Fight Night Coverage: Lopez-Marquez, Johnson-Green, Judah-Matthysse & Guerrero-Escobedo

The Showtime telecast is on the air. Updates will start shortly.

The fighters are in the ring. The fight should be starting momentarily.

The ref is Robert Byrd. Final instructions have been given.

Glen came out pressing, and Green tried to make him pay with a hook, but missed over the top with it. Now the action is in the middle of the ring. Johnson is definitely looking like the fighter more willing to engage as Green is circling when Glen edges forward. Johnson just landed a glancing overhand right. Now Johnson landed a thudding straight right that got Green’s attention. Johnson looked sharp a couple minutes in. Green hasn’t really let his hands go yet. Johnson has the guard up high, while he pressed forward while Green is in counter-punching mode on the outside. Johnson again bangs home a decent shot and Green grabs him. Green keeping his distance here as the seconds tick down on round 1. Good round for the old man.

Green is sticking out his jab on occasion to try and keep Glen at long range. Glen’s managing to get inside though and push Green back. Glen with a decent jab there. Glen definitely looking the more comfortable of the two fighters but it will be interesting to see how his stamina holds up. Johnson tried to work Green over in the corner, but Green slipped away. Johnson back to stalking. Glen’s also working the body when he attacks, though Green’s managed to stay at a decent range this round. Green now fires off a combo into the guard. Green with another combo. He’s starting to let his hands go a bit. 45 seconds left in the round. Green again pops off a quick combo. He’s not really planting and ripping with these, but rather getting off a few quick shots and then quickly moving away. Better round from Green. There’s the bell.

We start the round with a clinch. Johnson trying to get inside, but Green ties him up. Johnson is pressing forward, trying to work the body and gets tied up again. Green now pops off a combo and slips away. Green maintaining the distance he needs here. Green again sticks a shot in and quickly gets out of there, before tying up Glen. Glen now fires as shot to the body and there’s another clinch. Johnson keeps pushing forward, but Green again ties him up. Mess action with plenty of clinches this round. More clinching. Glen’s trying to maul Green and bang to the body. Green manages to escape, but Glen drills him to the body again! Glen hammers Green into the ropes! Green looked in rough shape along the ropes there, but the bell saved him. He was looking fairly sharp until that late flurry from Johnson.

Glen chasing after Green to start the round, and gets tied up. Green’s got Glen’s left arm locked up in the middle of the ring. Green still doesn’t look too good as he’s looking to hold. Now he’s in retreat. Now he again looks to hold. Glen tries to dig to the body in the clinch. Robert Byrd has been warning Green for the excessive holding. Johnson now bulls Green into the ropes and bangs him with a right. Green escapes and retreats across the ring. Green looking to hold some more, as Glen bangs away in close. Now Glen pushes Green back into the ropes. 1 minute left in the round, with Johnson in complete control. Green now bangs home a combo, finishing it off with a body shot. Better from Green. Glen might need a breather here. Green now with another decent combo. Green has his legs back and looking a lot more comfortable. Glen trying to push forward and Green ties him up. Byrd again warns Green to stop holding. Johnson trying to get work done inside as the bell rings.

Glen pressing forward to start the round, but Green lands a nice combo before slipping away. More clinching now on the inside. Mauling action in close here, with the fighters half locked up and leaning on each other. Green with a jab and then slides away. More clinching. Glen trying to get close, but Green with the jab and moves. Green now backs home a 1-2 combo. Glen bulls him into the ropes, and there’s another clinch. Johnson with a nice right hand. Green backs away before stopping and firing his own right hand. Glen keeps stalking. He gets in close, but is tied up again. Now Green retreats. Glen misses with a left, and is warned by Byrd for pushing. More clinching. Yet more clinching. Green has blood coming from his nose. He fires of a 1-2 though. Glen trying to work inside, but Green slips away. Glen chasing, and lands just before the bell.

