Uncasville, CT (BoxingGurus.com) - The SUPERFIGHT is finally set! Both Zab Judah and Kostya Tszyu, who won their respective setup fights, will meet for total unification in the Junior Welterweight division sometime in November at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.
WBA & WBC Junior Welterweight champion "The Thunder From Down Under" Kostya Tszyu (27-1-1, 22 KO) retained his titles by scoring a close unanimous decision over WBC #1 and WBA #4 contender Oktay "Cassius" Urkal (28-1, 10 KO). The fight card was televised on Showtime at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.
Tszyu controlled the 1st round connecting with power shots and even stunning Urkal with a clean left hand to the top of the head. Urkal's knees buckled, but he quickly regained his composure.
In the 2nd and 3rd rounds, Urkal took control landing solid left jabs and left hooks. Tszyu was never really hurt, but was confused and seemed to not be attacking as much.
The middle rounds were controlled mainly by Tszyu, with Urkal winning a few rounds, but Tszyu started controlling the fight by scoring the bigger power punches.
Urkal made a late run, winning the 11th and 12th rounds by landing many clean power shots, but again, he could not really hurt the steel chinned Tszyu. There was one point in the 12th round that Tszyu did fall back into the ropes and appeared momentarily stunned, but Tszyu showed why he is champion and took everything Urkal had.
The judge's scorecards read 115-113, 116-113, and 116-112 all for Tszyu. BoxingGurus.com, who was at ringside, had it 115-113 for Tszyu. Many of the fans in the audience did not agree with the decision, but almost all press writers at ringside agreed with the close decision to give the fight to Tszyu.
CO-FEATURE
IBF Junior Welterweight champion Zab "Super" Judah (26-0-0-1, 20 KO) totally dominated IBF #1 contender Allan Vester (18-0-1, 3 KO) and eventually knocked him out at 2:58 of the 3rd round. Judah was just way too quick for Vester and he could just not get out of the way of Judah in time when he threw his straight lefts.
The 1st round was more of a feeling out round for both fighters, with both fighters trying to establish their jabs. Judah, defending his title for the 5th time, landed more power shots and thus took the round easy.
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Judah drops Vester. (Reuters)
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In the 2nd round, Judah again was landing his left at will and eventually dropped Vester about mid way through the round. Vester did beat the count easily, but Judah pounced right back on him and forcing him to take a knee after a ferocious combination. Vester tried to stay away the rest of the round and did barely make it through the round.
"I was a little disappointed I could not finish him in the 2nd round," said a still excited Judah.
Judah did not slow down his pace any in the 3rd round. Vester continued to eat left hand after left hand, as he just could not handle Judah's speed. Towards the end of the round, Judah landed a vicious right upper hook that had Vester hitting the canvas and unable to beat referee Charles Dwyer's ten count.
"I gave it my best today and lost to a better man," said a disappointed Vester.
TELEVISED UNDERCARD
"The Baby-Faced Assassin" Francisco "Panchito" Bojado (6-0, 6 KO) showed how versatile he can be by switching constantly between southpaw and conventional styles and finally taking out Glenn "The Iceman" Forde (9-6-2, 4 KO) with a KO at 3:09 of the 2nd round. Bojado fought most of the fight in a southpaw stance trying to take the advantage away from the true southpaw Forde. By the 2nd round, Bojado got his range and started landing cleaner and harder shots. With the round coming to a close, Bojado got Forde against the ropes and caught Forde with a big right and followed with a barrage of punches forcing Forde to the mat. Forde could not beat the count and did not even make an attempt to get to his feet.
UNTELEVISED UNDERCARD:
In a Junior Welterweight bout, former IBF Junior Welterweight champion "Cool" Vince Phillips (41-6-1, 30 KO) stopped "The Mighty One" Marlon Haynes (12-2-3, 3 KO) at 2:12 of the 7th round. The fight did not contain much action with not many punches thrown from either fighter, but finally in the 7th round, Phillips caught the awkward southpaw Haynes. Phillips used a quick three-punch combination to floor Haynes. Haynes got up fairly quickly, but he was obviously hurt. Phillips jumped all over Haynes, finally forcing referee Ken Ezzo to stop the bout. At the time of the stoppage, Haynes was winning a very close fight on the judge's scorecards 60-54, 58-56 and 57-58 (Phillips). Phillips won his world title by giving Kostya Tszyu his lone defeat back in 1997.
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"The Baby Bull" Juan Diaz (10-0, 6 KO) kept his record totally unblemished with a very workman like victory over John Trigg (5-11-4, 2 KO) by scoring a 6 round unanimous decision. All judges scored the fight 60-54, including BoxingGurus.com at ringside, all for Diaz. In a very entertaining Junior Welterweight bout, Diaz, only 17 years old, put together very crisp and solid combinations and showed why many boxing writers (myself included) are very high on him as a young up and coming prospect.
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In Middleweight action, Nadar " Bad Boy" Hamden (23-0, 13 KO) survived a 3rd round knockdown to win a unanimous 6 round decision over journeyman Bruce Corby (16-16). All three judges scorecards were 58-55 (all for Hamden). BoxingGurus.com, at ringside, also had it 58-55 (Hamden). Corby landed a clean left hook that floored Hamden early in the 3rd round and it took all round for Hamden to get his senses back. Hamden went on to control the rest of the fight using his more polished boxing skills to take the decision.
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Light Heavyweight prospect, Daniel "Big Danny Boy" Judah (11-0-1, 6 KO) remained undefeated by scoring a unanimous decision over Dan Sheehan (7-9, 3 KO). All three judges scorecards were 60-54 (all for Judah), while BoxingGurus.com at ringside, also had the fight 60-54. Daniel Judah, younger brother to IBF Junior Welterweight champion Zab Judah, looked solid, but was unspectacular, appearing to just go through the motions against his over-matched opponent. Judah used his southpaw stance and superior reach to totally dominate Sheehan. Taunting by both combatants marred the fight, but besides a brief a flurry at the beginning of the 4th round, the action was very slow.
