By Mark Vester
As reported last week, talks were taking place to match Zab Judah (36-5, 25 KOs) and Joshua Clottey (34-2, 20 KOs) on August 2 for the vacant IBF welterweight title. Antonio Margarito, who won the title from Kermit Cintron last month, is vacating the title in order to challenge WBA champion Miguel Cotto on July 26.
Judah was scheduled to face Shane Mosley in the headline bout of a May 31 HBO pay-per-per-view bout. He was forced to withdraw after slipping in the shower and badly cutting his right arm, and needed 50-stiches to close the wounds.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef informed Dan Rafael that Judah-Clottey will be televised by HBO on their "Boxing After Dark" series.
"We agreed to terms and we are drawing up contracts for Aug. 2 and sending them out," duBoef said. "I think it's a make or break fight for both guys."
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