On The Watch “It’s All About Julian Williams vs Jeison Rosario”

IBF/IBO/WBA Junior Middleweight Challenge

There is a musical chairs situation going down with the Champions in the Junior Middleweight Division and the latest one to lose the crown in his homecoming bout is defending IBF/IBO/WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-2-1, 16 Kos). Real Talk!

Last night’s Main Event at Temple University’s Liacouras Center between Julian Williams and Jeison Rosario (20-1-1, 14 Kos) might be up there for an early upset of the year 2020. Underdog Rosario took his opportunity with both hands and asserted himself nice and early and bullied the Champ “J-Rock” by stopping him in only 5 rounds. Unbelievable!

Julian got caught sleeping and paid the price. Rosario stood his ground and pressured Williams at every corner with heavy combinations that visibly rocked Julian. Rosario’s power punches were key and clearly had “J-Rock” tuned out on shaky legs all over them ropes by the 5th round that eventually prompted the referee to pull the plug on the unanswered onslaught that Rosario was administering towards “J-Rock”.

With this win Rosario shocked and silenced the Philly home crowd by becoming the New Unified Junior Middleweight IBF/IBO/WBA Champion of the World.

Styles makes fights but do expect the unexpected whenever you step foot inside that squared circle. Last night’s Main Event is a perfect example of that. You never know what a hungry Lion will do when the right opportunity presents itself.

Congratulations Jeison on your latest accomplishment, you earned that one.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Claressa Shields vs Ivana Habazin”

Vacant WBC/WBO Junior Middleweight Challenge

Last night’s SHOWTIME showdown Main Event from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, between Claressa Shields (10-0, 2 Kos) and Ivana Habazin (20-4, 7 Kos) was a beautiful display of boxing.

Shields, the self-proclaimed “GWOAT” of boxing, walked it like she talked it by administering a clear one-sided beatdown to Ivana. Claressa systematically broke down Ivana from top to bottom with a series of body shots that eventually dropped Habazin in the 6th round for a quick 8 count that eventually demoralized Ivana for the remainder of scheduled 10 rounds.

In short, Claressa simply outboxed and outclassed her opponent in every possible category. Ivana had absolutely no proper “game plan” or the required skills to stunt or slow down the onslaught that Claressa was dispensing towards her.

Truth be told, Claressa made it look easy – so easy that Judges scored it after 10 rounds of action; 99-89, 100-90 and 100-89 for Shields by unanimous decision. Ivana was a very worthy opponent that talked a good game but couldn’t back up one word inside that squared circle. Real Talk!

With this win, Claressa picked up the vacant WBC/WBO Belts and became the fastest fighter male or female in boxing history to win World Titles in three separate weight division: 168, 160 and now the 154 pounds.

By accomplishing this astonishing coup in just her 10th professional bout, Claressa has also beaten the previous record recognized by Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 Kos) and Kosei Tanaka (15-0, 9 Kos) who each became Three-Weight Division World Champions in their own 12th bouts in 2018.

The self-proclaimed “GWOAT” is the truth inside that squared circle. Taking the Queen off her Throne won’t be easy. Claressa is seriously creating that positive attention that’s been missing in woman’s boxing. That dedication and hard work that she’s been displaying night in and night out is paying off in every possible way.

Congratulations on your latest achievements Claressa – they are well-deserved.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Erislandy Lara vs Ramon Alvarez”

Vacant WBA “regular” Junior Middleweight Title

Last night, at the Minneapolis Armory in Minnesota, Erislandy Lara (26-3-3, 15 Kos) picked up a much-needed win when he easily annihilated Ramon Alvarez (28-8-3, 16 Kos) in two rounds by TKO.

Ramon, who came in slightly over the contested weight, seemed quite big on the night but sluggish for the few rounds we got to see of him. Ramon was clearly outgunned and outclassed inside that squared circle. Lara was noticeably too much for him to handle from the jump. Personally, Ramon had absolutely no business challenging Lara on that night.

