the bully in his own house.

It was impressive to see just how dominant BJ was round by round. The man toyed with the puncher and made it a cat and mouse game by using exceptional movement and slick footwork to prevent David from ever being able to land anything of significance. David had absolutely no answer to BJ’s astonishing offence.

The “Kid” did his homework on Lemieux and executed the game plan to a “T”. You have to give “props” to his trainer Dominic Ingle for seriously reviving BJ’s career cause last night I witness a “World Class Boxer” in Billy Joe Saunders in that squared circle.

Congratulations Champ on retaining your WBO Middleweight Championship in such a convincing manner, you truly are a legit threat in the Middleweight Division.

Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Sergey Kovalev vs Vyacheslav Shabranskyy”

WBO Light Heavyweight Championship

After suffering two humiliating defeats to now-retired Andre Ward, a determined and now refocused Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is on a mission to regain the top position in the Light Heavyweight Division once again.

Last night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sergey Kovalev (31-2-1, 27 Kos) had the opportunity to regain his first title he ever won, the WBO Light Heavyweight Belt back once again by defeating Vyacheslav Shabranskyy (19-2, 16 Kos).

On paper Shabranskyy looked like a formidable opponent to challenge and test Kovalev but to our surprise Shabranskyy found out the hard way that the so-called “Krusher” was not done yet. I’ve said this before and I’m gonna keep on saying it, there are levels to this Boxing Game and last night Shabranskyy was soundly out boxed and outclassed simply by a more seasoned and proven veteran fighter, hands down.

Sergey seemed to have gotten his swagger back by dismantling his opponent in less than six minutes. He knocked down Shabranskyy three times in the first round before the referee stopped the bout in the second round.

This was just what Kovalev needed, an impressive comeback fight with the WBO Light-Heavyweight Belt back under his waist. Congratulations on your emphatic win Sergey.

The road back to the top of the Division will not be an easy one. Dmitry Bivol holds the WBA Belt, Artur Beterbiev holds the IBF Belt and our Canadian Champion Adonis Stevenson has held the WBC Belt since 2013. The challenges are there and none of those Kats are easy marks but who will want to attempt at unifying the Division? All these Kats are talking a good game about it but who will actually do it?

Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Billy Joe Saunders vs David Lemieux”

WBO Middleweight Title Challenge

It’s official. We Canadian Boxing fans will have the privilege of witnessing first hand two of the world’s top Middleweights in WBO World Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders (25-0, 12 kos) and David Lemieux (38-3, 33 Kos) do battle Saturday December 16, 2017 at the Place Bell in Laval, Quebec.

I have to tip my “B” hat to Billy Joe Saunders for being real to his words and stepping his Game up with a serious competitor like David Lemieux. Agreeing to a title defense in an opponent’s backyard is proof enough for me to see that BJ is really about that life and is actually daring himself to be great.

A bout against the homegrown heavy fisted David Lemieux in Canada is a dangerous fight but one that can definitely create a certain amount of buzz within the Division. To go into someone else’s house and beat them speaks volume in this Game. REAL TALK!

Styles make fights and this one here has the potential of being a very interesting one. REAL TALK! We got BJ as the slick savvy boxer-puncher going toe-to-toe with Lemieux, a persistent banger who only knows how to move forward with hard blows and a dirty left that’s been known to cripple quite a few opponents.

There is a lot at stake here for both fighters. For BJ, a win against Lemieux would definitely make his stock rise and show the Middleweight Division that he’s not just all talk and should be taken as a major player from this point on. For Lemieux, a win against BJ would give him the status of a Two-Time World Champion, the WBO World Middleweight belt in hand and the main piece to lure a rematch against Gennady Golovkin or a title fight with Canelo Alvarez.

BJ is promising to do a lot of damage to Lemieux even to the point of beating him to a stoppage. Now I know that BJ has found himself being rejuvenated under the tutelage of trainer Dominic Ingle but damn his confidence is on 100 right now.

Listen all I know is that BJ better not underestimate Lemieux come fight night cause your Boy David is a proven warrior whose conquered some heavy hitters in the game and has the track record to prove it. Don’t be fooled by his three losses but do pay attention to his “33 Kos”. This Kat can seriously crack at any given time in that squared circle.

As the Middleweight Division is stacking up with new faces, this fight is a great opportunity for David and BJ to show the rest of the Division what level they’re on by giving us a hell of a showdown. May the best man win!

Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze