On The Watch “It’s All About David Benavidez vs Caleb Plant”

WBC Interim Super Middleweight Challenge

Last night’s Showtime/PBC Pay-Per-View Main Event between WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion David Benavidez (27-0, 23 Kos) and Caleb Plant (22-2, 13 Kos) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was definitely a bout that lived up to the hype. Real Talk!

This bout was a strategic affair that unfolded with both combatants working in their respective “game plan” right from the jump. The boxer Caleb vs the puncher in David.

Both combatants stepped their game up on the night. Caleb, who insisted on a bigger ring, utilized every inch of it by boxing beautifully in the first half of the bout. His movement and speed made it more difficult for David to pin him down and assert himself offensively but throughout the early rounds of this bout you could see the pressure Benavidez was applying would eventually hit the mark.

Benavidez is a patient warrior who clearly believes in his ability to cut off the ring on any tough opponent who thinks they can continuously avoid the inevitable onslaught that he brings inside that squared circle.

David is a hunter inside that squared circle and his opponent his prey. By the 8th round his prey was visibly tiring and losing steam as the round progressed. That being said, Benavidez’s heavy punches were finding their mark at a higher clip and noticeably affecting Plant who tried his best to withstand the onslaught.

With Plant progressively weakening in the later rounds and continuously looking hurt after every hard shot, Caleb surprisingly refused to succumb to the assault and continued to fight back all the way to the final bell of the 12th round.

That being said, I tip my “B” to Caleb’s resiliency inside that squared circle. Although David had clearly taken over the second half of the bout in a dominant fashion, Caleb willed himself in a tough battle and finished on his feet when the beatdown was visibly at his doorstep. Dude is a lot tougher than he looks, hands down!

After 12 full exciting rounds of nonstop action, the Judges at hand scored it 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111 unanimously for David Benavidez.

Although “The Mexican Monster” did not close the show in his traditional knockout fashion, he dominated a tougher than expected top Super Middleweight combatant and still retained his WBC Interim Super Middleweight Title, keeping that door open to a possible showdown in the near future with the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 Kos).

Until then, congratulations David on another great and dominant performance.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia”

Legacy Clash

The youngins are coming. This highly anticipated matchup is finally here. Two of the best in the World of Boxing in three Division World Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (28-0, 26 Kos) and Ryan “King Ryan” Garcia (23-0, 19 Kos) have officially agreed to meet at a catchweight of 136 pounds on Saturday April 22, 2023, on Showtime PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

From enjoying both press conferences from New York to LA, it’s clear them two warriors are both ready for that smoke. Real Talk! There’s been a lot of tough talk from both sides and predictions of a guaranteed knockout by both combatants. There are no belts on the line but their undefeated records and the possibility of claiming the Face of Boxing.

The heat is definitely brewing whenever them two are in the same vicinity of one another. Ryan is feeling himself and projecting some serious confidence at the task at hand while Gervonta has yet to show anything different other than his usual never bothered persona.

Both combatants clearly carry some serious ammunition in their hands, but it might take more than power to get the job done on that night. Both respective corners will have to produce a serious “game plan” to offset the opposition. Ryan, being the much bigger and longer opponent, possesses a considerable advantage, but “Tank” has always been at a disadvantage in the past, but his boxing IQ and boxing skills have always been the original equalizer aside from his high ko percentage bailing him out.

Gervonta’s small stature compared to Ryan’s is a hot topic that can’t go unnoticed but skill for skill, Gervonta has the goods to get the job done regardless of the obstacle ahead and is more proven at this point in his career. It will be up to “King Ryan” to fulfill his destiny of knocking “Tank” off the food chain when push comes to shove when the two combatants meet on Saturday night April 22, 2023, on Showtime PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Regardless of the outcome I expect nothing but fireworks come fight night. Hands Down!

Who you got?

Blaze

On the Watch “It’s All About Andy Ruiz Jr. vs Luis Ortiz”

WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator

Last night’s PBC/Fox PPV Main Event between former Unified Heavyweight Champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 Kos) and Luis Ortiz (33-3 28 Kos) at the Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California, was an interesting bout that saw “King Kong” be at the receiving end of three knockdowns during the 12-round contest. Unbelievable.

I’m not sure if Ortiz underestimated Ruiz inside that squared circle but after seeing the canvas twice in round two, Ortiz awoke and realized quickly that Andy was coming for him by all means necessary. It took Ortiz some time but he eventually gathered himself and adjusted his “game plan” by working his jab while boxing and moving around making Andy rethink his approach.