Lara desperately needed a convincing victory and he delivered on the task at hand. We didn’t get to see Lara’s full ammunition but did get a glimpse of his power when he staggered Ramon for a quick 8 count before the stoppage. Lara seemed to be sitting down more than usual on his punches making sure his opponent felt every bit of his power. This version of Lara could make his future bouts that more intriguing to watch if he continues with that type of approach.

With this win, Lara picked up the Vacant WBA “regular” junior middleweight Title
and rejoined the winner’s circle once again. That being said, in order to become the mandatory challenger to Unified WBA Super Junior Middleweight Champion Julian Williams, Lara will most likely set a date with fellow WBA Gold Junior Middleweight Champion Michel Soro (34-2-1, 23 Kos) to firmly establish who’s next in line.

Lara’s drive back to the top of the 154-pound Division is not an easy one but it’s definitely keeping him within the conversations amongst the top of the Division.

Seize the momentum Lara and keep focussed, until your next challenge.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jarrett Hurd vs Julian Williams”

IBF/IBO/WBA Junior Middleweight Challenge

The Junior Middleweight Division is “Blazing Hot” right now. Last night’s Main Event at the EagleBank Arena, in Fairfax, Virginia, between IBF/IBO/WBA Super Junior Middleweight Champion Jarrett Hurd (23-1, 16 Kos) and Julian Williams (27-1-1, 16 Kos) was a thing of beauty. Real Talk!

J-Rock who was a 5-1 underdog from the jump, walked into the Champion’s own turf (game 7 style) and claimed all the gold by defeating Hurd by unanimous decision with the scores off 116-111, 115-112 and 115-112. Unbelievable!

J-Rock’s performance was on point from the jump. He executed their “game plan” to a “T”. Julian was calm, focused and definitely well prepared physically and mentally. Being visibly smaller than Jarrett, Julian still had enough power nice and early to drop Hurd down for an 8 count in the second round.

To me, that was the game changing moment right there. From that point on, them two warriors entered the phone booth and exchanged some serious leather back and forth. The up close and personal style usually favours Hurd but, on this night, J-Rock had his number.

Round by round Williams stayed busy with his hands at all times. His defence was tight and making Hurd miss while still staying composed whenever Hurd did land something of significance.

Williams went toe to toe with the heavy fisted Champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd and out boxed him at his own game. Hurd took a lot of punishment last night and it cost him dearly as the rounds wore on.

Personally, I’m thinking Jarrett underestimated J-Rock’s ring generalship and in doing so succumbed to his first professional loss.

That being said, with this win, Julian is now the New IBF/IBO/WBA Super Unified Junior Middleweight Champion. A feat well deserved.

Congratulations Julian, you defied the odds and fulfilled your dreams of becoming a Champion.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Brian Castano vs Erislandy Lara”

WBA Junior Middleweight Challenge

Fresh of his gruelling unification defeat of April 2018 to Jarrett Hurd, Erislandy Lara (25-3-3, 14 Kos) jumped right back into the mix and into that squared circle last night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York to challenge younger unbeaten WBA (regular) Junior Middleweight Champion Brian Carlos Castano (15-0-1, 11 Kos).

Both combatants came out their respective corners with one thing in mind: to prove that they belong amongst the best in the 154-pound Division. The end result after 12 hard rounds was an unsettled split draw. One Judge had it 115-113 for Lara, one Judge had it 115-113 for Castano and the third Judge had it dead even 114-114.

Real Talk! I can’t front, it was a real tight fight with both warriors having their way from time to time but personally I think Lara had the cleaner work. Lara was way more accurate with his punch selection while Castano not as precise but definitely more aggressive with his punch output.

Castano’s stalking tactics throughout the bout is what kept him in the “Game” all night. His “phone booth” style of fighting was very effective but Lara’s defense was also keeping Castano from administering heavy pain.

That being said, Castano’s performance last night proved that he can definitely hang with the “top dogs” in the 154-pound Division. Going 12 tough back and forth rounds with “The American Dream” Erislandy Lara is no easy task.

With no clear winner or loser on the night, Castano retained his WBA (regular) Junior Middleweight Championship Title in the hope of securing a unification bout with the other Champions in the 154-pound Division or better yet a rematch with Lara to clear the air?

Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze