Third Time’s the Charm for Clinton Woods
By Scott Mallon September 2nd, 2006Clinton Woods squeaks by Glen Johnson in rubber match
It wasn’t pretty but Clinton Woods squeaked out a mildly controversial split decision over Glen “The Road Warrior� Johnson, winning the third bout of their trilogy. The first bout between the two ended in a draw, the second went to Johnson and now Woods has evened the score.
The fight was a back and forth affair which saw both fighters throwing punches from start to finish. The first half of the fight was close but in round nine, a seemingly tired Johnson threw caution to the wind, pouring it on and trying to finish Woods. A battered but game Woods held on and then came on strong in the final three rounds to snatch the victory away from Johnson. Going in to the final round, Johnson’s corner told him “we need this round to win the fight� but Johnson had nothing left to give and held for the majority of the round.
Judge Ric Bays: 115-112 Woods, Judge Mickey Vann: 115-113 Johnson, Judge Roberto Ramirez: 116-112 Woods. The Sweet Science had it 115-114 in favor of Woods.
On the undercard, Souleymane M’baye TKO’d Raul Horacio Balbi in round four to win the WBA’s version of the vacant light heavyweight championship. Balbi was put down twice in the second round and once in the fourth prompting referee Paul Thomas to stop the contest.
Up and coming lightweight sensation Amir Khan made quick work of Ryan Barrett, knocking him down three times before the referee stepped in and stopped the carnage at 1:51 of round one. In a post-fight interview promoter Frank Warren stated he thought Barrett might last five or six rounds and the early finish surprised him.
September 3rd, 2006 at 12:45 pm
I guess RJJ will have to beat up Woods on his way back to the light-heavy crown. After that, Jeff Lacy, then for the coup de gras, CALZAGHE!! Merry Christmas to me!
September 4th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
Diggy your a dreamer!!! RJJ is well and truly over the hill, he might give clinton a good fight but he wouldnt beat him,,,pmsl, as for Calzaghe ,the welsh wizard would knock RJJ into the next decade,RJJ couldnt have beaten Calzaghe in his prime and definatley not now.Anyway Diggy you gotta have some optimism i guess,lets hope they get it on just so you see im right.
September 4th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Hey Dan, the optimism was reserved for the Calzaghe portion of my comment. Woods couldn’t beat Jones on his best day; niether could Lacy. As a matter of fact, I am only being MILDLY optimistic about Calzaghe, provided their fight would come off at 175. RJJ is not washed up and his next match will prove it. Great boxers lose sometimes, but the true measure of a man is getting up off the ground and coming back. THAT’S ROY JONES, JR. BODYHEEEEEAAAAAAAD!!
September 5th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
RJJ isn’t the force he was. He’d struggle with Woods now, he’d struggle with Lacy probably. I don’t know how it’d have been when both Clazaghe and RJJ were in their “primes”, but I think RJJ might have eked it on points.
Now though? RJJ would go out.