That said this version of Andy last night was patient, less active with his hands but more calculative with his approach making sure when he pressed the action, his presence was felt with every punch landed. Ruiz’s hand speed and counter punching was the key to his success.

Both combatants fought with caution and at a slower pace than expected at times but both still had signs of success whenever they did connect blows back and forth. That being said, Andy’s counter punching speed and power was quite evident when he once again dropped Ortiz in round seven for a quick 8 count, but Ortiz bounced backed up and completed the tough round.

Ortiz regrouped and managed to build up some momentum throughout the later rounds with an effective jab keeping Ruiz at bay but he lacked that extra bounce in the back of his jab to put Ruiz down whenever the opportunity presented itself.

After 12 full rounds of action the Judges scored it 115-110, 114-111, 113-112 unanimously in favor of Andy Ruiz Jr.

Although Ruiz managed to drop Ortiz multiple times throughout the bout, this was by far one of his toughest battles to date. With this WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator win under his belt Andy creeps closer to an official WBC World Championship opportunity down the road.

Congratulations Andy on your latest win.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Danny Garcia vs Jose Benavidez Jr.”

Super Welterweight Showdown

Last night’s Showtime/PBC Main Event between Danny Garcia (37-3, 21 Kos) and Jose Benavidez Jr. (27-2-1, 18 Kos) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was a perfect performance to introduce Danny to the Super Welterweight Division. Real Talk!

Danny looked completely different from the man who last fought and lost to Errol Spence Jr. back in December 2020. This version of Danny last night was alert, strong, very active and focussed throughout the entire bout. Danny handled Jose with ease at this new weight division and fought a perfect bout at a clinical level that let you know that he’s still got plenty left in the tank to go.

Danny looked on point the entire night, rejuvenated with motivation to prove the naysayers wrong about moving up in weight. Jose tried to put up a fight but had no answers to Danny who was boxing circles around him round by round. To be honest Jose’s “game plan” or lack of was way off. Jose fought with no urgency the entire bout and got outworked by Danny who was very active with his punch selection all night.

After 12 full rounds of action, the Judges’ scores were 114-114, 116-112 and 117-111 in favor of Danny Garcia who secured his first win in the Super Welterweight Division.

Now the Judge who saw this bout as a draw he needs to rewatch the bout over again because truth be told this fight was a clinical performance by Danny from round 1 to round 12 hands down.

I don’t personally think Danny will run through the top “dogs” in the 154-Pound Division with ease like this but he can definitely make his presence felt.

Until your next outing, congratulations on your win Danny.

Blaze

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

WBC Interim Super Middleweight Challenge

Last night’s PBC/Showtime Main Event was a showcase type of event when undefeated David Benavidez (26-0, 23 Kos) completely annihilated our own Canadian star David Lemieux (43-5, 36 Kos) by stoppage at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The outcome of this bout was already written the day David signed up for this bout. No disrespect to David but our Canadian representative was a mismatch from the jump.

David talked a good game and fought with the heart and will of a warrior but was simply met with a combatant who was too strong and too big for him to deter inside that squared circle. Don’t get me wrong, David has taken on plenty of bigger guys throughout his career but none were ever this ferocious as Benavidez was on that night.

Benavidez toyed with David from round one with a series of heavy punches being handed towards David with absolutely no answer and came close to being stopped in the first round if it wasn’t for the bell saving David from being laid out. The second round was a continuation of round one where David attempted to defend himself but couldn’t get by Benavidez’s busy hands and nonstop onslaught coming at him from all corners – from the body to the head and through the ropes and onto the floor for a quick eight count.

The inevitable was apparent. Benavidez was breaking Lemieux down easier than expected and by the third round, David was simply in survivor mode fighting off adrenaline, absorbing uppercuts, body shots and straight head shots bouncing off the ropes with utterly no sense of defence which then prompted Lemieux’s corner to stop the bout.

This one-sided beatdown handed down by Benavidez reaffirmed his position in the Super Middleweight Division. With this win Benavidez picked up the WBC Interim Super Middleweight Belt, bringing him one step closer to challenging the Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 Kos).

This is a bout that needs to happen. David Benavidez can no longer be avoided. Canelo needs to answer this challenge to silence the cynics who think he is afraid of the possible obstacle ahead in the form of David Benavidez.

Until then, congratulations Benavidez on your latest convincing victory.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano II”

Junior Middleweight Unification Championship Showdown

Last night’s PBC/Showtime Main Event Junior Middleweight Unification Championship Rematch bout between Unified WBC/WBA Super/IBF and Ring Magazine Champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 Kos) and WBO Champion Brian Castano (17-1-2, 12 Kos) at the Dignity Sports Park, Carson, California was definitely a bout to remember as we finally witnessed the crowning of the first Undisputed Junior Middleweight Champion since the four-belt era.

