Boxing Challenge: Dubois mows down Wardley in rematch

      In London, England, Daniel Dubois retained the WBO heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of the man from whom he won the title, Fabio Wardley.

Their first fight earlier this year, Dubois' eleventh-round stoppage of Wardley, may win fight of the year.

The rematch was not competitive at all as Dubois dropped Wardley seconds into the bout and battered him throughout round one.

Wardley was fortunate to survive the first round; he would not survive the second as Dubois trapped Wardley in a corner and wailed away until Wardley's corner threw in the towel.

Dubois has developed as a fighter (other than an inability to handle Oleksandr Usyk, which every fighter who has faced Usyk has faced the same problem) and unification fights against any of: WBA champion (Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua), WBC boss Agit Kabayel, or IBF champ Filip Hrgovic might see Dubois as a favorite.

Wardley needs to take time away after two beatings, and he may have seen his best days.

In Las Vegas, Sebastian Fundora stopped Ermal Hadribeaj with one second remaining in the final round.

Hadribeaj was competitive for the first half of the fight with mauling tactics, but Fundora wore  Hadribeaj down over the second half.

Fundora knocked Hadribeaj down with seconds remaining, and after he rose, the fight was ended.

Fundora is rumored to have an agreement to face the winner of the Boots Ennis-Josh Kelly fight next year.

The winner of that fight would be the undisputed champion of the division.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 110 Pts (4) 

Ramon Malpica: 95 Pts (4)

Vince Samano: 62 Pts (2)

Boxing Challenge

  WBO Heavyweight Title. 12 Rds

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley

Ramon Malpica: Dubois KO 8

TRS: Dubois KO 6

Vince Samano: Wardley KO 8

WBC Junior Middleweight Title. 12 Rds

Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj

R.L: Fundora KO 7

TRS: Fundora KO 4
V.S: Fundora KO 6

PPM

  Another busy week for me and another one in the football world!

Last Week: 9-5

Overall: 68-21

College 

Ohio State over Indiana 21-17

Texas Tech over Arizona State 30-24

Arkansas over Vanderbilt 24-21

Bowling Green over Ball State 28-14

Middle Tennessee State over Delaware 22-21

Georgia Southern over Old Dominion 19-17

Wyoming over Northern Illinois 20-17

UTSA over Navy 21-18

Games of the Week

Notre Dame over BYU 21-13

Alabama over Tennessee 34-24

NFL
Browns over Ravens 17-15

Giants over Saints 21-19

Games of the Week

Packers over Cowboys 28-24

Jaguars over Texans 31-24

PPM

  Another weekend of football and the PPM!

Last Week: 13-3

Overall:59-16

College

Ohio State over Maryland 45-17

Boise State over Fresno State 42-24

Wake Forest over N.C. State 27-24

Tennessee over Arkansas 31-10

South Florida over UTSA 30-24

Wyoming over San Jose State 20-17

Sacramento State over Bowling Green 34-29

James Madison over Georgia Southern 38-21

Games of the Week

Alabama over Georgia 24-21

Oregon over UCLA 41-32

Pro

Jets over Browns 20-17

Vikings over Saints 34-27

Games of the Week

Bills over Rams 40-37

Seahawks over 49ers 27-25

Need just a little more time.

 Sorry, I've gotten way behind on writing.

Many things have changed in the last few months, and between the new work schedule ( I work more days but in a much more relaxed environment) and my new arrival (I can't believe I haven't written about Ruby yet!), my time here has become more limited.

I'm excited about the surprising Browns start although not convinced it's going anywhere for the season and the Buckeyes are their usual contender.

I want to try more here but with the mentioned reasons above, I make no promises..

Perhaps a format where I talk about things might work better? Hmmm.

Stay Tuned.

PPM

Another big week of football and the PPM

Last Week; 12-4 

Overall: 46-13

College

Ohio State over Iowa 27-13

Texas Tech over Colorado 43-24

Boise State over Utah State 45-15

Kansas over Middle Tennessee 31-17

Louisville over N.C. State 37-21

North Dakota State over Wyoming 23-14

Miami Ohio over Bowling Green 31-14

Texas A&M over Arkansas 27-17

UTSA over Rice 46-29

Georgia Southern over Coastal Carolina 35-17

Games of the Week

Alabama over Mississippi State 38-35

Florida over Missouri 38-17

NFL
Browns over Steelers 17-14

Saints over Falcons 34-24

Games of the Week

Chiefs over Raiders 34-21

Jaguars over Bengals 31-28

 

Browns win home opener over Carolina

       The Cleveland Browns defense stepped up when they needed it most, and DeShaun Watson threw his second touchdown of the game to Harold Fannin with 1:48 remaining as the Browns won their home opener over the Carolina Panthers 21-18.

Watson completed 16 of 30 passes for 144 yards and the two touchdowns.

Fannin led the offense with seven catches for fifty-one yards.

Mason Graham led the defense with two sacks as the Browns improved to 2-1 and will host Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Brownie Bits

1) The offense still has a long way to go, and while the Browns can't complain about winning, they still have to wonder about DeShaun Watson.

Watson didn't throw an interception and did lead the team to the game-winning touchdown, but...

2) Carolina dropped a few possible interceptions, and one they held onto was overruled by a penalty.

I know there are ifs and buts, but these things tend to even out over a season, and once interceptions start to be completed, things can go off a wagon quickly.

3) Watson has developed a connection with Harold Fannin and Denzel Boston, but he is struggling to gain a rapport with first-round selection K.C. Concepcion.

Concepcion was targeted nine times, but caught only two for nine yards.

4) Concepcion may be struggling, but the highly paid Jerry Jeudy was non-existent, as Jeudy didn't have a single pass thrown to him all game.

Jeudy carries a high dead cap number if he's traded (good luck with that) or released, so unless his attitude becomes disruptive, he'll be around all season, but it looks bleak for anything other than an occasional flash from Jeudy.

5) The Browns traded for tackle Tytus Howard in the offseason and gave him a contract extension after a mediocre year with Houston.

Howard was called for three false starts and seems to be a questionable decision as a full-time tackle.

6) Another offseason acquisition was playing well in Elgton Jenkins, but Jenkins is unlikely to play against Pittsburgh after entering the concussion protocol.

The Browns will likely start Luke Wypler as fifth-round draftee Parker Brailsford is still recovering from a broken hand suffered in training camp.

7) It might be time to reevaluate my opinion on Mason Graham, whom the Browns took fifth overall in 2025.

Graham sacked Bryce Young twice in this game and has four sacks in the three games after finishing with just one as a rookie.

Graham has been giving the Browns the power rush up the middle that many teams covet, but few teams possess.

8) The Browns pay Denzel Ward to be a shutdown corner, and he was just that in shutting down Carolina's second-year standout Tetairoa McMillan, holding the talented McMillan to two catches for seventeen yards.

9) The Browns might be starting to receive benefits from Mike Hall after middling results in his two previous seasons.

Hall didn't get to the quarterback for a sack, but pressured him several times and helped Mason Graham's sacks.

10)  The Browns are surprises at 2-1, and a win over Pittsburgh would start the good vibes rolling.

Before thinking of that, consider the Browns wins came over opponents with a combined record of 1-5.

I'm not saying to not be happy, but let's see where we are after the Steelers  game and a road game against the winless New York Jets.