On The Watch “It’s All About Gervonta Davis vs Isaac Cruz”

WBA “Regular” Lightweight challenge

Sunday night’s Showtime PPV Main Event between WBA “Regular” Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis (26-0, 24 Kos) and Isaac Cruz (22-2-1, 15 Kos) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA was an exciting bout that had Tank reaching into his toolbox to pull of the win after injuring his left hand at the midpoint of the bout. Real Talk!

Isaac came out the gate like a hungry “Pitbull” ready to take out his prey. His steady aggressive style was key to applying pressure on Tank who did a lot of movement, slipping and dipping, countering Cruz with some well-timed combinations preventing Cruz from having an easy stationary target.

Cruz’s style forced Tank to stay light on his feet and use more of his boxing skills adjusting on the fly and countering Cruz’s nonstop pressure. Cruz made this bout a lot tougher than I expected it to be for Davis. The Kid is tough as nails and took some heavy shots from Tank but never looked deterred as the rounds were piling up.

Cruz’s resilience inside that squared circle made this bout intriguing since Tank had to work to secure this bout. Cruz put it all on the line and fought a hell of a fight going toe to toe with a known heavy banger like Tank.

That being said, there are levels to this boxing sh*t and Tank kept his composure, flipped the script on Cruz and boxed his way with an injured left hand (his money shot) all the way to the 12th round. The Judges scored it 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 unanimously for Gervonta Davis.

I tip my “B” hat to Isaac for giving us such a great performance. The Kid is tough, durable and a serious problem to any Lightweight in the Division. This was a competitive bout from start to finish with leather being thrown from both sides but the more accurate and effective work came from the Champ. Hands Down.

Congratulations Gervonta, this was a tougher win then expected but you prevailed – now on to the next one.

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

On The Watch “It’s All About Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Anthony Crolla”

WBA Lightweight Mandatory Challenge

Last night’s Friday Night Boxing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, the 10,101 fans in attendance had themselves another great performance courtesy of WBA/WBO Lightweight Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (13-1, 10 Kos).

It was another quick night at the office for Lomachenko when he successfully defended his WBA mandatory challenger Anthony Crolla (34-7-3, 13 Kos).

Last night, Loma looked sharp and focussed and showed some serious pop in his punch combinations when he sat down Anthony for the count in the fourth round. Easy work!

It was clear from the jump that Crolla had no idea what he was in for and by the second round when Loma had figured Crolla out it was a wrap from that point on. Loma started to let his gloves loose with shots from every angle with power and precision that left Crolla helpless and shell-shock as the thrashing kept on creeping.

The “End Game” knock out in the fourth round spared Crolla from further unnecessary punishment. Crolla was simply outclassed and outmatched by a superior gifted opponent in Vasiliy Lomachenko. Real Talk!

This version of Loma is a problem for all competitors and Champions in the Lightweight Division. But that being said I can’t wait to see who signs up next for the challenge and the opportunity. Loma has made it clear fight after fight, he wants all the belts!!

Until your next foe is announced, congratulations on your victory Champ.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury”

WBC Heavyweight Title Challenge

Last night, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the two Biggest Heavyweight Boxers in the game-WBC Champion Deontay Wilder (40-0-1, 39 Kos) and Linear Champion Tyson Fury (27-0-1, 19Kos) dazzled us fans to a surprising and controversial split draw. Real Talk!

I gotta tip my “B” hat to “The Gypsy King” for such an impressive performance. He really outdid himself in that squared circle against Deontay. I didn’t think he still had it in him but “DAMN” was I wrong. The man withstood two knockdowns from the “Bronze Bomber” but completed the 12 rounds like a warrior. Aside from the two knockdowns, Fury executed their game plan to a “T”. He did a great job at neutralizing Deontay’s power with good movement and a stiff jab and constantly kept it awkward. Tyson was fearless and definitely motivated to outbox the heavy- fisted puncher. His boxing IQ was on full display last night.

Deontay retained his WBC Heavyweight Title but not without being pushed to the limit. Wilder was in a war last night but stepped up like a true Champion. I personally think Wilder was met with a tougher challenge then we all expected. Wilder’s equalizing power couldn’t finish Fury but he did manage to lay “The Gypsy King” down twice on the canvas but couldn’t sleep the giant out permanently as he had previously predicted.

Judges scores aside, the respect from both competitors was unquestionably earned last night, this was a great bout. Debatable outcome but definitely entertaining from start to finish.

I congratulate both combatants for a performance well worth it.

Now the question remains, will they do it again?

Your thoughts on this one?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury”

WBC Heavyweight Title Challenge

It has now officially been announced. Two of the biggest Heavyweight Boxers in the game – WBC Champion Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 Kos) and Linear Champion Tyson Fury (27-0, 19 Kos) have now set a date to bump gloves on Saturday night, December 1, 2018 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Both camps are calling this bout a “Mega Fight” but personally I just can’t see it as that considering Fury ‘s last two outings since his long 2 ½ year layoff. His two-last showings inside that squared circle were lackluster and mediocre at best versus “C” level fighters. Definitely not the type of fight one would take to get ready for a clash with the “Bronze Bomber”. This to me sounds like a move from Fury who is simply daring to be great. He’s got it in his mind that he is the Best Heavyweight in the “Game” today and is determined to prove it by taking out the hardest power puncher in the Heavyweight Division, Deontay Wilder.

Styles make fights but, in this case, we have two undefeated fighters who are sitting at 6-feet-7 for Wilder and 6-feet-9 for Fury, two very long and awkward styles that could potentially make it real ugly but very intriguing to see?

The odds are favoring the “Bronze Bomber” to knock “The Gypsy King” out cold but Fury has proven the naysayers wrong before and is determined to once again defy the odds stacked against him. Fury’s quickness and boxing skill will be on full display as long as he makes sure to stay away from Wilder’s “Alabama slammer” but that alone may not be enough for Fury to win the bout.

With their promotional 3-day press tour now in motion the trash talking will be on full display to hype up the bout. Both got mouthpieces to go on for days. There is absolutely no lack of confidence from both fighters but there can only be one winner when it’s all said and done.

Tune in on SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View Saturday night December 1, 2018 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and witness the drama unfold.

Blaze