Clottey won by unanimous decision after the fight was halted
Ghana's Joshua Clottey beat American Zab Judah after nine rounds to win the IBF welterweight title in Las Vegas.
The fight ended after Judah said he could not see because of a cut above his right eye.
Referee Robert Byrd had ruled the cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads, so the result was then decided by the scorecards.
Two of the judges scored it 86-85 for Clottey and the other scored it 87-84 for the African fighter.
Afterwards, Clottey said he was "very hopeful" of meeting WBA champion Antonio Margarito, who knocked out Miguel Cotto last week, in his next bout.
In 2006, Clottey lost a close decision to Margarito in a fight he was winning until he broke a knuckle in his right hand in the fifth round.
On Saturday, Judah began the busier fighter, showing fast hands and throwing effective combinations behind a stinging southpaw jab.
However, Clottey kept a tight defence and blocked many of Judah's punches on his arms and gloves.
Clottey began steadily closing the distance between himself and his opponent from the third round, landing an increasing number of heavy blows that took their toll on the New York fighter.
And although Judah staged a comeback in the sixth, circling Clottey and landing flurries, his output dropped in the seventh and his right eye began to swell in the eighth.
Clottey appeared to be dominating the ninth round when the bout was stopped.
Boxer Joshua Clottey of Ghana is the new International Boxing Federation welterweight champion. He beat Zab Judah of the United States Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada after the fight was stopped in the ninth round. The IBF title was vacant ahead of this fight.

Clottey won by a technical knockout after Judah was declared vision impaired. Judah had suffered a cut above his right eye, which was ruled an accidental headbutt by referee Robert Byrd.

Boxing analysts, however, say replays show it was caused by a punch. Since it was past the eight round, the rules of the fight called for a decision from the ringside judges.

Clottey was declared the winner 86-85 according to two judges and 87-84 by the third judge's card.

Clottey has had two previous title attempts. One ended with what the The Canadian Press calls a "bizarre disqualification" to Carlos Manuel Baldomir in 1999. The other was a unanimous point defeat to current World Boxing Association champion, Antonio Margarito after he broke his right hand in the fifth round.