Casamayor and Judah both win in ring returns

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Four-time world champion Joel Casamayor and three-time champ Zab Judah both earned victories in their returns to the ring on Friday night.

Casamayor earned a unanimous decision victory over Jason Davis with all three judges scoring the super-lightweight bout 79-73. In the co-main event, Judah stopped Ubaldo Hernandez in the second round.

Judah floored Hernandez twice late in the first round and sent him to the canvas again early in the second with a hard body shot. Hernandez winced in pain and was unable to continue. Referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight 35 seconds into the round.

“I trained hard for this fight and I’m on the road to redemption,” Judah said. “It wasn’t much of a fight, but I trained very hard and was in the best shape of my life.”

The 38-year old Casamayor paced himself throughout the first five rounds of his fight before taking control. He landed numerous power punches in the sixth round and dominated the rest of the way.

“I was turning it on in the sixth and getting my rhythm,” Casamayor said. “It’s better than a first-round knockout. I needed the work.”

Casamayor is now looking for a title shot.

“I felt real good,” he said. “I haven’t fought in a year. I’m an old school fighter and I’m ready for anyone.”

On the undercard, current WBC light heavyweight champion Ron Johnson’s fight with Dumont Welliver was called a no contest due to an accidental clash of heads early in the second round.

Salvador Sanchez, nephew of the featherweight champion of the same name, earned a unanimous decision victory over Jose Pacheco.