Rivera approaches the ring looking stone-faced and determined; he salutes the crowd in his Mexican colors. Judah looks businesslike as he makes his way to the ring, speaking to himself, most likely in an attempt to psyche himself into a fight winning effort.

Round one: Both fighters come out jabbing but it is not long before Judah lands his powerful straight left, and Rivera cannot handle the power. Rivera goes down hard, straight on his back and gets up, nonetheless with a smile on his face. Judah comes in hard once again and lands a right hook that puts Rivera down again in a disastrous opening stanza for him. Rivera gets up again with the same smile on his face, but he is soon on the end of more powerful Judah punches. It seems as if Rivera, perhaps not hurt, but is definitely shaken by virtually everything that Judah lands. Judah lands hard once again to emphatically end an overwhelmingly successful round for him.

Score: 10-7 Judah.

Round two: Judah starts off jabbing once again and doing as he pleases with a fighter he seems to know he can put away at any time. Judah's speed is far too much for Rivera to deal with. Judah begins to set Rivera up for powerful punches once again. At ringside, one week after going through hell to claim the WBC lightweight title, a healing Diego Corrales is bobs and weaves as if he would love to be back in there at that instant.

Score: 10-9 Judah.

Round three: Rivera gets in a right hand. Rivera is much more active in this round but is checked into place by a Judah left hand. Rivera is hurt by more punches including an uppercut and finally, a huge right hook that seems to catch Rivera high on the temple. Rivera gets up, but there is no smile on his face and referee Joe Cortez has seen enough.

The winner, by TKO in the third round, and still the undisputed welterweight champion of the world, Zab "Super" Judah.

Click to read more boxing articles by Jim Cawkwell

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