JOSH CLOTTEY

by John Mastalir jmastalir@yahoo.com

Boxing at the Palms in Las Vegas !

Thoughts after covering the event, the 50th venue which I have reported on boxing in my 24 years in Las Vegas.

This venue maybe the best....balcony seating, grandstand seating, floor level seating, stage seating....great sight lines and a truly great experience for me !

This HBO after dark, one tv fight, two ring announcers for the card...(what the hell is the deal here ?).....delayed west coast tv.....second string announcers for tv...(what the hell is the deal here ?) !

Nice video screens in the arena....rap music began at 521....so we got 51 minutes of beautiful silence before the motherfuckers hit.....TRUE !

Palms ushers helpful and courteous, a feature unknown at the MGM !

Hallways too dark ! Too cavernous !

I sat in the third blacony and looked down into the ring, the best seat I have ever had since the outdoor ringside seat for the Caesars Palace "fanman" fight....Holyfield-Bowe...6 nov 1993 !

So there was a fight..... and a damn good one....Zab Judah-Josh Clottey.... two guys just a half level below world class. Judah and his father Yoel (?) infamous for their $600,000 fines paid to the Neada State Athletic Commission for bad behavior, they of course on my list of world scum. Remember Zab, he was the guy who threw a chair at the worlds best referee because the referee saved his life ! Anyway Judah and Clottey looked like two world class fighters for almost nine rounds when Judah became the champion.....champion bleeder, as referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight due to a monstrous cut over Judahs right eye, they went to the scorecards by rule and Clottey prevailed by a small margin. Naturally the Judahs were upset with the deciscion and will appeal, that while Zab continues to bleed from numerous origaces ! There is some question as to whether it was a head butt or blow that caused the cut.....not to matter, Clottey was winning the fight and did win the fight !

Only 1800 in this lovely 4000 seat arena, whatever the deal these two had trouble selling tickets for what was a world class fight. I loved Clottey's defense, straight stand up punching and focus....he wants Antonio Margarito who he has already gone 12 rounds with (in losing)...maybe.

Top Rank comer Anthony Peterson a ten round lop sided win over Javier Jauregui topping the undercard. Jauregui, 35, with 70 fights and ranked 28th of 1300 lightweights is done, altho a game fighter. Peterson, 23 and 7th ranked, a comer, but not a killer in this match.

Promoter Top Rank and their staff always professional and first class, true again here tonight.

Entertainment score.... A+ 97