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 Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia”

Junior Welterweight Showdown

The promotional build up to this bout was quite awkward but last night’s Golden Boy/DAZN Main Event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, between WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Devin Haney (31-1, 15 Kos) and Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 Kos) definitely surpassed my expectations. Real Talk!

Ryan the underdog came out the gate with some serious aggression and rocked Devin with a serious left hook that dictated what was to come. Ryan’s power was quite evident but Devin regrouped and started using his boxing to survive the round.

As the rounds progressed Devin continued to box as expected while Ryan remained calm, waiting for the counterpunch to present itself. Both combatants showed no fear but the power punches were coming from Ryan whenever he let his hands go.

You could see Devin getting into his comfort zone inside that squared circle as the rounds were advancing but Ryan’s confidence never wavered, looking like an animal stalking his prey.

By the 7th round Devin fell asleep at the wheel and got caught with a mean left hook that dropped him, giving him his first standing 8 count in the professional ranks. Ryan had Devin on full survival mode clinching on Ryan for dear life.

The action picked up in the proceeding rounds with both combatants going back and forth but Ryan’s power punches and speed was clearly becoming a factor.

Devin’s defense wasn’t looking as tight as usual because Ryan’s left hand was “Money” and cashed in heavily once again knocking Devin down in the 10th round and the 11th round whenever he landed. Ryan’s equalizer secured the bout for me on this night. Devin could not stand up to Ryan’s power but truth be told he didn’t stay down. Real Talk!

After 12 completed action packed rounds, the Judges at hand called it 115-109, 114-110 and 112-112, giving the majority decision to “KingRy”. The Judge who scored it 112-112 is straight out of pocket for that score card but the right man definitely won this bout. Hands Down!

Due to the fact that Ryan missed the 140-Pound weight limit by 3.2 pounds, Devin remains the WBC Junior Welterweight Champion in defeat.

Belt or no Belt, Garcia proved the naysayers wrong and shocked the Boxing World last night by picking up his biggest win in his professional career to date.

Well done, Ryan, you definitely impressed me with this one!

Blaze

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 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 Tim Tszyu vs Sebastian Fundora”

WBO/WBC Junior Middleweight Showdown

Last night’s PBC/Prime Video Main Event at the T-Mobile Arena between WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 Kos) and late replacement challenger 6 foot 5 ½ “The Towering Inferno” Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 Kos) brought one of the bloodiest showdowns inside that squared circle.

It was an intriguing bout that didn’t take much time to unfold into a bloodbath of a war after Fundora broke his nose early in the bout and then an accidental elbow cut Tszyu to the left side of his forehead in the second round and completely changed the flow of the bout.

With both combatants bleeding nonstop one from his nose the other from his head, things got really interesting on just how determined both warriors reacted to the unforeseen challenges unfolding inside that squared circle.

There was no quitting in both combatants at any time but the nonstop blood flow was visibly an issue that hindered both combatants. Tszyu who started out very well at the beginning of the bout seemed to be bothered the most with the blood going into his eyes and hindering his vision from properly executing the “game plan” at hand.

That said, I was most impressed with Fundora who looked focused and on point utilizing his height and reach the way a 6 foot 5 ½ fighter shood. Fundora boxed well and used his length and jab well making it even harder on Tszyu who tried to bully him on the inside.

Fundora surprisingly stayed disciplined throughout the bout weathering the storm of the bloodbath round by round. It was a tougher assignment then expected for both combatants but one that both accepted with open arms delivering a very entertaining show.

After 12 competitive rounds of actions the Judges at hand scored it 116-112 for Tszyu and 113-115, 112-116 for Fundora giving him the split decision making him the New Unified WBO/WBC Junior Middleweight Champion of the World.

This win here has just entered Sebastian and his sister Gabriela into the history books as the first brother and sister duo to hold Championship Titles concurrently.

You’ve bounced back from a devastating loss to now being at the head of 154-Pound Division. Well done, Champ.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Rolando Romero vs Isaac Cruz”

WBA Light Welterweight Showdown

A new Champion emerged last night when Rolando Romero (15-2, 13 Kos) defended his WBA Light Welterweight Championship against the always ready “Pitbull” Isaac Cruz (26-2-1, 18 Kos) but got dominated from start to finish at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Real Talk!

Prior to the bout Rolly did a lot of talking trying to bully and talk down on Isaac but he did very little inside that squared circle to back any of it up. It was quite evident from the first bell that Isaac was in seek and destroy mode from the jump. The stalking tactics from Isaac were on full display and had the bigger man in Rolly surprisingly on his bike trying to stay away from the hungry “Pitbull” trying to catch his prey.


Whenever Rolly did try to stand his ground going toe-to-toe and exchanging shots, he showed absolutely no power in his punches which was very shocking. The nonstop pressure that Cruz was coming at him with was too much for him and was visibly breaking him down round by round.

That being said, Rolly had nothing in his arsenal to deter “Pitbull” from having his way with him inside that squared circle. Cruz’s power and relentlessness with his ambition to crush the opposition was all that he needed to put Rolly away. By the eight round the referee at hand had seen enough one-sided damage being administered towards Rolly that he opted to stop the bout. Rightfully so.

With this emphatic win now under his belt Isaac becomes the New WBA Light Welterweight Champion of the World.

