Boxing Challenge

   The boxing weekend may not be the most glamourus but a world title is defended, a vacant world title will be filled, two former champions match up in a career-ending match for the loser, and another former champion continues their comeback.

Cruiserweights 10 Rds

Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki

Ramon Malpica: Rozicki Unanimous Decision

TRS and Vince Samano: Billam-Smith Unanimous Decision

IBF Flyweight Title 12 Rds

Masamichi Yabuki vs Rene Calixto

R.L: Yabuki Unanimous Decision

TRS: Yabuki KO 10

V.S: Calixto Unanimous Decision

IBF Junior Bantamweight Title 12 Rds

Willibaldo Garcia vs Andrew Moloney

R.L: Garcia Unanimous Decision

TRS: Moloney Unanimous Decision

V.S: Garcia KO 8

Featherweights, 10 Rds

Luis Nery vs John Riel Casimero

All: Casimero Unanimous Decision

Browns trade Myles Garrett to Rams, acquire Jared Verse

     The Cleveland Browns finally ended their saga with the greatest defender in the team's history as the Browns traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, who cemented their position as Super Bowl favorites with the addition of Garrett.

The thirty-year-old Garrett finished last season with twenty-three sacks to set the record for sacks in a season, and finished with one hundred and twenty-five for his career after the Browns selected him first overall from Texas A&M in the 2017 draft.

While the return for the best pass rusher in the league may not seem to be enough, the Browns didn't come away with nothing as they acquired defensive end Jared Verse and three draft choices from the Rams.

Cleveland added Los Angeles's first rounder in 2027, their second rounder in 2028, and their third rounder in 2029.

Verse was the first round pick of the Rams in 2024 and won the league's defensive rookie of the year award after entering the league from Florida State.

Verse finished last season with seven and a half sacks, forced three fumbles, and thirty-five solo tackles, eleven of those for losses.

Verse isn't Myles Garrett, but he's very good and should be the leading pass rusher on the Browns this season.

I wish the Browns could have received different choices in the three draft years.

The first rounder will almost certainly be in the final few spots of the round in 2027, and the Browns may have gained more value if the first rounder were in 2029, when the Rams may be in decline, but the 2027 option could be vital if the Browns need draft capital to move up in a quarterback-heavy draft.

The Browns could not have made a better trade, considering Garrett's age, with essentially two number-ones (I'm counting Jared Verse, who is young enough to be considered one) added to the coffers.

Jared Verse is the key to the trade.

I don't expect him to come close to Myles Garrett's production, but he has to be at least very good and lead the team's pass rush.

Should Verse meet those expectations, and I believe that he will, this trade could be as good as expected under the circumstances.

Overdue Boxing Challenge and a little of me

   This is far overdue, but for proper boxing record-keeping in the challenge, I needed to get this done.

However, over the last few months, my writing here has decreased, and it's time to reveal why.

I've had several health issues that started with constant itching that still persists, which has left me scarred and marked all over my body.

Nothing has worked to control this, but I continue to try medications to try to turn this around.

What seems to have caused all this, which began three months ago, is a liver condition that was diagnosed for the first time last week.

I will be visiting a specialist next week to learn more, but it's serious enough to worry me.

I hope it was caught early enough to be a long-term issue rather than an immediate one.

More to come soon about my trials and tribulations.

On to the Boxing Challenge

Olekander Usyk KO 11 Rico Verhoven to retain the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles.

Hamzah Sheeraz KO 2 Alem Begic to win the vacant WBO super middleweight title.

Jack Catterall won a unanimous decision over Shahkram Giyasov over 12 rounds for a minor welterweight title.

Frank Sanchez KO 2 Richard Torrez in an IBF heavyweight eliminator.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 58 Pts (7)

Ramon Malpica: 47 Pts (3)

Vince Samano:  40 Pts(4)