Mayweather beats Judah, but purses suspended

LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. couldn’t be beaten by the best or the worst of Zab Judah, but it could take days for regulators to unravel the nonsense that erupted in a fight within this title fight.

Mayweather claimed Judah’s IBF welterweight title belt Saturday night with a unanimous 12-round decision, remaining unbeaten and winning a championship in his fourth weight class despite a 10th-round scuffle between trainers and support staff from both camps after Judah hit Mayweather with two illegal blows.

After the fight, the purses were suspended by Skip Avensino, the chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, until videotape of the skirmish could be reviewed. Don King, Judah’s promoter, intended to protest the results and urge a disqualification for Mayweather because of the actions of his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, who jumped into the ring first.

“The fight was over when Roger Mayweather went onto the apron and into the ring,” King said. “It was a total disqualification. The fighter had a third man in the ring. No matter how you look at it, the fighter is disqualified.”

Floyd Mayweather was well on his way to a win on points before Judah sent Mayweather to the canvas with a left hook to Mayweather’s groin and a right to the back of his head. Roger Mayweather, a former 140-pound fighter, crossed the ropes and attempted to challenge Judah, and members of both fighters’ corners followed for several moments of chaos.

After the fight, King even showed a photograph of someone’s hands around Judah’s neck in the melee – and King claimed it was Roger Mayweather.

Though Mayweather stuck out his tongue at a Judah supporter in the 11th, he and Judah hugged before the 12th round, and Mayweather cruised to another title – for now, at least.

“Late in the fight, Roger told me Zab was going to do something dirty, and he did it,” Floyd Mayweather said.

•On the undercard, Juan Diaz returned to the ring, winning an entertaining unanimous decision over Jose Miguel Cotto to retain the WBA lightweight title.

Diaz, 22, succeeded in the third defense of his title after a nine-month absence from the ring caused by injuries and business problems.

In the final fight before Mayweather met Judah, WBC flyweight interim champion Jorge Arce knocked out Rosendo Alvarez in the sixth round.

Earlier on the card, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. beat the latest in a string of overmatched opponents, stopping Tyler Ziolowski in the second round. Vanes Martirosyan, the welterweight on the U.S. Olympic team in Athens, improved to 8-0 as a pro with a second-round TKO of Tefo Seetso.