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 Gervonta Davis vs Yuriorkis Gamboa”

Vacant WBA “regular” Lightweight Title

Last night’s Main Event Showdown at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia between Gervonta “Tank” Davis (23-0, 22 Kos) and Yuriorkis Gamboa (30-3, 18 Kos) was a hell of show. Real Talk!

Gervonta, who usually walks through his opponents was met with a real tough warrior in Gamboa that wasn’t going to lay down without a fight. Real Talk! Gamboa put up a hell of a fight but still got touch at will whenever “Tank” pressed the action.

Gamboa showed heart and bravery in withstanding all those power shots that Davis was hammering on him throughout the rounds. However, in doing so he also gave Davis his toughest fight to date.

As good as “Tank” was doing he was in a real fight last night and definitely had to work to get the job done. Gervonta knocked Gamboa down in round 2, 8 and again in round 12. It’s in that final round that the referee decided to pull the plug after that last knockdown and stopped the fight.

It was a learning experience for Davis this go around. Fatigue settled in, he had to go 12 rounds for the first time in his professional career and this was his first fight at 135 Division. That being said “Tank” still weathered the heat and completed the task at hand with a knockout victory.

With this win Gervonta becomes a two-weight Division Champion by picking up the Vacant WBA “regular” Lightweight Title.

Congratulations Gervonta, now on to the new year 2020.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jean Pascal vs Badou Jack”

Interim WBA/WBC Light Heavyweight Challenge

In a tough and competitive bout last night at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 Kos) retained his Interim WBA/WBC Belts with a tight split decision against Badou Jack (22-3-3, 13 Kos).

This bout was exciting from the jump. Pascal came out the gate and asserted himself real early with an aggressive style that bothered Jack. Pascal’s power shots were coming in bunches and connected with a serious overhand right with some serious jabs that staggered and dropped Jack in the 4th round for a quick 8 count with only 10 seconds left in the round.

In the second half of the bout Jack started to work his way back and putting in some good work. The rounds were tight and very competitive. The action was none stop and carried all the way to  the final round where Jack connected with a hard right hand that dropped Pascal for a quick 8 count with lots of time left in the 12th round but Pascal showed grit and fired back enough shots to still stay competitive and finished the round strong and on his feet.

When it was all said and done two of the Judges scored it 114-112, 114-112 in favor of Pascal and 114-112 in favor of Jack.

With this win Jean Pascal retains his Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Title and WBC “silver” Light Heavyweight Title and finishes the year 2019 on a positive high.

Job well done Pascal, congratulations.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Tony Harrison vs Jermell Charlo”

WBC Super Welterweight Challenge Take II

Last night’s rematch at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California between Tony Harrison (28-3, 21 Kos) and Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 Kos) definitely lived up to the hype. Real Talk!

Charlo walked it like he talked it and made sure to keep the Judges out of this one. Charlo asserted himself early and was able to drop Tony in the second round for a quick 8 count. That prompted Harrison to change his “game plan” to become a more aggressive fighter due to the early knockdown.

As the rounds wore on Harrison boxed well enough to even out the rounds in my eyes, but it was clear that Charlo was looking to put a hurting on Harrison. Jermell’s controlled aggression along with his barrage of power punches were definitely keeping the fans interested.

However, Harrison’s “phone booth” tactics took Charlo by surprise and forced Jermell to dig deeper and rethink his approach as Tony was starting to come back with his own desperate aggression.

That being said, Jermell’s power was clearly the game changer this time around. By the 11th round Jermell managed to drop Tony with an empathic right hand to the dome for an 8 count then, once Tony got up, Jermell continued the attack with some heavy shots and knocked Tony down again for another 8 count. Tony got up from the second knockdown only to get swarmed by Jermell some more but by that time the referee had seen enough and pulled the plug.

As entertaining as this bout was it was a lot closer than the Judges had it. Harrison lost focus and paid the price at the end.

With this win, Jermell avenged his loss to Harrison from a year ago and now has once again reclaimed the WBC Super Welterweight Title.