Action in the middle of the ring to start the round. There’s another clinch. Decent exchange where both fighters unloaded. Now Glen pushes Green back. The showtime crew feels Green is struggling, though Bernstein has him up by a point. Johnson keeps pushing forward. He digs to the body and there’s a clinch. Green jumps in with a combo, landing a decent left in the process. Green now pops home a right. There’s a clinch. Johnson is backing Green away, though Green is doing okay at staying out of range. Johnson bangs to the body. Johnson now with a right hand. Green forces a clinch. Johnson bangs a hard right hand home. Green immediately ties him up. Johnson with another right hand and Green retreats and forces another clinch. Big finish to the round for Johnson. There’s the bell.

Press row has it 3-3, 3-3 and 4-2 Johnson. Bernstein and Tarver have it 3-3 as well.

Johnson is pressing the action here. Green circling away. Johnson just landed a nice hook. Green now circling away again. Johnson trying to slip inside, and bangs home a right hand. Now Johnson digs hard with a left hand to the body. Johnson with another left to the body. Green looking a little sluggish here, as Glen getting some good work done. Green fires home a nice left though. Action on the inside here in the middle of the ring. Johnson just digs home another nice shot. Green fires back, but Johnson banged home a right in return. Nice exchange there. Tarver comments that Green is keeping his left too low. Johnson slips a shot and tries to bang to the body as Green backs away.

The crew feels the 7th was very tight. I thought Johnson had a clear edge.

Boom! Suddenly Green is down! Big right hand from Johnson! He’s in rough shape, but manages to struggle to his feet. He’s in no shape to continue though and this fight is over!

The punch that hurt Green landed on the side/back of the head. Green was arguing while on the canvas. Antonio Tarver points out that Green was leaning down and away, and created the angle for the punch to land and really can have no complaints. “He should have kept his left hand up.” – Tarver

36 seconds of round 8.

68-65 Johnson, 67-66 Green, 67-66 Green

Press row had Johnson up 68-65, and 67-66 twice.

Not much happening right now.

Rafael Marquez is on the way to the ring. He’s pounding his gloves together as he makes his way in.

Juan Manuel Lopez has joined Marquez in the ring. Fireworks starting shortly.

Our referee is Tony Weeks. The final instructions have been given, and we’re ready to go!

We’re underway. Marquez is in red, Lopez in blue. Action in the middle of the ring, though neither has opened up through the first 30 seconds. 1 minute in and neither has committed. Rafa is edging forward a little. Cautious, but very tense so far. Marquez tried to fire a right, but was short. He landed a little hook though. Lopez has the guard up. He fires off a right hook, but is short. Marquez with a jab. Lopez fires his own jab, but is short. Lopez now edging forward slightly, but misses badly with a straight left. Action in the middle of the ring. Both fighters throwing jabs that are short. Marquez with a left that glances. Lopez with a hook that landed. Now Lopez with a heavy flurry just before the bell. I think he might have landed something decent there.

Lopez won that late exchange to close the round. Landed a decent right hook.

Lopez edging forward early in the round. He comes forward and tries to fire, but Marquez slips away. Action in the middle of the ring. Lopez is short with a left to the body. Lopez with a right hook that’s also short, but he’s edging forwad and Marquez backs away into the corner. There’s a break and the action is back in the middle. Lopez is edging forward with a little more initiative than in the previous round. Good hook from Lopez. A little flurry from Lopez. Now Lopez backs Marquez back into the ropes. Marquez fires home his own hook though. It seems Lopez is doing a better job of commanding his space though. He’s looking like the the stronger man. He’s short with a left. He’s edging forward again, as Marquez slides away to his right. Now Lopez pushes forward and misses with a left. He lands a left. Marquez is short with a right. Marquez with a combo just before the bell, though not sure if he landed cleanly.

I’ll flip over as soon as this fight is over.

