On The Watch “It’s All About Andy Ruiz Jr. vs Damian Knyba”

Heavyweight Showdown

Last night’s Matchroom/TNT/DAZN Main Event between former Unified Heavyweight Champion of the World, Andy “Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. (35-3-1, 22 Kos) and Damian “Polish Hussar” Knyba (18-1, 11 Kos) turned out to be an interesting bout with an unexpected outcome when all was said and done at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

With Andy coming in this bout looking in his best physical shape, many anticipated the old Andy to show up and handle “The Polish Hussar” with ease but with Andy not having graced the inside of that squared circle after a two-year layoff, what we witnessed was a shadow of himself who had to deal with a 6ft 7 jabbing machine who definitely had the right “game plan”.

Damian’s reach, movement and active jab did a number on Andy’s face and had him confused and discouraged as the rounds progressed. I was impressed by Damian’s strategy who used every bit of his physical attributes to deter Andy from landing anything significant enough to trouble him in this bout.

 This may not have been the most exciting bout to watch but Damian did manage to raise the atmosphere and the crowd in the building when he viscously dropped Andy with a 10-piece combination in the seventh round. With the referee giving Andy a standing 8 count and added time, Andy managed to survive the round.

Andy, still shook off the seventh round, attempted to up his offensive approach with some urgency in the later rounds but Damian played his position to a “T” and kept that sniper like jab in his face while still landing the cleaner punches.

After 12 rounds of one-sided action, the Judges at hand scored it 117-110, 114-113 and 114-113, unanimously for Damian Knyba.

Them two Judges who scored this bout 114-113 are straight out of pocket for this one. Real Talk! Damian may have been the underdog on the night but he undeniably earned this win hands down.

Congratulations, Damian. Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Abdullah Mason vs Albert Bell”

WBO World Lightweight Challenge

Last night’s Top Rank/TNT/DAZN Main Event was an intriguing bout as it unraveled for the hometown WBO World Lightweight Champion Abdullah Mason (21-0, 18 Kos) who had to defend his title for the first time against late replacement undefeated challenger Albert Bell (28-1, 9 Kos) at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland.

Bell understood what was presented to him at the last minute and accepted the opportunity with open arms. He then proceeded to box beautifully in the first half of the bout where he visibly and effortlessly outworked the champion by being one step ahead of him in every department.

That being said, the youngin Mason never wavered. Mason stayed cool, disciplined and patiently waited for his opportunity to strike like the “Black Mamba’ and that he did when he drew first blood by damaging Bell’s nose in the eighth round.

With Bell’s nose hindering his breathing and clearly breaking his focus, the fatigue started to show as Mason starting to press the action and his punch output working over Bell as the rounds progressed.

By the championship rounds, Bell wasn’t looking himself inside that squared circle but still pushed to stand his ground while slowly being broken down. By the 12th round the fans in attendance became alive in the building and fuelled their champion who moved in on Bell and knocked him down with a barrage of punches and a well-placed body and chin shot that gave him a standing 8 count. Still visibly in pain, Bell continued only to be dropped again by another well-placed left hand to the dome. Although Bell did not show signs of quitting the referee at hand took the opportunity to wave the fight off. Unbelievable.

I understand that Bell looked deflated but stopping the bout with 45 seconds left in the round after the man fought his heart out is suspect in my eyes.

Nevertheless, Mason listened to his cornerman and proceeded to close the show and retain his WBO World Lightweight Championship Title.

Well done, Champ!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin”

IBF World Heavyweight Title Eliminator

In last night’s Queensberry Promotions/TNT Sports Main Event, Derek Chisora (36-13, 23 Kos) kept his old train going by defeating Otto Wallin (27-3, 15 Kos) in what was billed to be the British fighter’s final showdown in the United Kingdom at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.

I didn’t know what to expect in this bout last night but the fans in attendance were not disappointed by Chisora’s labouring but entertaining performance.

41-year-old Chisora may have looked his age inside that squared circle but he brought that “WAR” ready mentality to the ring to deal with Wallin who surprisingly fought in a timid manner round by round. Chisora brought that “HEAT” with a labouring, aggressive style that was good enough to trouble Wallin who for some reason didn’t have the right “game plan” to deter the old man from having his way with him.

Although Wallin wasn’t able to deter Chisora for most of the rounds he did manage to damage and cut Chisora’s right eye which threatened the outcome of the bout. The ringside doctor had a look at it and allowed the fight to continue but that cut was a real concern throughout the remainder of the bout.

With his vision now impaired Chisora continued his aggression and finally landed a nice overhand right hand to the chin in the ninth round that stumbled Wallin down for a standing 8 count.

With the ninth round tucked in his back pocket Chisora looked rejuvenated and continued his assault in the championship rounds and was motivated by the crowd cheering him up. With his face covered in blood and the clock running out in the twelfth round Chisora looking fatigued, connected with a heavy right hand to Wallin’s dome that dropped him for the second time for another standing 8 count that ended the bout at the bell.

After 12 labouring but exciting rounds of action, the Judges at hand scored it 117-109,116-110 and 114-112 unanimously for Derek Chisora.

Chisora has been defying the odds in his last few fights as of late and for that I tip my “B” hat to the man for doing whatever it takes to get the job done.

That being said, I’m not sure what version of Chisora we’re going to see at his 50th and final bout but until then congratulations Chisora on another memorable performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Joe Joyce vs Derek Chisora”

Heavyweight Showdown

Over the past weekend a ‘WAR’ ready Derek Chisora (35-13, 23 Kos) handed “The Juggernaut’ Joe Joyce (16-3, 15 Kos) his third defeat of his career at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London.

Truth be told, this crossroads bout exceeded my expectation. Chisora showed me on Saturday night that he still had something left in him to pull it off. Chisora had absolutely no fear and stood his ground and banged toe-to-toe with the 281 pound “Juggernaut” who had the harder looking punches going for him but lacked severe hand speed at that weight.

It wasn’t a pretty fight to watch but watching Chisora hold his own and dishing it out at this age was quite entertaining. Chisora took in some heavy shots at times but his activity with his own punch output carried him over in a very tight bout.

Joe’s lack of defence cost him dearly once again as he got clipped and dropped for a quick standing 8 count in the ninth round which saw a tired Chisora still manage to maintain the momentum throughout the 10th round and finish the round strongly.

After 10 hard-hitting laboring rounds of action the Judges at hand scored it 97-92, 96-94, 96-94 all in favor of Derek Chisora.

It was a physically tough bout on both warriors but the right combatant won this bout. Chisora went through hell and back on this one but silenced the naysayers who had counted him out. Well done!

Blaze