This time around both combatants came out the gate with a different approach. Castano’s punch output was visibly less while Charlo stepped up his boxing and moving being more aggressive from the jump.

Charlo’s jab was very effective and definitely gave Castano a harder time at getting on the inside but that being said, both combatants had their moments making this bout quite exciting as the rounds progressed with both warriors dropping some heavy bombs on one another up close and personal.

With the rounds heating up, it was Charlo who walked it like he talked it and made sure to keep the Judges out of the equation this time around when he viciously dropped Castano heavily in the tenth round twice as Castano resisted to get to his feet a second time visibly still hurt from the knockdowns which then prompted the referee to stop the electrifying bout.

It was an action-packed event that saw Jermell defend his WBC/WBA Super/IBF and Ring Magazine Championships and seize the WBO Belt from Brian to now becoming the first Undisputed Junior Middleweight Champion of the World since the four-belt era.

With this convincing win and major achievement in your career to date, you are now part of one of the most prestigious clubs in Boxing and join the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Oleksandr Usyk, Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Josh Taylor and Terence Crawford to become Undisputed Champions in the four-belt era.

Congratulations Jermell, you cleaned out the 154-Pound Division and now reign supreme. You earned that one the hard way. Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Errol Spence Jr. vs Yordenis Ugas”

WBA/WBC/IBF Welterweight Unified Champion

Last night’s Showtime PPV Main Event between WBC/IBF Welterweight Champion Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 Kos) and WBA “Super” Welterweight Champion Yordenis Ugas (27-5, 12 Kos) at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, was simply an excellent display of how great Errol can be when dialed in inside that squared circle. Real Talk!

Both combatants showed up in tip top shape ready to go to war with one another but it was Errol who hadn’t fought in over 16 months, and had to recover from retina surgery to be back healthy for this bout he had the look and the aura of a man who wasn’t going to be deterred by no means, regardless of the opponent inside that squared circle.

Errol let his hands go early and did not stop pounding his opponent right from the jump. Both combatants surprisingly fought from the “phone booth” style not giving each other an inch but it was Spence who was getting most out of that tactic due to the higher volumes of punches being thrown with power.

I was surprised by Ugas’ “game plan” or lack of considering going toe to toe with Errol requires you to dish out a punch output to at least deter him from coming forward. Ugas gave back but was looking more at placing his punches rather than keeping up with Spence. Allowing Spence to have his way helps him build his confidence and encourages him to keep applying nonstop pressure with no real fear of anything coming at him.

Ugas had some moments inside that squared circle and even caught Spence slipping in the 6th round with a couple of heavy shots that caught Spence’s attention and visibly hurt him, but Ugas didn’t capitalize on that momentum and once Spence shook it off, he went back into “beast mode” throwing heavy punches looking for that get back.

As the rounds progressed Ugas’ right eye was swollen shut from the pounding, he was receiving from Spence who by then was breaking his opponent down round by round. The inevitable was near.

By the tenth round Ugas became a punching bag, absorbing punishment after punishment coming from all angles prompting the referee to send Yordenis to the ringside Doctor who than decided Ugas could no longer continue seeing out the right eye. Errol won by technical knockout and became the New Unified WBA “Super”/WBC/IBF Welterweight Champion of the World. Well done.

Errol Spence Jr. is “The Truth” hands down inside that squared circle. This performance by Spence last night proved once and for all that your Boy is back 100% from all previous setbacks. The only thing next to do is to challenge WBO Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (38-0, 29 Kos). Two undefeated Champions laying it all on the line for Undisputed.

Who you got?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Erickson Lubin vs Sebastian Fundora”

WBC Interim Super Welterweight Title

Last night’s Showtime Main Event between Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin (24-2, 17 Kos) and Sebastian “Towering Inferno” Fundora (19-0-1, 13 Kos) was nonstop action from start to finish at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Them two combatants came to fight last night and definitely put on an exciting performance worthy of fight of the year in my eyes. The 6’5 ½ “Towering Inferno” gave “The Hammer” an early introduction to the canvas in round two when he connected with a vicious well-placed uppercut that dropped him for a quick 8 count setting the pace for the remainder of the bout.

As tall and rangy as Sebastian was inside that squared circle the majority of the bout was fought more or less in the “phone booth” style with Lubin landing some serious power shots but receiving double the output from Sebastian. That Kid Fundora stays busy with his hands round after round landing uppercut after uppercut straight from the inside.