Both fighters firing otu jabs to start the round. Now they open up, though neither landed cleanly. Lopez comes forward and tries to flurry. Marquez though is standing his ground, and now Lopez circles away. Action in the middle of the ring. Lopez now edging forward. Marquez bangs home a counter hook though. Marquez bangs to the body. Lopez misses badly, and Marquez lands a decent counter. Marquez with another solid counter, but Lopez took it well. Good shots from Marquez there. Robert Byrd calls time and warns the fighters to keep it clean. Lopez with a big left hand that staggers Marquez. Marquez may have been slightly off-balance. He’s got his legs. Lopez bangs home a nice shot inside. Marquez fires back though. Action really heating up here. Good fight!

Marquez edging forward here early. Action in the middle of the ring. Both fighters flicking out jabs. Lopez with a right hook, and Marquez complains it was to the back of the head. Lopez presses fowrard though. Marquez circling away. Lopez fires a hook that’s short. Marquez with a right hand. Lopez just looks stronger. He’s backing Marquez up here. Marquez forces a clinch. Lopez is warned for pushing down in the clinch. Lopez fires a left hand. Tarver says Marquez needs to do something to squash Marquez’s momentum. And he does! Lands a big shot that staggers Lopez! Lopez is hurt! Marquez on the attack! Lopez backing off. He took another big shot. He doesn’t look steady, but he’s firing back. Now he lands to the back of Marquez’s head and he’s going to lose a point. Lopez is getting a breather though out of this to clear his head. Action resumes. 24 seconds left in the round. Lopez was buzzed and he got some extra time. Marquez pushes forward and Lopez bangs his gloves together! Marquez bangs home another shot. Lopez fires a right hook just before the bell. What a round!

Lopez edging forward and fires off a hook that misses to start the round. Action in the middle of the ring. Lopez is short with a right. Big exchange! Both landed solid shots. Lopez is short with another straight left. Lopez just misses with a left. Tony Weeks is now warning Lopez for pushing down in the clinch. He’s been warned for that before. Nice hook on the inside by Marquez. Lopez with a left inside. Lopez pushing forward here, but Marquez looking comfortable. He just missed with a hook. 1 minute to go in the round. Lopez to the body with a left. Marquez with a right. Good exchange. Lopez with a nice left. Marquez forces a clinch. Lopez tried to fight through it, and Weeks warns him. Lopez with another left. Lopez with a right hook. There’s the bell.

Action in the middle of the ring to start the round. Lopez bouncing on his toes. Now he retreats to the outside as Marquez edges forward. Bernstein has the fight even. Lopez bangs a left to the body. Lopez with another left. He’s pushing forward here. Lopez slips a left, but is short with a counter. Lopez showing more aggression this round, but Marquez looks comfortable. Lopez with a left hand. Lopez with a flurry, not sure if anything landed though. Marquez is on the outside, and forces a clinch. Lopez with a jab, and a left. He fires off a hook as well. Good stuff from Lopez this round. Marquez trying to counter, and there’s a clinch. Marquez misses with a hook. Lopez with a right. Marquez trying to counter off the ropes. Lopez with a cuffing hook. Lopez now trying to dig to the body. He landed a little shot inside. Marquez tries to fire back, but Lopez just pushes him back into the ropes. Strong round for Lopez.

Lopez with a right hand on the inside early. Lopez tries to fire back though. Press row all have Lopez in front, 58-55 twice and 57-56. Bernstein has Lopez up by 1. Tarver though has Lopez up by 3. Lopez digs with a hook on the inside. Marquez maybe feeling the pace here. Lopez is busy and outhustling Marquez here. Lopez with a nice shot inside. Marquez countering back, but Lopez with the better shots and he backs Marquez off. Lopez with another solid shot. Big hook from Marquez in return! Lopez with a little uppercut though. Lopez keeps pushing forward. Marquez bangs him back with a hook though. Lopez just looking stronger. Marquez though bangs him back with a right hand. Lopez flurries back and pushes Marquez against the ropes. Nice left from Lopez. More heavy shots from Lopez. Lopez banging away with Marquez on the ropes. Marquez trying to fight back. Lopez looking stronger though. He’s now warned from Tony Weeks yet again. Lopez gets right back to work though. He lands a couple more shots before the bell. Very good round for Lopez.

