The Black Panther Becomes an Alley Cat!

By: Bill Ethan
June 6th, Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, Canada Herman “Black Panther” Ngoudjo won a 12 round unanimous decision over WBA light-welterweight champion Souleymane M'baye in their IBF 140 pound final elimination bout. The victory places NGoudjo in the drivers seat becoming the mandatory challenger for IBF champion Paul Malignaggi title belt. Many felt Malignaggi was lucky to get by Ngoudjo this past January and will certainly demand the rematch.
Mbaye used his his jab early while Ngoudjo content attacking the Frenchman’s body. Mbaye caught Ngoudjo in the second round with a shot to the left eye which began to swell immediately.

Fighting with his left eye swollen closed the “Black Panther” fought like a cornered alley cat. Ngoudjo showed tremendous courage and toughness focusing like a true champion.

Adding to the swelling over his left eye was a cut added by a M'baye punch in the fourth round causing referee Marlon Wright to call in the ringside doctor before start of the fifth round. After being ok’ed Ngoudjo moved to his right when in danger and continued to outwork the slick M'baye who could not capitalize on the injury.

Ngoudjo earned the right to meet Brooklyn’s IBF light welterweight champ Paulie Malignaggi this October unless “the MagicMan” makes a move familiar to Hatton and relinquishes the belt.Ngoudjo kept up the pressure and changed the momentum the ninth round winning the later rounds.both fighters went for broke in the twefth but Ngoudjo’s aggressiveness won him the shot.The judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-112, 115-113 the “Black Panther” who threw 150 more shots landing 100 more. The ball is in Malignaggi’s court, will the money shown it’s evil face.

On the undercard: Middleweight Sebastien Demers 25-1, 9 Ko’s dominated      Sam “The Punching Policeman” Hill 17-8-1, 10 Ko’s winning by the lopsided   scores of 80-72, 80-71 and 80-70.

France's Ali Chebah 26-0-0, 20 Ko’s beat down last-minute replacement Jorge Luis Lopez 12-24, 10 Ko’s before referee Michael Griffin called for the ringside doctor put an end to the fight at 1:06 of round five.

Light middleweight David Lemieux 8-0-0, 8Ko’s disposed of Julio Gonzalez 7-5, 5 Ko’s at 2:28 of the second round with a tremendous body assault.

Manolis Plaitis 12-0-0, 7Kos decisioned Bakary Sako 7-6-3, 1 Ko, 97-93 times three.

Nicholson Poulard 10-2-0, 5 KO’s stopped Chris Archer 9-4-0, 5 Ko’s when he remained on his stool at the opening bell of the fifth round.