By Thomas Gerbasi - My favorite Zab Judah story has nothing to do with anything he’s done in the ring over the course of his rollercoaster 14 year pro career, or even an instance when he was dealing with the media in an official capacity to promote a fight.
Instead, it took place in a ballroom in New York City, far away from the bright lights of Vegas that will shine on him this Saturday when he takes on Amir Khan in a junior welterweight title unification fight.
There was a local fight promotion putting on an event that night in 2002. It was the type of club show that had been dying a slow death in the Big Apple Judah grew up in, and it didn’t help that group after group of fight game “celebrities” walked up to the ticket table, announced their presence, and walked into the ballroom without even an attempt at reaching into their pockets as the sheepish employees bit their collective tongue.
Enter Judah, a Brooklyn favorite who has captivated the city’s fight scene since his amateur days. By this time though, he had already tasted the bitterness of defeat for the first time, having been stopped in two rounds by Kostya Tszyu in their 2001 bout. It was a humbling situation made even worse by a post-fight outburst that saw Judah put his hands on referee Jay Nady and toss a ring stool in protest of the stoppage. So to say that Judah wasn’t riding high at the moment would have been quite the understatement. [Click Here To Read More]
Instead, it took place in a ballroom in New York City, far away from the bright lights of Vegas that will shine on him this Saturday when he takes on Amir Khan in a junior welterweight title unification fight.
There was a local fight promotion putting on an event that night in 2002. It was the type of club show that had been dying a slow death in the Big Apple Judah grew up in, and it didn’t help that group after group of fight game “celebrities” walked up to the ticket table, announced their presence, and walked into the ballroom without even an attempt at reaching into their pockets as the sheepish employees bit their collective tongue.
Enter Judah, a Brooklyn favorite who has captivated the city’s fight scene since his amateur days. By this time though, he had already tasted the bitterness of defeat for the first time, having been stopped in two rounds by Kostya Tszyu in their 2001 bout. It was a humbling situation made even worse by a post-fight outburst that saw Judah put his hands on referee Jay Nady and toss a ring stool in protest of the stoppage. So to say that Judah wasn’t riding high at the moment would have been quite the understatement. [Click Here To Read More]
Comment