On The Watch “It’s All About Liam Paro vs Richardson Hitchins”

IBF Junior Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Liam Paro (25-1, 15 Kos) and challenger Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 Kos) was a technical matchup that greatly favoured the challenger at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I was impressed by Richardson who walked it like he talked it and handled his business inside that squared circle like a “G”. Richardson told anybody that would listen that he was levels above Liam and backed every word of it when the time came to prove it.

It took Richardson a few rounds to figure Liam out but once he did it was a boxing session where Richardson outboxed Liam with ease and conviction that he could not be denied. Richardson’s jab was on point along with his punch selection and accuracy that clearly bothered Liam who had no answer to slow down this determined combatant from having his way with him.

“Game Plan” for “Game plan”, Richardson had the right formula. After 12 full rounds of action the Judges on hand called it 117-111 for Liam, 116-112 and 116-112 for Richardson.

The Judge who had it 117-111 for Liam was out of pocket for that but nevertheless, with this convincing win under his belt Richardson is now the new IBF Junior Welterweight Champion of the World. Well done!

A hyped up and full of confidence Richardson wasted no time in calling out his next future challenger, if possible, in WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 kos).

That’s a unification bout that would be fun to watch but will Teofimo answer the call? Only time will tell.

Until then, congratulations Richardson and enjoy this great well-earned victory.

Blaze

On the Watch “It’s All About Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano II”

Undisputed Junior Welterweight Challenge

The highly anticipated and rescheduled rematch unraveled last Friday night to a packed house at the AT & T Stadium when Undisputed Junior Welterweight IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion Katie Taylor (24-1, 6 Kos) and highly decorated Champion Amanda Serrano (47-3-1, 30 Kos) picked up the “HEAT” right where they left off from their last encounter two years ago at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

This Co-Main Event should have been the original Netflix Main Event of the night by the way these two warriors rigorously fought toe-to toe from start to finish entertaining all who took the time to enjoy this great battle.

Both combatants came into this challenge with an extra sense of confidence and familiarity of one another but it was Serrano, coming up three Divisions and the smaller fighter, who actually had more pop at the weight. Serrano’s punches stunned Katie early and set the stage for the night.

A relentless Katie refused to backdown and stood her ground and exchanged leather going back and forth. However, a severe clash of heads opened up a cut over Serrano’s right eye that threatened the continuation of the bout but a persistent Serrano refused to bow out this way and insisted on going on with the fight.

The cut eventually opened up some more due to further clashes of heads by Taylor that looked deliberate at times but nevertheless did not deter Serrano from imposing her will. Both combatants threw a combined 1,263 punches between the two but it was Serrano who outpunched Taylor 324 to 217 and handed out the more telling damage.

After 10 very competitive rounds of nonstop action, the Judges at hand all scored it 95-94 in favor of Katie Taylor, once again giving us a controversial ending to another great bout.

With this win, Katie Taylor retained her Undisputed Junior Welterweight IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Championship Titles but in my opinion, I feel that Amanda did enough to dethrone Taylor on the night due to her higher work rate and her stronger finish in the championship rounds.

Just my thoughts.

Blaze

On the Watch “It’s All About Sandy Ryan vs Mikaela Mayer”

WBO Welterweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN + Main Event between WBO Welterweight Champion Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 Kos) and challenger Mikaela Mayer (20-2, 5 Kos) definitely lived up to the hype at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The animosity towards one another was quite evident towards the build up to this bout and when the first bell went off both worriers went straight to work with no hesitation. Sandy came out the gate with a strong jab but was met with some very busy hands by Mikaela who was countering every shot with speed.

Sandy definitely brought the pressure but the activity and the punch output coming back from Mikaela made things quite interesting as the rounds progressed. The power punches coming in by Sandy were quite evident whenever she landed but Mikaela showed grit and toughness standing her ground at every corner.

Both combatants had their moments as the round progressed but it was Mikaela who might have benefited from the first half of the fight by being exceptionally more active with her hands while Sandy needed to raise the “HEAT” in the second half of the bout to keep things close.

Both girls brought it in the later rounds going toe-to-toe and dishing out some serious leather from both sides but Mikaela’s experience at this stage in her career may have been key to this bout.

After 10 rounds of nonstop action the Judges at hand called it 95-95, 96-94 and 97-93, giving the majority decision to Mikaela Mayer.

I personally thought this was a very competitive bout that could have easily gone either way but on this night, a new Champion was crowned giving Mikaela a world title in her second Weight Division and the New WBO Welterweight Champion.

Well done, Mikaela.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga”

WBA/WBC/WBO Super Middleweight Challenge

Last night’s PBC/Matchroom/Prime Video/DAZN Main Event between Unified WBA/WBC/WBO Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion “Kingpin” Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 Kos) and WBA mandatory challenger Edgar Berlanga (22-1, 17 Kos) definitely lived up to the “HYPE” surrounding the Mexico vs Puerto Rico saga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Real Talk!

Berlanga, who was a massive underdog of the night, surprisingly asserted himself quite well. Edgar stood his ground and felt the pressure of being inside that squared circle opposite of the ‘Kingpin”. Sh*t got real quicky as Berlanga tasted the canvas early in round three from being chin checked by Canelo’s strong left hook but took his standing 8 count like a “G” and proceeded to continue to stand his ground.