Congratulations Jermell, Job well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Gervonta Davis vs Yuriorkis Gamboa”

Vacant WBA “regular” Lightweight Title

Gervonta “Tank” Davis (22-0, 21 Kos) will be moving up a Division and attempting to become a two weight Division Champion by challenging Yuriorkis Gamboa (30-2, 18 Kos) for the vacant WBA “regular” Lightweight Title on Saturday December 28, 2019 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

Despite Gamboa being much older than Gervonta, I’m anticipating this bout to be “Blazin Hot” when these two tough combatants meet inside that squared circle. Gamboa has been pushing an impressive 4- fight winning streak as of late and looking better and better every time out. Gamboa ain’t no walk in the park. He is a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and a Three-Time World Champion at Featherweight, Junior Lightweight and at Lightweight. He’s a proven warrior attempting to get back at the top one more time.

That being said, Gervonta is a young undefeated star in the making, a Two-Time World Champion ready to conquer another Division. Tank is that Dude that people can’t sleep on. He has an abundance of skill sets that have yet to be seen inside the squared circle because he hasn’t been tested. Since his power has always been the equalizer, considering his high knockout ratio, but I’m hoping that Gamboa can bring that next unseen level out of him to the point where we can really appreciate a tough, competitive, back and forth type bout.

Tune in live on SHOWTIME Saturday night December 28, 2019 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia and witness an exciting year-end event.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz 2″

WBC Heavyweight Challenge

Don’t blink! -Is what the WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder (42-0-1, 41 Kos) said before defending his WBC Heavyweight Championship Title last night against Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz (32-2, 26 Kos) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The “Bronze Bomber” spoke it into existence when he knocked out “King Kong” for the count. Real Talk!

A slim and trim, focussed Ortiz stepped inside that squared circle last night and executed his “game plan” to perfection. He boxed beautifully, composed, sure of himself and was clearly winning every round from 1 to 6 hands down until round 7.

Wilder, who had zero offence throughout the first 6 rounds only needed one opening, one second, one well- connected demoralizing right hand “Bomb” to close the show in round 7. Once Wilder connected, Ortiz could not recover in time to beat the count. Just like that, Ortiz’s hard work to that point went out the ring.

Your Boy Wilder is a real problem to the Heavyweight Division. That Thanos-type power that he carries in that right hand is the “End Game” whenever he connects. Once again Deontay has put the entire Heavyweight Division on notice. Good luck to the competition. Whomever wants to take the WBC route to the Championship Belt needs to be mentally and physically prepared and even with that in mind, there is no guarantee you will succeed once you enter that squared circle and Deontay Wilder in standing across the ring from you.

Until your next contestant, congratulations on your win Champ.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Tony Harrison vs Jermell Charlo”

WBC Super Welterweight Challenge Take II

It has officially been announced.  The highly awaited rematch between newly crowned WBC Super Welterweight Champion Tony “Superbad” Harrison (28-2, 21 Kos) and Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (32-1, 16 Kos) is set to take place Saturday December 21, 2019 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

It’s clear from their latest press conference in Los Angeles that these two Dudes definitely don’t like each other. The disrespect is real, and the “heat” is building up whenever they’re in the same building. Real Talk!

Charlo wants that payback asap, that controversial loss to Tony ain’t sitting well with him but snatching that WBC Belt from Tony won’t be easy. Tony is out to prove that him beating Jermell last year wasn’t no fluke. The “game plan” that he executed worked to his advantage duplicating the same result would definitely silence all skeptics out there hating on him.

That being said, Charlo is that hungry Lion determined to recapture that gold back by any means necessary. Jermell wants to put a hurting on Tony in a bad way. But as the saying goes, styles make fights, and Tony is a smart technical boxer that can easily disrupt an aggressive style like Charlo’s when he’s dialed in and his defense is on point.

It will be interesting to see whose “game plan” will prevail when it’s all said and done. Trash talking aside these two combatants will have no choice but to step inside that squared circle and settle their differences one time live on FOX Deportes Saturday December 21, 2019 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz 2″

WBC Heavyweight Rematch Challenge

Heavyweight Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 Kos) has been campaigning for a rematch with WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, 40 Kos) since their last competitive tussle back in March 3, 2018 and his request has officially been announced.

Ortiz will be looking to avenge his one and only loss to date on November 23, 2019 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Although their first encounter ended with Ortiz getting knocked out in the 10th round, everybody in the boxing community knows that Ortiz gave Deontay the business that night and came extremely close to upsetting the WBC Heavyweight Champion. If it wasn’t for Luis running out of gas in the later rounds, the end result could have easily been in favour of “King Kong”. Real Talk!

