Bad Left Hook Fight Night: Zab Judah v. Joshua Clottey

Boogie Down Tonight!

Good bet on Zab tonight. But if I bet on him, do I have to root for him? Nah. It would take more money than I can spare to encourage that.

I don’t expect it’s going to be competitive at all so I just don’t feel like paying too close attention.

1. Pink.
2. Ugly as boiled sin.
3. “All Out Bail Bonds” on the waist.

Classic.

But I think it’s clear Dirrell is going to find his opening and hurt Paschall at some point.

Paschall might try to turn this into a streetfight. It’s getting rough and tumble.

Beautiful left by Dirrell. Good Lord, Paschall’s nose is probably broken.

Fuck it, let him fight. This kid is a character.

Yeah, it is. It’s streaming well. Paschall is begging the doctor to give him another round.

They’re stopping it. Paschall and Dirrell hug and shake hands.

What a punch. Talk about a bullseye.

If this fight could actually start before 10 I’d be really happy.

Scott,

I’ve had a few beers, but I can do my best to liveblog the fight if you aren’t here.

Plus honestly I just don’t want to. DVR it is. Looks like Matt will take over but if anyone else wants to do RBR too then feel free. Everyone’s always welcome to score.

I’m not as good as Scott at Liveblogging. Plus I’m starting to get drunk (strangely, though, history shows that I tend to score fights closer to the actual judges when drunk). I also have money on the fight, and I despise Zab Judah. I’ll try to be objective, but, well, you know…

That aside, I hope you all stick around for my comments. And please join in. At BLH, everyone’s an “expert.” I mean, if Kevin Lole gets to be one, then we all can.

Showtime had a pretty good card… 2 TKOs let’s see what happens with Clottey-Margarito.

In retrospect, I’m shocked by how sudden Cotto’s collapse was. My memory of it was of a slow grinding down of the Puerto Rican, but the replay shows a sudden implosion. Cotto looked fine until the very end of round 10. In fact, he probably won round 10 on my card, despite M’s punch at the end.

My money’s on Judah, but I hate Zab and have always had a soft spot for Clottey. My bet was strictly an investment, and I really hope Clottey wins and gets a rematch with Margarito, which he clearly deserves.

I looked so damn chipper in my previous BLH avatar, so I just updated it to what I looked like about five minute ago watching Cotto Margarito replay. lol

Let’s see if Zab deigns to touch gloves with Clottey before R1. I’ll never forget his classless move against Baldomir.

Zab opens up with some good right jabs. Z staying active. Clottey has gloves very high, open to body shots somewhat. Nice right from Clottey. Z working the jab, but no body shots. Clottey seems totally unphased by Z’s power so far.

Nothing meaningful this round. Z wins it by staying more active. C looks fine thought.

Clottey more active now. Now Clottey with some combination shots. Z makes a strange jab then seems to briefly intentionally touch the canvas for no apparent reason. Nothing to it. C turtling and throwing in an occasional uppercut. C wide left to the body.

Close round. Could go either way. C with the more meaningful punches (such as they were) but Z with more landed. Giving it to Zab.

I agree with Lenox that C needs to go the the body more, but the same could be said for Z. Both are protecting their heads a lot with their gloves, esp C.

C breifly corners Z, but Z makes a nice move out of the corner. Still C got the better of that exchange. Z tries to steal the round at the end, but I am giving it to Clottey. Both men a little cautious. Not as exciting as Margarito / Cotto, so far, that’s for sure.

2 rounds to 1 for Zab.

Clottey looking better now. But now Z comes on strong. But because Z is head hunting, he misses lots of lower body opportunities. I must say, not a lot of dram here. Not what I expected. Z is actually fighing a patient respectful fight. Whatever. Clottey finally goes low and succeeds. Now C seems to be bullying Z a bit. Getting more fun now. Nice overhand right from C. More rights from C. Left uppercut from C. J turns away from much of it. Z looks slightly shocked, maybe a little hurt.

Clottey’s round. I have it tied up 38-38.

Clottey starting to bully Z now for sure. I think Z is slightly in show that he is not kicking more ass. Clottey is going to the body now! Finally! And like I thought it would, it is working. Now Z to the body, and again, success. Their trainers must be reading my liveblog (/sarcasm).

Zab again tries to steal the round at the end but fails. C’s cornerman is being pretty hard one him right now, but I see him winning this fight three rounds to two.

Some hugging and clinchin at the beginning. Z jabs, C turtles, Winky style. Z with some nice shots to the body. Z is winning this round so far. Z looking much better. Now a combo from C.

ref gives C time for a supposed low blow from Z, but no point.

C back strong after the break. Z ties him up. Holding. C coming forward, a nice right snaps Z’s head. C blocks a series of pitter-jabs from Z.

Close round. Giving it to Z. Even fight.

In the instant replay you ncan see a blood drop flying off

Herrrrold has the same score as me. Must be reading my liveblog. Z with some strong body shots. Then Clottey comes on strong. This is turning into a fight! Liking this shit. Clottey now. Now Z. C chases Z and Z counterpunches. He is being ghostly. Nice round! Clottey charges wildly forward.

Kellerman fucks up a quote from Dylan Thomas’s famous villanelle, attributing it to Robert Frost, then correcting himself at the end of the round. Someone must have told him. Fucking hilarious shit, especially to me. I teach literature at a school in Manhattan.

Shit, I can’t remember who I gave round seven to, to be honest.

Kellerman quotes Robert Frost! And this time it is Robert Frost! Fucking dying over here.

Clottey is winning this round. But now Z comes on strong! Z pounding, C totally covering up and turtling.

I gave that round to C, despite Z’s flurry at the end.

Somebody tell me who won R7.

Clottey coming on strong at the beginning. Z is being wiley, thought. All C aggression now. Z is basically running from C at this point. Judah bleeding. Ruled a headbutt. Accidental. Looks like they will let it go on, I think. I was wrong.

They stopped the fight because of the cut, because Z seemed to indicate that he didn’t see how many fingers the doctor had up, but I think he was shocked or confused, not blinded. Weird. I’ve seen a lot worse cuts than that go on.

It goes to the cards. Should be a Clottey win. We’ll see.

It wasn’t from a headbutt. It was from a punch. Ref makes a bad call.

The right decision was made. Two judges had it by one point for Clottey. One judge had it by three for Clottey. Legitimate win and UD.

No controversy here. Move along.

Zab tries to rally the crowd that he was ahead. He wasn’t. And they keep referring to the “accidental clash of heads.” That’s not what caused the cut.

But in the end, Clottey got the decision he deserved.

See you all later.

I think Matt had this one right. We’ll have more tomorrow. Congrats, Josh. See ya later, Zab.