That being said, Canelo came out the gate quite aggressive and very active with his hands showing the bully and the bigger fighter Berlanga that things are different when you’re going toe-to-toe with the “Kingpin”.

Although Canelo was visibly the smaller of the two combatants, he was controlling the action inside that squared circle from start to finish. Granted Berlanga had a good strong and effective jab but it had little effect opposite Canelo who walking through his attack while systematically breaking Edgar down round by round.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and last night school was in session and Canelo was the instructor. Canelo outworked and outpunched Berlanga from every angle. The experience that Canelo possessed was key and quite visible. Although Berlanga did well, the inexperience of facing such a high caliber opponent was a major factor.

After 12 rounds of entertaining action the Judges at hand scored it 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109 unanimously for Canelo Alvarez.

Another young and hungry Lion has tasted defeat for the first time at the hands of the “Kingpin’ and still Unified WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion of the World.

Well done, Canelo. Now who’s next?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 2”

Undisputed Junior Welterweight Challenge

The highly anticipated rematch between Undisputed Junior Welterweight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 Kos) and Unified Featherweight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO/Ring Magazine Champion Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 Kos) has been officially announced to meet up once again but at a different weight Division than their previous encounter.

Amanda has agreed to move up three Divisions in order to get that get back and challenge Katie for all the Jewels that she’s holding as the Undisputed Champion. It’s a tougher task than expected for Amanda. The 140-Pound Division favors Katie a lot more than Amanda but this highly decorated Pound-for-Pound Champion in Amanda is aiming high at proving the naysayers wrong and that she can conquer these harsh challenges ahead.

Katie, who is fresh off capturing the Undisputed Junior Welterweight Titles from Chantelle Cameron, hasn’t slowed down since. Having already shared the ring with Amanda, I’m expecting Katie to come fully loaded and ready for an action-packed fight.

These two Champion combatants are two of the biggest names in the game today. They brought the “HEAT” to the ring 2 years ago and will attempt to overshadow their previous encounter by raising the bar once again inside that squared circle and bring women’s boxing to the far front for all to see.

Tune in on Netflix Saturday night July 20, 2024, from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This Co-Main Event might just steal the show on the night. Real Talk!

Blaze

On the Watch ” It’s All About Jaron Ennis vs Cody Crowley”

IBF World Welterweight Challenge

The time has finally arrived. Newly crowned IBF World Welterweight Champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (31-0, 28 Kos) will defend his title against mandatory challenger and our own Canadian born representative undefeated Cody Crowley (22-0, 9 Kos) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday, July 13, 2024, making this event the first boxing bout in the building. Real Talk!

This is a dream come true for Cody who will be getting his first title opportunity and one that he undeniably couldn’t refuse at this point in his career but as solid as Cody is as a fighter, the task ahead will be very challenging. Cody is a well-schooled and skilled combatant who will absolutely bring his “A” game on the night but standing in his way is a bonafide phenom in “Boots” who possesses all the gifts and attributes needed to dominate the Welterweight Division for a very long time.

With “home court” advantage on the night and equipped with a 90.32% KO ratio, it’s clear that “Boots” doesn’t play with his food inside that squared circle and on fight night, he will be looking to gift the fans in attendance an exceptional performance for all who came to support him on the night.

That being said, Cody knows he will have to fight tooth and nail when entering enemy territory to pry that Championship Title from the young phenom. Considering what Cody had to endure personally and mentally throughout the last few years to get here, his time is now and he will not shy away come fight night.

Tune in live on DAZN Saturday night, July 13, 2024, from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov”

WBA Junior Middleweight Challenge

His Excellency Turki Alashikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority, will be bringing his Riyadh Season to its first overseas event in the United States on Saturday August 3, 2024, at the BMO Stadium, Los Angeles.

The Main Event of the night will consist of Pound-for-Pound former Undisputed Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 Kos) who will be moving up in weight to the Junior Middleweight Division in pursuit of another title in a fourth Division by challenging newly crowned WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 Kos).

That being said, Madrimov is a serious step up and a worthy challenger who will not be easily taken down. The hunger for greatness that Madrimov has been displaying as of late goes hand in hand with his physical strength and boxing IQ that this warrior will be walking in with come fight night. Madrimov is a well-schooled technically sound combatant who will definitely bring the “Heat” inside that squared circle.

Although Terence will have been out of the ring for a full year by the time these two combatants square up, the task at hand still remains the same, to conquer another Division by any means necessary and become Undisputed Champion in a third weight Division.

Crawford has been the underdog before and has proven the naysayers wrong as well. That’s why on August 3, 2024, he will show the world once again, why he’s one of the greatest Pound-for-Pound fighters to ever lace on a pair of gloves in this era.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Richardson Hitchins vs Gustavo Lemos”

IBF Light Welterweight Title Eliminator

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between undefeated Richardson Hitchins (18-0, 7 kos) and undefeated Gustavo Lemos (29-1, 19 Kos) turned out to be quite interesting from start to finish but the outcome given at the end of the bout at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, was very disappointing to say the least. Real Talk!

