Congratulations to our recent Primetime Pundit winner Scott, Scott submitted his winning entry on sports forum www.606v2.com . Visit the forum to chat about all sports and read the other entries.

*Primetime is not responsible for the content of 3rd party websites. The views reflected in the article below are those of the author alone.

Khan stops Judah with a 5th round bodyshot in Vegas

Amir Khan added the IBF to his WBA title in Saturday night’s Light Welterweight unification bout. An impressive right uppercut to the body ended proceedings after 2:47 of the fifth
round, with referee Vic Drakulich administering a 10 count.

Khan started the fight a heavy favourite but many boxing experts gave Judah a good chance of
causing an upset. There was a feeling that Judah had turned a corner, and was more focussed in recent months. Under new trainer Pernell Whitaker he stopped Kaizer Mabuza impressively with an accurate volley of punches in his previous bout. He had come up short against his best opponents; Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather and Kostya Tszyu, but with only the Tszyu fight coming at 140 pounds. Khan meanwhile is unbeaten at 140, and hasn’t lost since joining 3 time trainer of the year Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Gym following a shocking 54 second upset loss to Breidis Prescott in 2008.

Judah is normally a fast starter but that didn’t prove to be the case in this bout. Khan started the fight the aggressor using his reach advantage to good effect. The jab appeared key to the game plan of each man, with Khan’s stiff jab controlling range, while Judah’s multiple fast jabs often fell short. In the first round there was a clash of heads, a common occurrence when a southpaw meets an orthodox fighter. Luckily this caused no meaningful damage and had no further impact on the fight.

Khan continued well in the second round, moving well and putting together combinations, backing Zab into the ropes at one point. Khan appeared to have the physical advantages, and was able to keep his opponent on the back foot. Judah meanwhile appeared hesitant to throw, finding it difficult to react to openings against Khan’s speed. After the round, Whitaker instructed his
charge to jab more and follow through with his left hand, with Roach emphasising the importance of Khan keeping his hands up against the potshotting veteran.

The trend continued over the next two rounds, Khan keeping distance and maintaining a high output to win rounds, with Judah doing little but ship punishment.

The end came in the fifth when Judah ducked low after a Khan right hand connected, leaving himself open to a powerful right uppercut delivered to the beltline. Judah cried foul but the referee continued his count, with Judah either unable or unwilling (after the fight he claimed
that he believed the referee was giving him to recover) to rise before he reached 10. Replays showed the punch landing on the belt and few gave credence to Judah’s complaints.

It was an unsatisfying performance from Judah who was never able to trouble Khan, and lost every round. Compubox showed Khan landing 61 to Judah’s 20 punches, throwing over twice as many at a higher percentage connect rate. Khan boxed confidently, the Olympic Silver medallist
improving his record to 26-1, while Judah drops to 41-7.

The most anticipated fight in the division would be a unification against unbeaten American Timothy Bradley, which would prove beyond doubt who is the best 140 pounder. With rumours that Khan may soon move up to join the Welterweight ranks this must happen sooner rather than later. Khan continues to impress and, with the backing of Golden Boy Promotions, looks to have a number of options for his next fight, likely to be towards the end of this year.