On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol”

Undisputed Light Heavyweight Supremacy

The most intriguing matchup in the Light Heavyweight Division has officially been announced thanks to his Excellency Turki Alashikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, who took it upon himself to bankroll one of the most anticipated fights in Boxing to be made today.

Undefeated IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 Kos) is out there belt chasing looking at Undisputed in the 175-Pound Division but standing in his way with the same objective is the undefeated Super WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 Kos).

Both undefeated combatants want and need each other’s hardware to lay claim as the sole Undisputed Champion in the Light Heavyweight Division and on June 1st 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this high-level chess match will be on full display for the Boxing World to see.

Our own Russian/Canadian representative Beterbiev is a man of few words but one who does 100% of his talking inside that squared circle. His unblemished record and 100% knockout ratio speak volumes but it’s his boxing IQ that most opponents underestimate whenever they go up against him inside that squared circle. The man is a “Beast” who’s broken down every opponent when all is said and done.

That said, Bivol has proven numerous times to have the skillset needed to disarm heavy punchers from ever using their strongest assets inside that squared circle. The man is a genius that knows how to follow a good “game plan” and on fight night he will attempt to box his way to the crown.

Styles makes fights and these two highly skilled warriors have individually dominated the 175-Pound Division for quite some time now. That being said, there can only be one true ruler of this Division and the time has finally arrived, on June 1st 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and these two combatants will be putting it all on the line for a chance at Undisputed Light Heavyweight Supremacy. The crowning of a New King is inevitable.

Tune in live on DAZN/ESPN+ at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Blaze

On the Watch “It’s All About Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez”

Light Heavyweight Showdown

Tonight’s British domestic Boxxer/Sky Sports Main Event between Joshua Buatsi (18-0, 13 Kos) and British & Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Azeez (20-1, 13 Kos) was an interesting bout that had the attention of all the fans in attendance at the OVO Arena in London, England.

Both combatants came out with a very good “game plan” that had both opponents exchanging blows back and forth round-by-round while holding their respective ground inside that squared circle.

Although both combatants each had their moments inside that squared circle, Buatsi, to me had the more telling type punches with the speed and accuracy giving him the edge as the rounds were piling up.

Buatsi’s level of experience was quite evident between the two combatants. Buatsi stayed level-headed and continued with the “game plan” as instructed by his cornerman unlike Azeez who was unable to deliver the bodywork his corner was requesting of him.

Both combatants did throw nuff hard leather shots at each other in the later rounds but it was Buatsi’s power punch that eventually got through and dropped Azeez twice in the eleventh round for two quick 8 counts. Water on the floor may have played a part in the knockdowns but nevertheless both were counted in Buatsi’s favor.

That being said, both combatants finished the last round strongly going toe-to-toe and bringing the crowd in attendance to their feet. After 12 full rounds of action the Judges at hand called it 117-109, 117-109 and 116-110 unanimously for Joshua Buatsi.

It was a very good domestic bout, one that the winner can definitely build onto bigger and better things. With this win Buatsi picked up the British & Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Championship belts and secured himself a mandatory position to challenge undefeated WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 Kos) for his title.

Only time will tell if this opportunity will be granted sooner rather than later.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith”

IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Championship Showdown

Canada Stand Up! Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN + Main Event between IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 Kos) and Mandatory challenger Callum Smith (29-2, 21 Kos) at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada, definitely brought the “HEAT” to a cold front inside the stadium. Real Talk!

Much was said about our aging Champion prior to the bout but what the naysayers and Callum quickly found out from the jump is that Beterbiev was and still is a dangerous man inside that squared circle.

Beterbiev came out as the aggressor never letting Callum have any breathing room to operate. Callum talked a good game about how his power was going to be the defining factor but in all reality, Callum’s power punches had absolutely no effect on Artur.

Beterbiev physically walked through the towering Callum’s poor punch output and systematically broke the man down round by round. It was a one-sided beatdown where Callum was simply absorbing heavy punches after heavy punches.

The inevitable was nearing and by the seventh round the onslaught handed out towards Callum was simply too much to handle and he succumbed twice to the floor looking drained and beaten prompting Callum’s trainer Buddy McGirt, to stop the bout and save his fighter from further damage.