Well done, Champ! Mexico stand Up!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Seniesa Estrada vs Yokasta Valle”

Minimumweight Unification Showdown

At Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN + Co Main Event between undefeated WBA/WBC/Ring Magazine Minimumweight Champion Seniesa Estrada (26-0, 9 Kos) and IBF/WBO Minimumweight Champion Yokasta Valle (30-3, 9 Kos), we witnessed the crowning of the first Undisputed Minimumweight Champion in women’s Boxing at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

This bout delivered a perfect ending to their well-publicised grudge match that definitely needed to be put to bed once and for all. Both combatants came out the gate aggressively trying to determine who will dictate the tempo of the bout but as the rounds progressed it was Estrada’s switch-hitting style that was causing Valle an issue.

Both combatants worked their respective “game plan” and stood their ground inside that squared circle handing out some serious leather back and forth. But it was Estrada’s boxing and precision punches from long range that gave her the edge round by round.

Valle fought a good one and made it quite competitive in the later rounds but after 10 rounds of action, all three Judges at hand scored it unanimously 97-93 in favor of Seniesa Estrada, the New Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Minimumweight Champion of the World!

This is a well-deserved achievement to be added to your ever-growing career and proof that dreams do come true when you work hard with dedication at making them a reality.

Congratulations Seniesa. Well done! You truly are an inspiration.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia”

Undisputed Super Middleweight Cinco de Mayo Showdown

It has now officially been announced: the “Kingpin” Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 Kos) recently had a change of heart and will now be defending his Crown on Cinco de Mayo weekend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, May 4, 2024, against his countryman, unbeaten former World Champion Jaime Munguia (43-0, 34 Kos).

Munguia is a young, hungry, worthy combatant who will bring the absolute “HEAT” to Canelo inside that squared circle. This kid is strong and relentless when push comes to shove and he will not give up without a fight. This bout has the potential to be a real action-pact type of an event for the simple reason that Munguia has the punch resistance and the right amount of punch output to hang toe-to-toe with the “Kingpin” inside that squared circle. Real Talk!

That being said, the experience at this level belongs to Canelo. This battle-tested version of Canelo is a serious problem to any opponent attempting to dethrone him on the biggest stage. It’s a different ball game when you step inside that squared circle opposite the “Kingpin”.

Both combatants have respectable power and will be exchanging leather back and forth between them, but truth be told, I see it coming down to their individual skill sets and the right “game plan” on fight night.

It will be interesting to see how the young lion asserts himself on the biggest night of his career against boxing’s biggest star ‘Kingpin” Canelo Alvarez. Who will prevail as Mexico’s No. 1 Champion on Cinco de Mayo?

Tune in Saturday night May 4, 2024, on PBC Pay-Per-View/Prime Video/DAZN/PPV.com at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and witness the outcome of this historical night.

Who you got?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou”

Heavyweight Showdown

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN/Queensberry Promotions Main Event between former Two-Time Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 Kos) and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou (0-2) surpassed expectation by creating a type of crime scene scenario that brought the house down at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It was a very intriguing matchup that had every fight fan’s attention on edge but the highly motivated “Predator” in Francis, the immovable force had finally met a man superior than him inside that squared circle.

Ngannou and his team overplayed their hand and did not prepare for this type of force from AJ to be this strong on fight night. Ngannou’s overconfidence cost him dearly but the performance that Anthony brought inside that squared circle is exactly what was needed to be done to save boxing from any further embarrassment.

The former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou had envisioned himself knocking AJ out and to taking over the Heavyweight Division by storm from that point on but what transpired was the complete opposite. The laser focused AJ put the entire Heavyweight Division on his back and put the nonsense talk to bed by emphatically dropping “The Predator” three times on the night with the same vicious right hand that eventually put his lights out for good in the second round forcing the referee to officially wave the bout off.

Anthony walked it like he talked it and executed the “game plan” to a “T” and silenced all the naysayers out there who doubted the fact that he could pull this off in such a convincing fashion. Nobody in the MMA world has ever manhandled Ngannou this way prior to this beating but that being said, the respect was rightfully earned when Francis came back to his senses.

This version of Joshua under the leadership of Ben Davison is a dangerous man inside that squared circle and I can’t wait to see who his next target will be.

Until then, congratulations Anthony on another great performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Zhilei Zhang vs Joseph Parker”

WBO Interim Heavyweight Challenge

Last night’s Matchroom/DAZN/Queensberry Promotions Co-Main Event Between WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 Kos) and challenger Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 Kos) once again shook the Heavyweight Division up with an unpredicted outcome of this bout at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Zhang, fresh off two back-to-back dominant knockout performances over the “Juggernaut” Joe Joyce, had been feeling himself too much and did not approach his latest challenge the right way. Zhang, who anticipated to dispatch of Parker with ease, found out that this combatant was as resilient as they come.

This version of “Big Bang” on the night heavily relied on his power to take over and proceeded to do the job by dropping Joseph for a quick standing 8 count in the second round and once again in the eighth round but the resistance Parker fought with made things a lot harder than expected. Parker stood his ground and picked himself off the floor to win rounds by simply being active with his hands – unlike Zhang who barely let his hands go as the rounds progressed.

It was uncharacteristic of Zhang to not go for the kill or to not be active with his hands. Parker took full advantage of the situation and boxed and pressed the action in a very convincing way by clearly out landing Zhang in the championship rounds.

After 12 completed rounds, the Judges at hand called it 113-113, 114-112 and 115-111 in favor of Joseph Parker.

Zhang dropped the ball on this one and only has himself to blame for the outcome while Joseph can continue his “Cinderella story” by becoming a full fledged Heavyweight Champion again after picking up the WBO Interim Heavyweight Title from the “Big Bang” Zhang.

A rematch is already in play for the two combatants to meet again but until then, well done Champ!

Blaze