That said, Lubin stayed competitive trying to figure out how to keep Fundora from walking him down. Lubin had himself some good work at times banging some good shots at the “Towering Inferno”, outworking him in spurts and eventually forcing Fundora to take a knee in a round that Sebastian was actually winning until he got blitzed with a series of punches catching him off guard in the seventh round

After shaking off the knockdown Sebastian continued hammering “The Hammer” straight to the face which was slowly transforming him to an unrecognizable man as the rounds progressed. Lubin showed heart inside that squared circle but was visibly absorbing too many damaging blows, increasing the swelling around his eyes and face.

At the conclusion of the ninth round Erickson’s head trainer had seen enough and pulled his fighter out when he instructed the referee to stop this electrifying compelling bout.

With this stoppage win Sebastian now picks up the WBC Interim Super Welterweight Title placing him as the mandatory challenger for the Unification bout between WBC/WBA Super/IBF and Ring Magazine Champion Jermell Charlo (34-1-1, 18 Kos) and WBO Champion Brian Castano (17-0-2, 12 Kos) rematch on Saturday May 14, 2022 from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California to crown the first Super Welterweight Undisputed Champion of the World.

With this competitive bout now on his resume, Sebastian will be well prepared for what is to come when facing the future Undisputed Super Welterweight Champion on his next outing.

Until then congratulations Sebastian on your astounding win.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Errol Spence Jr. vs Yordenis Ugas”


WBA/WBC/IBF Welterweight Title Unification Championship

It has now officially been announced that WBC/IBF Welterweight Champion Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 Kos) will be going into a Unification bout with WBA “Super” Welterweight Champion Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 Kos) April 16, 2022 at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

Errol, who has been sidelined by an eye injury, hasn’t graced the squared circle since December 2020 when he last conquered Danny Garcia, is now ready and able and itching to return to once again continue his quest on becoming Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World.

In order to attain that quest Errol will have to pry the WBA “Super” World Title from a highly motivated combatant Yordenis who last defended the prized belt by convincingly defeating the legend Manny Pacquiao (62-9-2, 38 Kos) as a replacement on 10 days’ notice.

While many peeps in the boxing community believe that Errol will have an easy night ahead of the bout, I personally anticipate this bout will be quite competitive. Real Talk! Peeps shouldn’t sleep on Ugas, this Kat is an exceptional boxer with a very high Boxing IQ when focussed and highly motivated, and having beaten a legend in Pacquiao to now gracing the ring with a Pound-for-Pound Champion like Errol, that alone will definitely bring that warrior mentality needed to maybe upsetting the odds against him.

I’m quite intrigued by this bout and can’t wait to see the outcome when both combatants will be putting their Championship Belts up for this highly anticipated Unification bout that will bring the Champion one step closer to Undisputed April 16, 2022 at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Chris Colbert vs Hector Luis Garcia”

WBA Super Featherweight Title Eliminator

Last night’s Showtime/PBC/TGB Promotions Main Event between highly favourite and undefeated Chris Colbert (16-1, 6 Kos) and undefeated Hector Luis Garcia (15-0, 10 Kos, 3 NC)
brought quite the show to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hector Luis Garcia who came in as a late replacement due to the original opponent WBA Super Featherweight Champion Roger Gutierrez forced to withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19, stepped up to the plate and embraced this opportunity with open arms and the right “game plan” at hand.

Hector came out the gate with aggressive but controlled pressure, landing some heavy gloves from head to body that clearly caught Chris off guard right from the jump. Hector boxed with a sense of confidence round after round showing absolutely no fear to his opponent. As a late replacement, Hector looked quite prepared for everything Chris had to offer inside that squared circle.


That said, it was clear to me as the rounds progressed that Chris noticeably underestimated his opponent and although he talked a good game prior to the bout, his performance last night lacked that quick twitch and high-rated type action that Colbert is known for.

Chris’ usual tight defence was a no-show last night by the way he was getting touched up and due to him being overzealous at times, Chris succumbed to his fist knockdown by a clean left hand that landed flush on his chin, down for a quick 8 count.

Chris was outgunned and overmatched by Hector who simply outworked the No. 1 ranked WBA Super Featherweight on his biggest night of his career to date.

After 12 full completed rounds, the Judges scored it 118-109, 118-109 and 119-108 all in favor of Hector Luis Garcia.

Congratulations on your latest and highly convincing win Hector, you have now earned the right to challenge WBA Super Featherweight Champion Roger Gutierrez (23-3, 20 Kos).

Can’t wait to see the outcome of that particular bout.

Blaze