There are no such things as a sure thing. Muhammad Abdullaev was on his way to victory with lopsided margins on all the scorecards. Ghana's Emmanuel Clottey was supposed to the next victim of Abdullaev and not considered a risk for Abdullaev's rise to the Welterweight crown. Clottey, who was one of Mickey Ward's training partners, was prepared for a tough fight. In the fashion of a Mickey Ward, Clottey strategy was simple- just keep fighting and hope for lightening.

The fight had a strange feel to it. For a shutout, it appeared closer. While Abdullaev was winning rounds after rounds, each round had a rough edge to it. Abdullaev was throwing 80- 100 punches per rounds but Clottey was not inactive as he averaged nearly 70 punches a round. Many of these shots hit Abdullaev's face and body, so Abdullaev was not just running through the tough Clottey without paying a price, Eastsideboxing reported.

Abdullaev won the first five rounds and while the judges had Adbullaev winning the sixth round, Clottey actually scored the most effective punches and could have been given the round. The fight had a pattern with Abdullaev moving forward, throwing sledgehammer punches to the face and body whereas Clottey countered. Abdullaev appeared to be the stronger of the two fighters but Clottey handled Abdullaev best shots. Abdullaev zipped powerful shots to Clottey body but somehow, Clottey did not slow down or wear out. Clottey told reporters, "I had good sparring with Mickey Ward… I was so grateful to have been able to work with him. Taking Mickey's body shots definitely helped prepare me for this fight."

Clottey was confident that his endurance would stem the tide but for the first nine rounds, Clottey's strategy did not appear to be working. While he was able to avoid many of Abdullaev's punches but more of Abdullaev punches still penetrated Clottey's defenses. Abdullaev had plenty in the tank at the end of the ninth round and appeared to be fresher of the two fighters. Clottey, despite his best effort, appeared to be on the defensive.

Then came the fateful tenth round. Abdullaev went after Clottey with a vengeance. He was going for the kill. Within the first thirty seconds, Clottey's knee buckled after being nailed by an Abdullaev right. Abdullaev moved forward as Clottey retreated.

Then boomed. Clottey's nailed Abdullaev with the perfect left hook. Abdullaev stood straight up as yet another hook plastered him. Abdullaev swung around in a 180-degree circle as he proceeded into the rope. Confused and daze, he stood straight up and his corner signaled for Abdullaev to take a knee.

Abdullaev took a knee but while staring at referee Gasper Ortega, he watched as the referee count him out. Whether Abdullaev was unable toprehend what was going around because he could not understand the referee or he just was too dazed to know what was going, it did not matter. He was counted out. Two judges had the fight 89-92 and the third judge 90-81 in Abdullaev's favor. All Abdullaev had to do was just finish the fight.

For Emmanuel Clottey, this was his moment of glory. On National Television, he produced the biggest upset of the evening. Behind on point, Clottey did not give up and even as he was being effectively shut out- Clottey continued to throw punches.

Usually in a fight with this lopsided scoring, the loser is being beaten to a pulp but in this case, Clottey was making each round close. He was losing the fight, that there was no doubt. Clottey decided that he was not going to be just an opponent or speed bump for Abdullaey's rise. By beingpetitive, he gave himself a chance to win. One punch and Abdullaev tasted the canvas for the first time.

Abdullaey is excellent prospect and certainly this could be a learning experience. Now he muste back from defeat. As for Clottey, this was his moment of glory. By winning this fight, Clottey has now be amodity in his own right. Clottey canmand a bigger purse while fighting bigger names. A victory like this is a career enhancer for a workhorse like Clottey. Clottey's sparring partner knows this fact so well. For Mickey Ward, his fighting style and occasional big win allowed him to make a good living in the ring and he now was getting ready to step into the ring against Arturo Gatti for one last big pay day. Lightening does sometimes strike in boxing.