In the first part of Vegas flashback on Mayweather-Judah we chronicled all of the pre-fight developments and surrounding storylines connected to the bout. After eight undercard bouts the 15,170 partisans in attendance at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas were ready to see Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah settle their talking inside of the ring. The bell rang for round one and the action was upon us.
The first round started and the two fighters began sizing each other up. Judah was nimble on his feet and darted in and out on a flat-footed Mayweather. Floyd was patient and leaped in with a hook 45 seconds into the round to the crowd?s approval. It was definitely a feeling out round for the most part as the two athletes tried to negate each other?s speed while looking for the right moment to attack.
Judah fired off a double jab and left to the body as Mayweather missed with a right hand moments later. As Mayweather came in Judah landed a crisp left at 1:19 of the stanza. HBO announcer Lennox Lewis noted that ?Floyd said he is on a mission in this fight and this is the first round of his mission?. Yet it was Judah who seemed to have a slight edge in the opening act.
In the second round a left from Judah knocked Mayweather off balance and his right hand grazed the canvas. Referee Richard Steele didn?t call a knockdown and motioned for the two men back into action. Judah was picking up steam and started landing his lefts with more regularity. With just under 20 seconds remaining in the round chants of ?Judah, Judah, Judah? filled the arena and the Brooklyn fighter caught Floyd with a stinging uppercut.
In between rounds Roger Mayweather begged Floyd to keep pressuring Judah and screamed ?He doesn?t want to fight!?. In the second round Mayweather had landed 13 out of 58 punches while Judah connected on 13 out of 60 blows.
In the third frame Mayweather seemed to realize the urgency of the situation and became much more aggressive. Larry Merchant noted that the rivalry between the two fighters was no excuse for either to step up their game as ?Great fighters do it virtually every time out?. The action began to pick up as Mayweather started finding a home with his right hand. Judah did connect with a barrage of body blows later in the round but Mayweather answered with an uppercut and body shot of his own.
In the 3rd Floyd connected on 15 out 35 punches while Judah was held to just 7 out of 34. In between rounds Yoel Judah screamed at his son ?Let your punches go! He can?t hurt you!?.
There was high drama in the 4th as Judah landed with a very big left hand that appeared to buzz Mayweather. Floyd covered up and HBO analyst Jim Lampley began screaming that Floyd was in trouble. The crowd again began chanting Judah?s name and the action was fierce enough for music mogul Usher to jump out of his seat. Floyd kept his composure and stayed out of harm?s way but the round belonged to Judah.
It was very close fight and Judah was landing 57% of his power punches in the early going. Merchant noted that Mayweather hadn?t been challenged in this fashion since his first bout with Jose Luis Castillo four years prior and Lewis added that it is always difficult when facing a southpaw. Despite never having faced a southpaw as a professional Lewis was familiar with their stance form his amateur days and training camps as a pro.
Mayweather was more effective in the fifth and Lampley stated that Floyd was ?starting to get his offensive game together? halfway through the round. Mayweather began to hammer Judah with body shots as the round progressed as the southpaw seemed much less refined and more wild with his attack. Judah landed a left hand late and even began taunting Floyd but the fight was obviously shifting. In that round alone Floyd connected on 18 out 30 power punches.
In between rounds Lampley provided a little bit of comic relief when one of the world?s biggest superstars flashed on the screen. ?Hey there?s my new best friend. I met Jay-Z last night and I was hanging with the man. I am hip. Nice man and one of many huge stars from the rap and hip hop world [present at the fight]? Lampley would claim.
The sixth was another workmanlike round for Floyd as he continued to hack away at Judah?s ribcage. While not a huge puncher Floyd was having effect with his punches. ?Deep in his heart Floyd Mayweather believes that Zab Judah can?t handle pressure? Lampley coined as the round winded down.
(Image Gallery: Floyd Mayweather vs. Zab Judah)
Through six rounds Mayweather had landed 79 out of 209 punches for a 38% ratio while Judah was 45 out of 225 for a 20% clip. HBO?s unofficial ringside judge Harold Lederman had the fight even and noted that ?The guy that gets off first is always landing the better punch?. In between rounds Roger pleaded with Floyd to continue walking his foe down and to stay close to him.
In the seventh round Merchant gave Judah credit for keeping the fight competitive and applauded Zab?s focus during the fight. Lofty words considering Merchant was critical of Judah before the fight but that didn?t change the fact that Floyd was turning the tide and his best moments came mid-round as he pinned Judah to the ropes and ripped him with power shots. Lewis noted that Zab was getting picked apart and that he had to stay away from the ropes.
With blood streaming down Judah?s nose Lampley recalled that he had spoken with former champion DeMarcus ?Chop Chop? Corley before the fight and revealed that the lefty fighter had served as a sparring partner for Floyd for this contest. Corley was familiar with both Mayweather and Judah, having lost decision contests to each man. Corley told Lampley that much of Floyd?s focus in camp was to work the body and that he had a new training regimen for himself after seeing how hard Floyd worked.
?The question now is whether Judah is going to take more chances or whether he is going to stay in this pocket where he can stay in the fight but probably can?t win it,? Merchant said as the 8th round started. It was obvious that Judah was fading and needed to do something dramatic to change the tone of the fight or else he would have to settle on just surviving.
Chants of ?Floyd, Floyd, Floyd? filled the Thomas & Mack Center and that prompted Merchant to point out that it was the Las Vegas resident?s first fight in his hometown in four years. Prior to the Judah contest Floyd had fought in California, Miami, Atlantic City, Oregon, and back home in Grand Rapids. Seeing Floyd control the 8th round further heightened Merchant?s statements as it was obvious we were looking at the new face of boxing in Nevada.
Between rounds Roger Mayweather seemed to sense that the end was near and begged his fighter to continue banging the body. ?That b**** is ready to quit!? Roger would further implore.
?The way Mayweather is fighting now just shows his brilliant versatility. He is coming in like a brawler behind the gloves. He can outbox you, he can out punch you, he can out brawl you,? Merchant would add moments later. The 9th round was a paint show for Mayweather as he was in complete control while landing lefts and rights.
In between rounds musician Toby Keith and former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson were seen sitting ringside, a testament to the star power in attendance on this night. Harold Lederman had Floyd ahead 87-84 through nine rounds and had given Mayweather the last five rounds. ?One thing I love that he does is that he measures you with that right hand. He?s doing that and Zab can?t stop it,? Lederman would add.
It appeared that Mayweather was headed towards a possible stoppage victory but soon Judah would throw him a complete curveball that would change the makeup of the fight? (Click to go to page 3)
Click on the Image galleries below for a detailed look back at all of the action that took place during the Judah-Mayweather contest as well as the pre-fight buzz…