That being said, we can’t front on Wilder, Dude did drop and stop Ortiz and we all known Ortiz is no one to play with inside that squared circle. However, having shared the ring with Ortiz, Wilder should be better prepared this time around for any possible onslaught Ortiz may have hidden in his arsenal. The “Boogeyman” fear factor will have no effect on the “Bronze Bomber”. Dude got his weight up and his confidence is already at 100! Nuff Said!

Peeps in the boxing community are claiming that Ortiz is now showing his age inside that squared circle but still being avoided by his peers. Personally, age aside, Ortiz’s skill set is superior to most sh*t talkers in the Heavyweight Division. That said I’m not ready to pull the plug on Ortiz just yet. He campaigned for the rematch with Wilder now he’s gotta make it count and show us fans that he can talk it like he walks it. Duplicating that infamous round 7 back in March won’t be easy but “King Kong” has got to bring it on fight night in order to have a chance at beating the heavy fisted “Bronze Bomber” inside that squared circle.

Don’t miss this action-packed Heavyweight rematch on Fox Sport PBC Pay-per-View on Saturday night November 23, 2019 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Errol Spence Jr. vs Shawn Porter”

IBF/WBC Welterweight Title Unification

Last night’s Welterweight Title Unification bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles between IBF Champion Errol Spence Jr. (26-0, 21 Kos) and WBC Champion Shawn Porter (30-3-1, 17 Kos), lived up to the hype from start to finish. Real Talk!

Porter, the underdog, laid it all inside that squared circle. “Showtime” lived up to his name last night and to me, outperformed himself by bringing it straight up to Spence from round to round. Porter’s “game plan” was clear from the jump to rough up Spence with constant pressure while keeping it awkward and standing strong by not letting Spence have his way with him inside that squared circle.

Spence was in a real dog fight last night and surprisingly was unable to command the bout in his usual aggressive fashion. However, the “Truth” stayed cool like his demeanour and weathered the storm by simply adapting to Porter’s rugged tactics by fighting blow for blow and making his punch selections count whenever the openings presented themselves.

These two Champions showed up last night administering some serious heavy leather to one another and kept it real tight all throughout the rounds. To me neither one of them really had a clear-cut lead until the 11th round when Spence scored a decisive left hook “money shot” knockdown that may have sealed the deal for him to win on a spit-decision.

By the end of the twelfth round, two of the Judges had it scored 116-111 for Spence and one Judge had it 115-112 for Porter.

I tip my “B” hat to “Showtime” Shawn Porter” for bringing his all last night. He stepped up to the plate while other competitors are choosing to side step to the “Truth”.

Congratulations Errol on becoming the New IBF/WBC Unified Welterweight Champion of the World. You walked it like you talked it and proved to be the “Man” to beat in the 147-pound Division.

Can’t wait to see who signs up next to face you.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Anthony Dirrell vs David Benavidez”

WBC Super Middleweight Challenge

The co-main event on the Errol Spence Jr.-Shawn Porter pay-per-view card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles was blazing last night. David Benavidez (22-0, 19 Kos) regained his WBC Super Middleweight Belt in a conclusive fashion by stopping Two-Time Champion Anthony Dirrell (33-2-1, 24 Kos) by a 9th round TKO. Anthony’s corner had seen enough.

It was a beautiful display by Benavidez. Not an easy one but well worth the challenge. Dirrell stood his ground and seemed to be boxing and moving well and keeping the rounds close but Benavidez who was visibly stronger and taller than Dirrell, started breaking him down systematically and patiently round by round with some serious heavy hands.

To me the “game-changer” was the left hook that opened up a horrible cut over Dirrell’s right eye in the 6th round. It was downhill from that point on for Dirrell. The onslaught coming from Benavidez was too much and the fight was quickly looking one-sided as the rounds wore on.

Dirrell was being walked down and outgunned from every corner. It was only fitting for Dirrell’s corner to pull the plug in the 9th round and stop the bloodbath from continuing.

With this win Benavidez reclaims his WBC Super Middleweight Title and becomes one of the youngest Two-Time Champions to ever do it this good.

Congratulations Champ. Now on to the next.

Blaze