Callum, a very worthy opponent, stood his ground for as long as he could but the destructive skilled enforcer that Artur is was simply too strong and too much to handle inside that squared circle.

With this convincing win now under his belt, Beterbiev maintains his perfect undefeated record of (20-0, 20 Kos) and becomes the first one to knock out Callum Smith who had never been down as an amateur or a professional and proudly retained his IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Championship Crown.

Congratulations Champ, now onto Undisputed with undefeated WBA Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 Kos).

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde”

IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Championship Showdown

Canada stand Up! Tonight’s BT Sport/ESPN + Main Event between IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 Kos) and mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 Kos) at the OVO Arena in London England, definitely lived up to the hype! Real Talk!

This bout was a competitive battle right from the jump with both combatants feeling each other out and working on their respective game plan round by round. Both warriors looked strong and fit and ready for war. To me Beterbiev came out as the aggressor unlike what Anthony predicted prior to the build-up which was very surprising. Anthony felt he would be the one dictating how the bout would unfold but things quickly changed as the rounds progressed and he eventually felt Artur’s power.

Both combatants threw leather with intention to hurt each other by visibly marking each other with some very good shots but it was Artur who seemed to me to have the more telling effect as the rounds progressed.

The home-grown fighter Anthony stood his ground and represented his country to the fullest but clearly found himself in a dog fight as the rounds advanced. Both combatants were going blow for blow administering some serious damage but as the rounds developed it was Anthony who seemed to fade with fatigue in my eyes.

Anthony boxed beautifully but the pressure Beterbiev was moving in with was definitely breaking Anthony down slowly but effectively. By the eight round, the inevitable was on the horizon and when Beterbiev connected with two heavy, well-placed right hands to the dome and dropped Anthony, the writing was already on the wall.

Although Anthony rose to his feet after the standing eight count, he looked confused and defeated but proceeded to continue absorbing further punishment from Beterbiev which then quickly prompted Anthony’s corner to halt the bout.

There are levels to this boxing sh*t and although Beterbeiv was the elder of the two combatants it was his durability and his experience that carried him over this tough battle.

With this win Artur maintained his perfect knockout ratio along with his IBF/WBC/WBO Light Heavyweight Titles patiently waiting for the opportunity at undisputed with WBA Super Light heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 Kos).

Congratulations Artur on another destructive performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Dmitry Bivol vs Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez”

WBA Light Heavyweight Challenge

I had expectations regarding tonight’s Matchroom/DAZN Main Event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates between WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 Kos) and Mandatory Challenger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 kos) but instead witnessed a very convincing and dominating performance by Bivol.

To be clear, I wasn’t disappointed with Bivol’s performance, it was “Zurdo’s” lack of a proper “game plan” and gun-shy approach that took me by surprise. “Zurdo” is usually the seek and destroy type combatant that puts just the right amount of pressure on his opponents demoralizing them into submission but tonight that effort from “Zurdo” was missing in action. Real Talk!

Tonight “Zurdo” had met his match in the form of Bivol the fundamentally sound assassin who broke him down round by round. Bivol showed levels to his boxing skills inside that squared circle. There was absoletely nothing that Gilberto could do to deter Bivol from having his way inside that squared circle. Bivol, the visibly smaller fighter bullied and walked down the much bigger combatant with utterly no fear.

Bivol was focussed from round 1 to 12 and never wavered at any time. His range and steady combination punches kept Gilberto honest and unable to settle down with his own offensive approach.

Gilberto failed to use his height or his range properly. His regular punch output and his usual body attack was nonexistent. I expected Gilberto to bring the “Heat” tonight but instead Gilberto’s gun-shy lack of approach cost him the biggest fight of his career to date.

That said, there wasn’t much Gilberto could do, Bivol had him on lock right from the Jump. Bivol proved once again why he is one of the most complete fighters in the game today.

This bout was out of reach from time and after 12 fully completed rounds, the Judges at hand made it an easy outcome of 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111 in favor of Dmitry Bivol.

Gilberto Ramirez is a very worthy opponent for anybody in the Light Heavyweight Division but tonight Bivol made him look like a pedestrian who did not belong with him inside that squared circle.