Lopez looks to be wearing Marquez down, but he’s always open for a counter. Marquez still has the chance to change things with one big shot.

Action in the middle of the ring to start the round. Nice exchange in the middle. Lopez firing away, but Marquez standing his ground and looking to counter. Lopez with a little hook in close. Lopez with another left. Marquez tries to bang back to the body, but he’s cracked upstairs by Lopez. Lopez pushes him back. Lopez with a little hook in close. Lopez with a left. Lopez just misses with an uppercut. Marquez standing his ground here and fires to the body. Lopez though responds with a heavy left hand. Tarver doesn’t think Marquez’s legs look good. Lopez just misses with a left. Lopez with a hook. Lopez with a left. He’s backing Marquez up again. Marquez now with his back to the ropes, and Lopez banging away. Marquez fires back with a left hook, but Lopez takes it well and keeps coming. Lopez with more heavy leather. A nice right hook. Marquez with his back to the ropes and trying to counter. He lands a right, but Lopez just keeps coming. Gritty stuff from Marquez. He’s firing back! Lopez just keeps coming though! Terrific stuff!

Things are not looking good for Marquez. He’s starting to take a bit of a pounding.

Marquez is not coming out for round 9.

Marquez has an issue with his right shoulder.

We’re in round 7 of Guerrero/Escobedo.

But we’ll figure it out. Lampley and Kellerman are commentating.

Harold has it a shut-out so far.

Guerrero edging forrward here. Escobedo on the outside, looking to counter. The atmosphere feels VERY subdued compared to the buzz you could sense with Lopez/Marquez. Escobedo with a hook. According to Lampley, Guerrero has been aggressive so far, looking to do damage. That’s certainly a contrast to his rather cautious performance against Casamayor. He’s edging forward, and bangs a right hand to the body. Escobedo lands a hook. Roy comments that his punches are having no effect on Guerrero. Escobedo comes forward and just misses as Guerrero dances away. There’s the bell.

It’s hard to get into this fight after the action of the previous one.

Guerrero is pushing forward. Escobedo on the outside. Decent exchange. Another good one that Guerrero got the better of. Escobedo now edging forward and he gets tied up. Escobedo with a counter right. Another good right from Escobedo. He’s losing badly according to the crew, but has been doing okay since we’ve switched over from Showtime. Lampley just mentioned that Guerrero has scored two knockdowns so far. Time ticking off here in the 9th.

This one is schedule for 10, so this it. Escobedo has 3 minutes to pull it off. Harold gave him the 8th and 9th.

Escobedo pushing forward here. Harold comments that he should have been doing this from the start. Action in the middle of the ring. Guerrero with a hook. Another hook and he slips away. Guerrero with a jab to the body. Escobedo tries to get inside, but Guerrero dances away. Guerrero with a 1-2. Nice exchange in the middle of the ring. 1:10 to go. Escobedo trying to press, but Guerrero again slips away. The crew says it’s been a “good brawl.” Escobedo flurrying and backing Guerrero intot he ropes. Guerrero gets out of there though. 10 seconds left. Escobedo again trying to flurry. There’s the bell.

100-88, 98-90, 96-92 for Guerrero

Zab is getting ready to make his entrance.

Michael Buffer with the introductions.

