Zab Judah In Show Time Main Event

Zab Judah rebounded from a fall at the end and survived all Lucas Matthysse could pull him to win by split decision last Saturday.
The relatively unknown Matthysse dominated the final two rounds, too, but could not land the knockout he needed after digging a deep hole early.
Judges José Pascual and Hilton Whitaker scored 114-113 for Judah, while Waleska Roldan scored 114-113 for Matthysse. The Associated Press also scored 114-113 for Judah.
"It was a strong fighter," Judah said. "I had my jab and that's what worked for me in the end. I'll never down, never."
Judah (40-6) seemed to be cruising until Matthysse (27-1) got a combination that sent him to the canvas midway through the 10 th round. Judah reeled against the ropes again moments later, but survived until the bell, and was in trouble in 11 and 12 also.
Matthysse could not land the knockout he needed.
The crowd booed when the scores were read, although Judah a native of nearby /> Matthysse was lifted on the shoulders of his cornermen and raised his hands in victory, taking a handful of applause.
"Zab does not hurt, I fought my fight and pressured him all the time, and I closed the championship round. What more do you want?" Matthysse, he said. "I won clearly. This must be because we're in your backyard."
The win was the fourth consecutive Judah from his decision loss to Joshua Clottey technique in a welterweight title fight. It was also the first fight Judah at 140 pounds in nearly seven years the junior welterweight division once dominated, and wait again.
The victory was an IBF eliminator, put Judah in a fight against South African Kaiser Mabuza for the vacant belt by Devon Alexander. But more interesting is the clash against the winner of the upcoming fight against champion Tim Bradley Alexander in January.
Also campaign at 140 pounds are Amir Khan and Mark Maidment, fighting in December.
"I have much respect for him as a fighter," Judah said of Matthysse. "I knew it would be a tough fight in, but I did not expect it to be so strong."
On the undercard, former two-division champion Robert Guerrero picked Vicente Escobedo also resistant to win a unanimous decision and vault back into the light box.
Guerrero struggled for the second time since he quit his junior lightweight title earlier this year to care for his wife, Casey, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007. She has responded well to recent treatments, however, and encouraged him on from ringside.
Guerrero (01/01/1928) scored falls in the third and sixth rounds and could have had another in the fifth was ruled a slip. Escobedo (22-3) battled through a high cut in the scalp of an accidental clash of heads in the first round and took a couple of other nicks on the trunk road which had its red and white in color mostly red for the final round.
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