Clottey Stops Judah on a Cut, Wins IBF Welterweight Title by Tech. Decision By Mark DeSisto (Aug 3, 2008) Photo © German Villasenor Send this page to friend Give us your feedback LAS VEGAS – In a somewhat anticlimactic but ultimately deserved victory, Ghana’s Joshua Clottey captured the vacant IBF welterweight title with a 9th-round technical decision over former welterweight champion Zab Judah at the Palms Resort & Casino Saturday night. Clottey sliced open Judah’s right eye with a left uppercut, and referee Robert Byrd halted the bout at the 1:22 mark and brought Judah over to the ring doctor for a look. The cut wasn’t bad enough to stop the bout, but Judah told the doctor he couldn’t see out of his swollen, cut eye. The ring doctor ordered Byrd to stop the bout. Clottey and his corner started their celebration as they were perhaps unaware that Byrd mistakenly ruled that the cut was due to an accidental head butt. By Nevada rules, the fight went to the scorecards, including the scoring of the unfinished 9th round. The nine rounds were scored unanimously for Clottey by scores of 87-84 and 86-85 (twice). In what was a fairly entertaining bout, the uncompleted 9th round, given to Clottey by all three judges, proved crucial. If Judah had won the 1:22 of the final round, the result would have been a majority decision draw. The speedy southpaw Judah took a closely fought tactical first round likely on a late left uppercut that got Clottey’s attention. Clottey turned things around in the second round, landing a quick lead right hand that would be a key punch for him the remainder of the bout. The athletically gifted Judah (36-6, 25 KOs) with his lightning fast hands poses problems for any welterweight in the world, having had elite boxers Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather on their heels before being overwhelmed late in those previous championship bouts. The problem for Judah on Saturday night was that he was in with a very strong, fast, world-class fighter that had the knowledge and tools to impose his will on a world-class southpaw. Clottey’s money punch for the night was the straight right hand but he also made use of his left hand, landing plenty of left uppercuts on the inside, along with hard left hooks to the body and head of the Brooklyn native. Judah’s nose was bloodied by the fourth round and he started to take on the look of a beaten up fighter. A shoeshine flurry late in the fifth looked good from Judah but it was obvious who was winning the war. Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs) continued his momentum in the sixth round, looking like he might overwhelm Judah for the stoppage at some point, but a timely low blow from Judah, had Clottey turning away in pain, triggering a stern warning to Judah from Byrd. No stranger to misbehavior and fines, Judah’s low blow was likely no accident. However , it was very effective at Judah started moving and boxing well, throwing a late flurry of landing punches around Clottey’s guard to take the round. None too thrilled with how round six played out, Clottey came out hard and took control of the eight round. A huge left uppercut from Judah late landed on Clottey to stem the tide and make the round much closer but Judah was looking beat up heading into the eight round. Clottey took the first two minutes of round eight, but a sudden flurry of punches from the lightning fast Judah put Clottey to the ropes, with Judah firing away and landing on the iron-chinned Ghanaian to take the round in the eyes of two of the three judges. Clottey wisely came out hard for the ninth and ultimately, final round, quickly landing straight rights hands to bloody Judah immediately. The searing left uppercut cut landed on Judah’s right eye and the bout was stopped. It appeared that Clottey was going to regain control of battle and with Judah quitting, claiming he couldn’t see; he almost got a big break with Byrd inadvertently ruling the cut caused by a headbutt. Fortunately Clottey had clearly done enough in eight and a half rounds and the right man was ruled the victor. The new IBF welterweight titlist Clottey said he was open to giving Judah a rematch since the ending was somewhat controversial. Clottey also has his sights on a rematch of a competitive loss with current WBA champion Antonio Margarito. If that is unable to happen, Clottey stated that he’d like to go after WBC welterweight title holder Andre Berto. It’s obvious and refreshing that the affable Ghanian wants to fight the world’s best welterweights. Unfortunately, Clottey’s left arm swelled up after the fight due to a potentially torn bicep and his fight plans may have to be put on hold. Today's Boxing Press Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums