Clottey claims vacant IBF welterweight title

Steve Marcus

Joshua Clottey, of Ghana, celebrates his newly acquired IBF welterweight championship. Clottey, who tore his bicep in the early rounds, hung on to defeat Zab Judah by unanimous decision Saturday night at the Palms. The fight was stopped in the ninth round because of a large cut over Judah’s right eye.

By Andy Samuelson (contact)

Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008 | midnight

A shove started this showdown, but it was an extra push Saturday night that made all the difference in the world.

Joshua Clottey was involved in both, but it was a slap on the back from his trainer, Miguel Diaz, that fueled the Ghana native to his first world championship.

“He pushed me out of the gym, but I pushed him out of the ring. That’s how I got even,” said Clottey, who recorded a controversial unanimous decision over Zab Judah to win the International Boxing Federation’s welterweight title in front of 1,853 fans at the Pearl.

“Before the ninth, my trainer gave me a big shove and I knew that I had to go out there and win for him,” continued Clottey — who had a blow-up with Judah in a gym in New York in 2004, when he accused Judah of pushing his trainer after Clottey refused to fight him in the street.

However, much like the varying views of that past argument (Judah doesn’t remember specific details), Saturday’s fight was not without controversy.

Referee Robert Byrd, after hearing advice from ringside doctor James Game, stopped the fight at 1:22 into the ninth round because of a large, gaping cut over Judah’s right eye. The bout went to the three judges, who all scored the fight in favor of Clottey.

“This just hurts, man. Everyone here knows who won,” said Judah, who claimed a head butt by Clottey and not a powerful right (an HBO replay appeared to show Clottey’s punch opening the wound) opened the nasty gash that required 18 sutures to close.

“Zab Judah is the people's champion,” continued Judah, who climbed the ropes in his corner hoisting both arms in the air in victory. A mixture of loud cheers and boos rang out from the crowd.

Judah’s trainer and father, Yoel Judah, said he planned to protest the fight.

“The fight is too big. We’ve sacrificed too much to have it end on a head butt,” said Yoel Judah, who also was involved in the melee that broke out between his camp and Floyd Mayweather’s in Las Vegas in 2006. “We fight to the bitter end. Don’t stop the fight and give it to Clottey on a unanimous decision.

“Zab told him (Game) I want to keep fighting. The doctor said 'no' and stopped the fight.”

Game claims Judah said he couldn't see. He wiped away the blood that was streaming down the fighter’s face and proceeded to perform a series of eye tests.

“He couldn’t identify two or three fingers three times,” Game said.

Judah denied that claim and said the fight was too close to make such an important ruling. He also claimed referee Duane Ford had a “personal vendetta” as he scored the contest 87-84, while judges George Hill and Glenn Trowbridge both scored the bout 86-85 in favor of Clottey.

The two fighters felt each other out for most of the first few rounds. Clottey (35-2), who said he tore his bicep in the fourth round, connected on a big uppercut in the fourth round and bloodied Judah’s nose.

The four-time champ Judah (36-6), who threw 419 punches to Clottey’s 393, came back to make the fight interesting with a series of combos — unleashing a flurry of punches in the final seconds of the eighth round.

“He hit me with some uppercuts, but I never felt anything,” said Clottey, who said he hopes to have a rematch with Antonio Margarito.

Judah said he didn’t know where he would go from here, adding that he was disappointed in how the fight’s outcome would reflect on his career.

“I’m very disappointed with the whole situation and how it ended,” he said.

Clottey, however, proudly held up his newly acquired championship belt at the post-fight news conference and in a low voice reflected on what it meant to be the new king of the ring.

“I didn’t want to be remembered just as a contender,” he said, slipping out a smile. “I wanted to be remembered as a champion.

“I had to go all over the world to fight, but now they’ll always have to recognize me as the IBF champion.”