Congratulations Dmitry on successfully defending your WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship for the 10th time.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Dmitry Bivol vs Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez”

WBA Light Heavyweight Challenge

A very intriguing matchup in the Light Heavyweight Division has officially been announced. WBA Light-Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11 Kos) has now been ordered to defend his Championship Belt against undefeated Mandatory Challenger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-0, 30 Kos) at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates on Saturday November 5, 2022.

This is a bout Ramirez has been looking forward to ever since he moved up to the Light Heavyweight Division in 2019. “Zurdo” is quite big for the Division and packs a mean punch in both hands whenever they detonate on one of his opponents. That said “Zurdo” has never faced such a cerebral opponent of the likes of Bivol with a high boxing IQ inside that squared circle. Dmitry is fresh off a win over the previous Pound-for Pound King Canelo Alvarez. On that night Dmitry showed the world and Canelo just how dominant he can be when faced with the best of the best of adversaries.

Looking at both combatants face to face, the size difference is quite noticeable. “Zurdo” looks like a full-blown Cruiserweight campaigning in the Light Heavyweight Division. Real Talk! Nevertheless, Bivol relishes his odds and can’t wait to go toe to toe with Ramirez, who also feels very confident that he has what it takes to finally dethrone the Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol. Gilberto is adamant that his physical attributes, his experience and his own boxing IQ will be enough to do the job on Bivol come Saturday night November 5, 2022, inside that squared circle at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates.

The date is set, and the talking is done. It’s time to show up and put out and see who can back it up inside that squared circle.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr.”

Light Heavyweight Unification Showdown

Last night’s intriguing Top Rank/ESPN Main Event between IBF/WBC/Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 Kos) and WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-4, 22 Kos) left the fans in attendance  with their jaws dropping by the total destruction witnessed at the hands of Beterbiev at the Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater.

I anticipated a stoppage happening throughout this bout but this total annihilation by Beterbiev took me by surprise. Artur is usually a slow starter but, on this night, he came out gunslinging with his hands of stone geared up to do some serious damage.

Joe, who is also known for his power in both hands, was caught off guard by the early aggressiveness of Beterbiev. Joe attempted to go blow for blow from the first round but felt the wrath of Beterbiev’s power late in the round when he suddenly got clipped for a quick 8 count with barely any time left but survived the round.

In the second round, Beterbiev wasted no time and went straight for the kill shot by landing straight right hands to the dome of Joe that dropped him for another quick 8 count but he bounced right back up to only get dropped seconds later by another right to the dome for another quick 8 count.


Beterbiev was in seek and destroy mode from this point on and continued to administer an onslaught of unanswered straight punches to the dome that shocked Joe so hard off balance that the referee jumped in and stopped the fight after seeing how badly hurt Joe was, wondering around spaced out inside that squared circle.

Beterbiev just took down the second hardest puncher in the Light Heavyweight Division and made it look easyyyyy. With this destructive win Artur has now snatched the WBO Belt from Joe Smith Jr. and retained his IBF/WBC and Ring Magazine Belt, leaving the WBA Super Belt held by Dmitry Bivol as the only missing piece to become Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol for Undisputed is the right fight to make but only time will tell if the possibility of this match up can ever come into fruition.

Until then, congratulations Artur on another conclusive win and getting one step closer at achieving your goal of Undisputed.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol”

WBA “Super” Light Heavyweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN PPV Main Event between Pound-for-Pound “Kingpin” Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion Canelo (57-2-2, 39 Kos) and WBA “Super” Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11 Kos) at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, was a shocking and disappointing outcome to the pro-Canelo crowd in attendance. Real Talk!

Canelo may have been reaching a little too high when he attempted to recapture a title at his second run at Light Heavyweight by choosing to pry away the “Big Fundamental” Bivol’s WBA “Super” Title. Bivol wasn’t having it and defended his title like a champion should.

Canelo was met with a warrior in Bivol who did not play by his rules but instead proceeded to being quite the challenge Canelo was looking for. Hands Down!

A lot of boxing pundits discredited Bivol and had already counted him out but I personally thought all these people were dead wrong about him. Anyone who paid attention and actually watched how Bivol dismantled all of his previous opponents would know that Dmitry’s fundamental skills are flawless. He may not be the strongest or the fastest but his efficiency inside that squared circle remains unmatched.

Team Caleno severely miscalculated their “game plan” this time around as they were unable to deter Bivol’s steady nonstop pressure aided by a stiff pistol-like jab that stayed connecting all night. Bivol’s punch output and punch combinations were on point and definitely kept Canelo frustrated throughout the bout.

Bivol was impressive and showed absolutely no fear inside that squared circle, unlike some of Caleno’s past opponents who crumbled under the bright lights and the big stage.

Bivol silenced the pro-Caleno crowd who were privy enough to witness this masterclass performance unfolding right before their eyes. After 12 full rounds of action all three Judges scored it 115-113 in favor of Dmitry Bivol.

I’m a big fan of Caleno win or lose but this score card does not reflect what transpired inside that squared circle. This score card is way too close to my liking. Bivol owned this bout from start to finish in my eyes hands down! Let’s give the man the respect he is due. Bivol just took down the Pound-for-Pound “Kingpin” on the biggest night of his career and retained his WBA “Super” Light Heavyweight Title in the process.

This outcome is nothing that Caleno can’t bounce back from. Maybe an immediate rematch to redeem himself will be in the works but until then congratulations Dmitry this was an incredible win that will last the test of time. Job well done.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Marcus Browne”

IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight Championship Challenge

Last night’s GYM Promotion/Top Rank Main Event between IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 Kos) and Marcus Browne (24-2, 16 Kos) at the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada was the only bout on a horrendous card that made any sense. Real Talk!

No disrespect but whoever put this card together did a horrible job. None of these matchups on the card were competitive, that is until the Main Event.

The tough and durable Artur Beterbiev suffered an early cut in the fourth round when an accidental clash of heads cut him and Marcus up but saw Artur suffer the worst of it. Blood was gushing nonstop from Artur’s forehead blinding him at times, but it did not deter him from proceeding with the task at hand.

Marcus, who had a very good “game plan” kept poking in and out with a good jab and constantly moving, frustrating Artur. It was the type of “game plan” that required 100 % of your concentration and stamina to maintain throughout the night.

That being said, Artur kept his composure and continued to administer enough pressure with his heavy punches coming from all angles to slowly wear Marcus down round after round. Once Marcus felt the thumping power of Artur’s punches the original “game plan” went out the window.

Artur’s head to body attack eventually dropped Marcus in the seventh round for a quick 8 count but judging from the body language Marcus was displaying, the inevitable was near and by the ninth round a series of unanswered body shots dropped Marcus again. This time Marcus did not respond to the count forcing the referee to stop the bout.

At first glance Marcus showed he could hang with Artur but as the rounds progressed and the action picked up, it became quite clear that Artur was simply too strong of a resilient opponent for Marcus to overcome inside that squared circle. Bloodied and all, nothing was going to dissuade this man from walking out the Champion.

With this convincing win, Artur retained his IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight Championship belts and the No. 1 Spot in the 175-Pound Division.

Dethroning this man from his position will not be easy but I am looking forward to see who will attempt to try.

Until then congratulations Artur on another conclusive win.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Gilberto Ramirez vs Sullivan Barrera”

Light Heavyweight Showdown

Last night’s Golden Boy/DAZN Main Event between Gilberto Ramirez (42-0, 28 Kos) and Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 Kos) at the Banc of California Stadium, in Los Angeles, California, was nothing more than some light sparring work for the one they call “Zurdo”. Real Talk!

I was expecting some serious leather to be thrown back and forth from these two combatants considering Barrera was a strong durable opponent who usually poses a threat when inside that squared circle but, what I actually witnessed was a quick one-sided thrashing coming from the hands of Ramirez.

Ramirez’s “game plan” was straight and simple to follow and didn’t take time to assess as he found the holes in Barrera’s defense and made him pay dearly with some serious body shots that dropped Barrera three times, including twice in the fourth round which then prompted the referee to stop the bout. Unbelievable.

I’ve watch many of Barrera’s bouts to date and never seen the man succumb to submission as easily as that. Gilberto Ramirez is a serious problem inside that squared circle. In only his third bout at the 175-Pound Division, Ramirez has definitely put the Champions on notice and directly called out WBA Super Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (18-0, 11 Kos).

Now if Dmitry answers that call and accepts the challenge, them two inside that squared circle would unquestionably be a very intriguing matchup.

Let’s see if this bout can be made but, until then congratulations “Zurdo” on your latest win.

Blaze