JAFFA BALLOGOU vs DANIEL JUDAH

Promoter Bob Duffy puts on a “Holiday Hits" show at the Roseland Ballroom in New York on Thursday headed by southpaw light-heavies Jaffa Ballogou and Daniel Judah, who meet in a 12-rounder with the Togo-born, Manhattan-based Ballogou defending the IBF International title.

These are veterans who have been around for a long time. Ballogou, 40, has been a pro for 20 years and way back in 1997 he fought Frankie Liles for the WBA 168-pound title on Showtime, losing a widely scored, unanimous decision but dropping his fellow-southpaw in the ninth round. (This was in the days when Don King was the exclusive promoter for Showtime and the commentators were Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, Bobby Czyz and Steve Albert, with only the latter remaining on board with the network.)

Ballogou’s career has been punctuated by long layoffs. In his last fight he had a real struggle with the 40-year-old Manu Ntoh in an all-Africa fight that saw Ballogou win in the 11th after being down in the first round: The fight was level on the scorecards going into the 11th. That was Ballogou’s first fight in two years.

Judah, 31, has not been very active, either, with just three bouts in two years although a shoulder injury suffered against Darnell Wilson forced a year’s layoff.

I doubt if the sports books will offer a line on the fight, but I make this a toss-up with Judah a slight favourite seeing as he is the younger man by nine years and probably the more naturally talented. However, Judah can be extremely defensive, and Ballogou could be the more determined man. Despite Ballogou’s age and inactivity I think he can outwork Judah for what I would consider a mild upset.