Las Vegas, NV -- (Sports Network) - Joshua Clottey earned a unanimous decision victory over former welterweight champion Zab Judah, taking with him the vacant IBF welterweight title in a referee-stopped nine-round bout at the Palms Casino.

At the 1:22 mark of the ninth, referee Robert Byrd ruled a cut above Judah's right eye was a result of an accidental head butt, and the decision went to the scorecards, which read 86-85, 86-85, 87-84, all in favor of Clottey (35-2).

Neither fighter landed many power punches through the first six rounds. Judah (36-6) appeared to throw more haymakers in the early going, but Clottey's quickness made those attempts futile.

Clottey finally caught Judah with straight right in the middle of the seventh round, stunning the southpaw into the corner. The 30-year-old Judah survived the round, though, and unleashed a flurry at the end of the eighth to let "The Hitter" know he was still there.

But a swift left-handed uppercut from Clottey appeared to open up a cut over Judah's right eye in the ninth round. There were several clashes of the heads throughout the contest, and the referee ruled a head butt caused the gash.

The rules of boxing state a stoppage of the fight caused by an accidental blow is decided by the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, and the 31-year-old from Ghana took home the relatively easy decision in the 147-pound bout.

The IBF title was vacant due to Antonio Margarito giving up the belt to face Miguel Cotto for the WBA welterweight belt in an instant classic last weekend. Margarito was victorious with an 11th round TKO, and Clottey's dominance over Judah likely sets up a possible meeting between the two down the road.