We’re underway. Action in the middle of the ring. Lucas lunges in and misses with a right. Zab flicks out a couple jabs that are short. Roy likes Zab using the jab. Lucas short with a right. Fairly tentative stuff so far from both fighters. Zab again flicking out a jab from long range. Too far away to score wth it though. Now Zab edging forward and misses over the top with a straight left. Zab with a couple jabs. Lucas short with a straight right. The speed difference is very apparent early. 1:00 to go. Zab just misses with a left. Zab now sticking the jab in. Zab with a straight left through the guard. Good shot. Lucas misses a jab. There’s an awkward exchange and the fighters clinch. There’s the bell.

Zab flicking out the jab to start the round. He won the opener on Harold’s card. Lampley mentions the possibility of a head clash with the southpaw/orthodox match-up. That’s always a concern. Zab keeps flicking out the jab. Lucas hasn’t really go through with anything yet. He’s short with a right. Action in the middle of the ring. Fairly tentative. Lucas misses with a right. Zab sticks in a jab. Lucas just mised with a right. 1:00 to go. Lucas to the body with a left. Zab is firing the jab, but not really much else and Lucas hasn’t opened up yet. It’s fairly pedestrian stuff so far. Lucas short with a right. Zab circling. Zab short with a left. There’s the bell.

Let’s hope this picks up a bit. Harold has it 2-0 for Zab. Very little to speak of so far. I think Lucas needs to step up and force matters here. Both fighters flicking out jabs. 2:00 to go. Lucas with a 1-2. Zab probing with his jab from the outside. Lucas is short with a right. Lucas tries to go downstairs, but is short. Lucas lets go with a 1-2, though don’t think either landed. Lucas with a nice left hand to the body. Zab misses with a jab. Zab now edging forward, but he’s not opening up with anything. The fans are starting to get a little restless. Zab with a left. Decent shot. Another one from Zab. There’s the bell.

There was a clash of heads in the previous round and Zab has a small cut by his left eye. Harold has it 2-1.

Action in the middle of the ring. Both fighters still fairly cautious. Zab is short with a 1-2. Lucas tries to go to the body, but misses. Still not much to speak of in terms of landed punches by either fighter. Zab has a little blood trickling from the cut by his left eye. 1:00 to go in the round. Zab flicking out the jab. Lucas short with a right. Zab with a couple jabs. Lucas is short to the body. He’s short again. Zab flicks out a few jabs that are short. Lucas fires to the body. There’s the bell.

The action is in short supply here. Harold has it 2-2. Not sure what Matthysse did to earn the round, but he got the 4th according to Harold.

Little to report here in the 5th. Zab jumps in with a hook. Lucas tries to counter. Lucas is short with a left. There’s an exchange and they clinch. 1:00 to go. Lucas with a right hand. Judah with some decent lefts over the last little bit of the round.

I’m starting to fade here. Must remain focused!

Action in the middle of the ring. Zab flicking out the left, Lucas short with rights. Lucas misses again. Lucas tries to push forward and lands a left. Zab with the jab. Lucas to the body with a right. Zab sticking the jab from the outside. Lampley comments that Lucas is just not quick enough to counter the jab. That’s fairly accurate. That’s all Zab has really done. Jabs. Zab with a hook. There’s the bell.

Harold has it 3-3.

Let’s have action. This is very tactical, and not thrilling. Neither man committing to much. Zab sticking the jab and staying at long range. Lucas just a little too slow to land from range, and not pressing with much intensity. 2:00 to go. There’s a clinch. Zab is short with a straight left. Lucas short with a hook. Lucas misses again. Zab is short with a couple of jabs. Lucas short with a right. Lucas sticks home a right hand. Lucas with a 1-2, not sure if either landed. There’s another clinch. Lucas tries to press and gets tied up. Lucas short to the body. He’s short again. Zab is short with a jab. A lot of punches failing to find the mark. There’s a clinch. There’s the bell.

The crowd is getting restless.

Harold with Zab up 4-3.

