On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Oleksandr Gvozdyk”

IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight Unification

Last night’s Light Heavyweight Unification bout between undefeated IBF Champion Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 Kos) and previously undefeated WBC Champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-1, 14 Kos) at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, did not disappoint us.

It was clear from the “jump” that Gvozdyk’s “game plan” was to jab stick and move at all times and not get caught in a standstill unless he saw an opening to do so but, as the rounds wore on, I noticed some early fatigue coming from Gvozdyk due to Artur’s relentless pressure. Gvozdyk boxed well and made it harder for Beterbiev to work his “game plan” but truth be told, whenever Beterbiev connected with any leather he damn made sure it counted. Real Talk!

Beterbiev’s power was on full display last night. Artur looked focussed and fresher throughout the rounds and determined to administer pain to his opponent. Artur’s inside fighting was visibly breaking Gvozdyk down. Although Oleksandr tried his hardest to hang on in the later rounds, it was noticeably clear that fatigue had settled in by the 10th round when Artur started walking Gvozdyk down to eventually dropping him down three times in the round prompting the referee to stop the unanswered onslaught.

With this convincing win Artur is now the Unified IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the world and still maintains his status as the only current Champion with a 100% Ko percentage.

Beterbiev has once again put the Light Heavyweight Division on notice. It’s going to be hard to beat this man inside that squared circle but until your next challenge, congratulations are in order Artur and thank you for bringing home the WBC Championship Belt back to Canada.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Artur Beterbiev vs Oleksandr Gvozdyk”

IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight Unification

Top Rank is raising up the stakes in the Light Heavyweight Division by setting up a possible fight of the year 2019 by pitting undefeated IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev (14-0, 14 Kos) against undefeated WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-0 14 Kos) for a Unification bout on Friday night October 18, 2019 on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.

I’m personally looking forward to this bout and anticipating it to be very competitive. These are two well-schooled Undefeated Champions who are both looking at one day, being crowned the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the Division.

Styles make fights, with Beterbiev being the heavier fisted come forward type boxer and Gvozdyk being the taller rangier specialist also with power, predicting the outcome of this bout is no easy task. Both combatants will need to perform their respected “game plan” and assert themselves early come fight night.

Both warriors have heart and a determination to succeed with a very strong will to win. That being said, whichever’s “ring generalship” gets established first in my eyes may have the upper hand at dictating the pace inside that squared circle.

Beterbiev’s strong and aggressive inside fighting along with his heavy hands have proven to be a key factor for his 100% knockout ratio. It will be quite intriguing to see if and how Gvozdyk will be able to neutralize Beterbiev’s strong assets.

Skill for skill both combatants match up pretty evenly, but there can only be one crowned Unified Champion on that night, so tune in Friday night October 18, 2019 on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia and witness two of the top Light Heavyweight in the Division go blow for blow.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Adonis Stevenson vs Oleksandr Gvozdyk”

WBC Light Heavyweight Championship

Tonight, at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, our own Canadian and longest-reigning Lineal WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (29-2-1, 24 Kos) lost his WBC Title by a devastating knockout in the 11th round to Oleksandr Gvozdyk (16-0, 13 Kos).

Adonis was holding his own out there and winning on two Judges cards but Gvozdyk’s constant but strategic movement was a major key to offsetting Adonis’ offence.

To me, Adonis looked tired early and it showed round by round. He was nailing Gvozdyk with some heavy shots but was unable to put him away. Gvozdyk’s corner came up with a great game plan that he executed perfectly. Gvozdyk was patient and smart enough to last the needed rounds to administer a demoralizing combination knockout that ended Adonis’ reign at the top.

It was a good performance by Gvozdyk. He saw a tired looking Adonis fading in the championship rounds and took advantage of the situation as a challenger should.

Congratulations to the New WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk, it’s a win well deserved.

Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Adonis Stevenson vs Badou Jack”

WBC Light Heavyweight Championship

Last night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the lucky fans in attendance witnessed a war between Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (29-1-1, 24 Kos) and Badou Jack “The Ripper” (22-1-3, 13 Kos) inside that squared circle. Real Talk!

Throughout a heavy, action-packed, punishing and entertaining bout, our Canadian Champion Adonis retained his WBC Light Heavyweight Belt with the three Judges scoring it a majority draw.

Listen, I gotta tip my “B” hat to Badou Jack for going 12 hard-hitting rounds with the Champ. Real Talk! Badou is a serious threat to anybody inside that squared circle in the Light Heavyweight Division. It’s not just anyone who can walk into that ring and bang with Adonis and although last night was a draw, he gained more fans and respect from this battle. Real Talk!

That being said, I also gotta tip my “B” hat to the Champ for being able to go hard at war with a tough challenger. This Dude is 40-years old and as yet to be dethroned inside that squared circle. He wasn’t able to lay down that powerful dirty deadly left punch knockout but he did administer some heavy lethal body shots to slow down “The Ripper”, just enough to secure that draw in the Judges’ eyes.

Truth be told, both combatants saw themselves as winners last night, hands down. It was definitely a back and forth affair inside that squared circle.
I personally enjoyed the bout and have no complaints on the result but I would definitely petition for a rematch of the two sooner rather than later.

Until then, congratulation to both warriors for giving us fans a hell of a clash.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Adonis Stevenson vs Badou Jack”

WBC Light heavyweight Championship

Finally, it has officially been announced. One of the most intriguing match ups in the Light Heavyweight Division between Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (29-1, 24 Kos) and Badou Jack “The Ripper” (22-1,2, 13 Kos) is set to take place Saturday night May 19, 2018 live on SHOWTIME from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto rather than the original location previously planned for Montreal’s Bell Centre.

The WBC and Lineal Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis Stevenson will be making his 9th defense against probably his toughest task to date in Badou Jack, a former WBC Super Middleweight Champion who moved up a weight class to become WBA Light Heavyweight Champion but to later relinquish his title to hunt down Adonis’ prized possession of the WBC Belt.

A lot has been said about Stevenson’s previous opponents to date but this time around peeps are calling Badou Jack a high risk. I simply see it as the best fighting the best. Adonis is not new to this level of a challenge. Dude is the longest reigning Light Heavyweight World Champion for a reason; he knows his way pretty well inside that square circle and carries around a mean and well-known equalizer in the form of his left hand.

As for Badou Jack, this is an incredible opportunity for him to become a three-time World Champion and a chance at dethroning the Champ. He has faced every tough challenge head on to date and a win here would definitely raise his profile and income to the next level. His confidence is at an all-time high and he might carry the skills and the attributes to give Adonis a run for his money, but will he be able to execute the game plan come fight night?

The haters in the boxing community want to see Adonis take an “L” but Real Talk all bullsh*t aside Adonis is hands down one of the best in the Division and a dangerous Champion who knows too well how to finish a fight.

I anticipate nuff action from both fighters come fight night. The Light Heavyweight Division is about to get “shook”. Will “Superman” prevail or will the “Ripper” put him to rest.

Tune in live on SHOWTIME Saturday night May 19, 2018.

Blaze