Tavoris Cloud vs. Clinton Woods: Friday Night Fights Round By Round

It's two title fights on one broadcast for the 2009 season finale of Friday Night Fights. First up is a light heavyweight title bout between undefeated Tavoris Cloud and former belt holder Clinton Woods.

Bob Wischusen is in for Joe Tessitore, alongside Teddy Atlas at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Florida. We get a video package that fills us in on the tough upbringing of Cloud, who has been flying under the radar thanks to a year of inactivity.

Woods enters the ring first. He is 42-4-1, and he lost to Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver in his only two previous fights in the U.S.

Cloud is a Florida native and has 18 KOs in his 19 pro fights. He's taking a big step up in competition in this fight, though he did hand Julio Cesar Gonzalez his first ever knockout loss last summer.

The fighter intros are over and it's time for action, scheduled for 12 rounds for the vacant IBF light heavyweight title.

Round One

Cloud goes right after Woods, who stands his ground and tries to throw back. Now Woods comes forward behind his jab. Nice right hand off the jab by Cloud. Woods doubles the jab and tries his own right. Cloud shakes his head as both men score with jabs. Woods tries to duck inside and gets tied up. Right hook on the inside by Cloud. Woods keeps two stiff jabs in his foe's face.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round Two

Cloud strikes first and is chased back by left hands. Woods pushes Cloud up against the ropes, trying to trap him. He gets warned by the ref for hitting behind the head, and Cloud gets fired up. Woods lands two nice hooks in tight. Both men can score with jabs almost at will. Woods backs Cloud into the ropes again and lands another hook. Left-right by Woods as they come back to the center. He looks much more comfortable in this round.Right uppercut and hook by Cloud inside, but Woods scores again right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Woods
Uatu: 10-9 Woods

Round Three

Woods covers up well as Cloud comes charging out of his corner again. Tavoris keeps moving as Woods measures more hooks. One-two inside by Woods; Cloud repsonds with a body shot. More body work as Woods tries to use his uppercut. Cloud throws a combo that is punctuated by a sharp right hand. Woods tries to show that he's not bothered. Cloud swings away with wide shots and knocks Woods back into the corner.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round Four

Cloud threw 110 punches last frame. Woods controls the early part of this round in the middle of the ring. They trade jabs and miss hooks. Cloud ties up on the inside. Low shot by Woods but the ref didn't see it. It's still mostly jabs, though Cloud has thrown some showy punches that Woods has blocked. Both men land in a nice exchange, and Cloud goes to the body again. Close round.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round Five

Cloud throws come nice combos with his left hand but it's hard to say if he's landing clean. He measures a right hand, but Woods responds with three of his own. Woods lands a right hook as they lean on each other. The ref steps in again as there is some rabbit punching. Left-right by Cloud as he loses his mouthpiece. Woods stays out of trouble but can't find much but his jab right now. They dance around until the bell this time.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round Six

Woods steps on the gas a bit as the bell starts the sixth. Cloud steps through some fire to land a mean left hook. Both men flurry along the ropes and just miss big right hands. Woods tries to come forward but is met with multiple power shots. Woods jabs but can't deter Cloud from advancing. Cloud lands a nice combo and Woods throws back. Two right hands crash home from Cloud in the last few seconds.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round Seven

Woods' chin is definitely solid, as he's taken some serious shots. A jab battle breaks out again, followed by inside work both ways. Woods scores with the left hook and is forced to retreat by Cloud's counter shots. Left hook by Cloud and he tries pouring it on. Woods escapes and gets back to the center. Both men turn cautious all of a sudden, and nothing of consequence lands in the last 30 seconds.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round Eight

Woods is the aggressor in the opening moments, trying to get that hook untracked again. Wild swings by both fighters as they stand toe-to-toe. Atlas thinks Woods needs to get outside. Combo by Woods but he gets whacked by a left hook at the end. Two lefts sandwiched around a right wobble Woods. He shows some bravado in the corner and they stand and trade. Cloud tries to finish his opponent, but Woods makes it out of the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round Nine

To no one's surprise, Cloud comes out firing and connects with a right hand. The crowd starts a "U.S.A." chant to spur Cloud on. Woods tries to come forward and the ref has to step in twice. Woods lands a few shots but Cloud is able to respond right away. Left hook along the ropes knocks Woods back. Left-right by Cloud right after a break. Both men connect as they trade in the middle of the ring.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round 10

We're getting to the point where Woods may need a knockout to win. He lunges forward with a left hook. Woods still letting his hands go and trying to create distance. Cloud stays wary and bounces around. Combo by Cloud catches Woods flush with a left hook. Woods eats a big right hand and backs into the ropes. Nice action in the last ten seconds as they battle at close range.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round 11

Two rounds to go, and it would be a surprise if Cloud wasn't way ahead. This is the first time he's been past 10 rounds though. Woods works off the jab but Cloud has an answer. Right hand by Cloud and he ducks the counter. He looks like he may be a little tired. Clubbing right by Cloud is answered by Woods. Three-punch combo along the ropes catches Woods. He turns things around right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Round 12

Three minutes to go. The crowd is into it as both men try combinations. Woods chases and is hit coming in. Cloud unleashes to the body while Woods tries hooks. More wrestling forces the ref to intervene. Both boxers just miss with power shots. Ugly fighting in really close, and Cloud tries a few home run shots at the final bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud
Uatu: 10-9 Cloud

Franchise: 119-109 Cloud
Uatu: 119-109 Cloud

The judges score it 116-112 three times, all for the winner... and new IBF light heavyweight titleholder... Tavoris Cloud.

Posted by The Franchise