Zab with a nice counter. Lucas trying to get aggressive and Zab tags him with another counter. Now there’s a clash of heads, and Brown warns Matthysse. Lucas is short to the body. Let’s see if Lucas starts to pick it up a little and force the action here. The fight needs some sparks. He’s short to the body. Again he’s short with a right to the body. Zab flicking out the jab from range. Zab just landed a decent counter left. There’s a clinch. Zab circling from the outside, with Lucas just too slow to get into range. Zab with a 1-2. Lucas tries to force the action and gets tied up. Another clinch. Lucas tries to flurry, and there’s the bell.

Harold has it 5-3 for Zab.

Lucas trying to get inside, but he’s missing and getting tied up. Very little to speak of this round as usual. Zab flicking out the jab and there’s the bell. Lucas misses with a right. Lucas again short with a right as Zab backs away. Lucas with a right to the body and Zab ties him up along the ropes. Another clinch. Lucas with a right hand that misses, but follows it up with a left to the body that may have landed. Lucas showing a little more initiative here. Zab dancing away. He slips under a straight right. Lucas with a 1-2. Zab backing away. Lucas trying to flurry, but misses. Now there’s a clinch. Lucas presses forwad, and Zab ties him up again. Lucas pushes forward and misses with a hook. Zab misses with a hook. There’s the bell.

Lucas pushes forward here early in the 10th. Trying to force the issue. Harold has it 6-3 now. Zab with a counter left. Lucas manages to bang the body. Lucas is short with a left, and Zab ties him up. Zab is short with a jab. Big right from Matthysse!! Down goes Judah! He’s up at 5. Zab tries to catch Lucas with a hook immediately. Lucas pushes forward and bangs Zab into the ropes. Zab forces a clinch. Zab now pushes Lucas back into the ropes to buy more time. Lucas with a big hook. Lucas forces Zab into the ropes and Zab forces another clinch. Zab firs off a hard counter, but Lucas keeps coming. There’s a clinch. Another clinch. Zab seems to have his legs. He misses with a big uppercut. Lucas with a right hand that lands. Zab retreats into the ropes. Lucas trying to press here, and there’s another clinch. There’s the bell!

Lucas quickly on the attack. He backs Zab up into the ropes immediately and Zab grabs on. Zab in retreat circling away. Lucas chasing. Zab forces another clinch. Lucas with a left to the body. Zab on the outside, circling away. Zab again forces a clinch. Lucas pushing forward, lands another right. Zab tries to get some space, but he eats another right. Zab along the ropes, trying to slip away from trouble. Now he forces a clinch. All the good work being done by Matthysse here. Another clinch. 1:20 to go. Lucas with a left. He edges forward. Zab with a counter, but Lucas bangs home another right. Down goes Judah, but it’s ruled a push. Perhaps their feet got tangled. Zab in retreat. he backs into the ropes. Lucas follows and bangs away before Zab forces another clinch. Lucas is really pressing hard, while Zab is in survival mode. 20 seconds to go in the round. Lucas bangs home a right. He forces Zab into the corner. Zab manages to escape. There’s the bell.

Harold has it 6-5 Judah. Even with the knockdown.

Lucas putting the pressure on early in the final round. Zab circling away on the outside. He forces a clinch. Lucas is short with a right. Zab forces another clinch. Lucas trying to chase Zab down. Zab backs into the ropes before firing off a quick counter and escaping to the side. Lucas is short with a 1-2. Lucas misses with a right. Zab with a jab. Zab tries to go to the body and there’s another clinch. 1:30 to go. Lucas misses with a right. Zab on the move, slides away to his left. he is using the full ring as he moves away from Matthysse’s pressure. Another clinch. Lucas with a right. Zab holds again. Zab using all the tricks to try and slow his pursuer down. Lucas with a right. Judah now lands a nice counter. He forces a clinch, while Lucas tries to bang to the body. Lucas with a combo with Zab along the ropes. Zab forces another clinch. There’s the bell.

114-113 Matthysse, 114-113 Judah, 114-113 for the winner… Zab Judah.