Lemos put his best foot forward on the night and proceeded to rough house Richardson with his come forward heavy hands looking to take his head out at every opportunity. This bout was clearly a boxer-versus-puncher where the boxer Hitchins was dealing with some serious challenges inside that squared circle. The pressure Lemos was coming with was visibly working giving the edge in my eyes round by round.

Richardson had his moments at times but he could have made things a lot easier on himself if only he would have let his hands go a tab more in between rounds. Although he was being very allusive at times, I personally think his lack of activity cost him heavily as the rounds progressed.

Richardson’s constant holding and clinching did not help his case in trying to sway the rounds his way. Lemos was the one initiating the action and visibly hurting Hitchins with punches coming at him from all angles.

What did help Richardson was his accuracy when he did decide to let his hands go but that was just not enough in my eyes to win enough rounds. Although Richardson was the better skilled fighter on the night, he did not execute the right “game plan” to the show the right levels needed to separate himself from his opponent inside that squared circle.

After 12 completed rounds, the Judges at hand called it 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 unanimously for Richardson Hitchins. Unbelievable. That Judge with that 117-111 was way out of pocket. Real talk!

Listen, although I was rooting for Richardson to win the fight, this one right here wasn’t it. Richardson started to put things together in the later rounds going toe-to-toe but his lack of activity throughout the duration of the bout sealed it for me.

I tip my “B” hat to Lemos who fought a good fight and brought the heat on the night. You have nothing to be ashamed of in my eyes. The Judges may have robbed you of your victory but you definitely gained a fan out of me.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jesse Rodriguez vs Sunny Edwards”

IBF/WBO Flyweight Unification Championship

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between WBO Flyweight Champion Jesse Rodriguez (19-0, 12 Kos) and IBF Flyweight Champion Sunny Edwards (20-1, 4 Kos) definitely brought the house down at the Desert Diamond Arena. Real Talk!

Both undefeated Champions walked into that squared circle to determine who was the No. 1 Flyweight in the Division and what transpired subsequently was quite surprising. The usual untouchable slick-talking, slick-moving “Showtime” Sunny Edwards found out quite quickly that “Bam” Rodriguez was the real deal inside that squared circle.

The pressure and patience that Jesse was coming in with was serious and he walked it like he talked it when he was putting some heavy leather on Sunny right from the jump. Sunny wasn’t used to getting touched up like this and hurt at the same time and as the rounds progressed, you could visibly see the damage that Jesse was doing by the way Sunny’s face was being marked up.

Sunny had absolutely no answer or the right “game plan” to deter Jesse from having his way inside that squared circle. Round by round you could see Jesse gaining more and more confidence while not respecting his opponent by the way he was pressuring Sunny at every corner of the ring.

Truth be told, it was a one-sided beat down that nobody expected. The inevitable was nearby. The brash talking “showtime” Sunny’s light was looking dimmer and dimmer as the rounds progressed and he looked like a defeated man ready to be put down. Jesse obliged in the ninth round and dropped Sunny with a vicious knockdown in the closing round prompting a corner stoppage in between rounds 9 and 10.

With this emphatic win now under his belt, Jesse has now put to bed the debate on who is unquestionably the No. 1 Flyweight champion in the Division by picking up the IBF World Championship Belt and unifying it with his WBO World Championship Title.

Well done “Bam” you’ve earned all the respect the hard way. Congratulations on your latest conquest.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Alycia Baumgardner vs Christina Linardatou”

Undisputed Super Featherweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event between Undisputed Super Featherweight Champion Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7 Kos) and challenger Christina Linardatou (14-3, 6 Kos), was the type of an event that was perfectly set for Alycia’s homecoming at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan.

Alycia had her fans in attendance cheering her name from start to finish and she did not disappoint them. Although Christina did put up a good fight and definitely had some moments throughout the bout, it was Alycia who controlled the rounds and prevented Christina’s pressure style of fighting from ever deterring Alycia from her “game plan” at hand.

Alycia showed patience round by round and boxed beautifully, administering some vicious blows visibly stunting Christina as the rounds progressed. Alycia looked strong and focussed and always in control of her emotions.

Alycia definitely showed growth and maturity from her last encounter with Christina who gave her the first loss of her professional career back in 2018. This version of Alycia was the Undisputed Super Featherweight Champion of the World and possessed the higher ring IQ of the night.

Alycia desperately needed and wanted that revenge bout to be dealt with and deal with it she did in a very convincing manner. Alycia dominated Christina who was very active with her hands but this time lacked the power to deter the Champ from having her way.

That being said, after 10 rounds of action the Judges at hand scored it 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 all in favour of Alycia Baumgardner.

With this convincing win, Alycia retained her Undisputed Super Featherweight status and can now set her eyes on bigger challenges ahead in the likes of Undisputed Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor, Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion Chantelle Cameron or even Undisputed Featherweight Champion Amanda Serrano.

Alycia is clearly seeking the biggest fights available regardless of the Champion. I can’t wait to see who will sign up for the challenge.

Until then, congratulations on your latest win Alycia.

Blaze