Remember the big writeup in SI? Zab Judah was the next big thing. The second coming in many peoples view. Poised to take over boxing and become on of the all time greats. He had the pedigree. Lightning fast,power in both hands,and a slew of Ko's to prove his greatness. Then the unthinkable happened. Zab Judah got knocked down three times by one punch! In the space of one well timed right hand by Tszyu, Zab went from the top to the laughing stock of the sport.
Did he ever fully recovery mentally from that fight? His career has been plagued by losses to obviously inferior opposition. He has spiraled further and further down since the Tszyu fight in a never ending underachieving nightmare we have all had the privilege to watch, culminating in the loss to Cotto, a guy who was obviously too slow and chiney to Zabs power.
Thats the history we all know. The real question in my mind is that the best of Zab Judah. Have we seen all there is, or is there more beneath the surface. Zab is still relatively young. Is there another chapter? Does he have it in himself to rise above what has happened and become what first we all thought he could be?
What do you think?
i hope Zab gets his head together and get back on the top. new trainer would be a good start for him and going back down to 140lbs would be great for Zab. He'll be dominate the division w/o a doubt.
which is akin to what is around him, aka his peeps...............peace.
He needs a professional makeover. A new team would not hurt. However, he made the statement in his interview that he no longer had an entourage and he only brings to the fight with him the people that are necessary.
did you not see the Cotto fight? Judah has plenty left dogz, people are so quick to disregard or overrate nowadays.. Edwin Vasquez is a tough fighter, he fought a string of good competition.. http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=6444&cat=boxer ..true that he lost to the best people he's faced but he's a tough ass n1gga, he went the distance with Demetrius Hopkins and Matthew Hatton and he also had a Draw against Antonio Diaz whom is a recognized fighter as well.. he wasn't fighting no stiff you know there were many other lames he could have faced but this guy has fought quality opposition too, he may not have won but he gained the experience so he's no dummy, he fought back against Judah ya dig but unlike he did against Baldomir Judah didn't let this guy beat him..
not only did Judah fight pretty quick again after the Cotto fight he also has another scheduled fight against an unnamed opponent and this is all after the 1st REAL punishing loss in his career, Roy Jones got KO'ed again after the 1st time he lost like that so give him his props, he's keeping busy and can very well put himself in contention to make some more noise, people nowadays just don't want to give the benefit of the doubt, quick to kick a n1gga while he's down and love him while he's poppin and that ain't right, how is a guy as young, quick and skilled as Judah finished? not even Trinidad who is 34 is finished dogz and thats after a long ass lay off, Judah been real busy and he can come back strong, he beat Junior Witter and has the tools to do it again now too, people act like Zab ain't got no power until he knocks another guy the fuck out it's just too bad his comeback fight was against someone who only got KO'ed 3 times against people who moved on to become stars and was able to live through the fight..
why do you honestly feel Zab is done dogz? and what you mean by his "peeps"? you trippin on this dogz too many instilled bad habits? like what? the only one I see is immaturity AT TIMES but against Cotto he didn't display no faults, maybe he could've used that straight right a little more but other than that he was fighting back and being VERY effective, even rocked him so what are you talking about? not to sound like I'm attacking you or anything because I'm not, I actually respect your opinion as I do anybody who took the time out to make some points but I just don't agree and the reasons you put up for him not being able to bounce back just don't seem right to me, not too long ago Judah was the recognized Champion at Welterweight and only 2 years later he's finished? nah man thas not right.. 100
zab is an underachiever plain and simple, he's talented as all hell but he can't keep it together. i think his outside influences mess up his mind and focus. and as for bad habits, where to begin. like i mentioned in my other post about judahs bad habits, hands low, doesn't work behind a jab, he loads up on one big shot, doesn't throw combos (rarely, he used to early in his career), he poses after he throws certain punches, one of the best ones of all about zab is that he likes to see who is in the front rows so he can say whats up and then gets clocked, that is how spinks got a knockdown on judah, he caught him trying to show off. judah has nothing but excuses after he loses, if he's not blaming his promoter or blaming the ref or blaming a low blow, but that is besides the point, we are talking about his bad habits and things that will keep him from making a comeback, but the biggest thing other than his dad being his trainer that is going to keep judah from making a successful comeback is himself. he doesn't have the discipline to train and focus right, he doesn't have the discipline to keep it together, and you'd have to be pretty diehard of a fan of his to not acknowledge that at least. judah has had so many tries and attempts, he's had his chance more then most people will ever get in their lives and he's basically fucked almost all of it off, because, he doesn't have the discipline to maintain being professional. which is akin to what is around him, aka his peeps...............peace.
as to if judah can redeem himself? i would have to say no and be very solid in saying no, but i think that if he got a new trainer and different people around him who actually make him take things seriously, he might be able to finish his career with some dignity....................
main thing is to get rid of his dad as a trainer and get rid of his "peeps" so he can actually think straight.
but other than that, i say no. judah has too many instilled, ingrained bad habits, it would be tough for him to shape things up and learn to fight again like a real boxer who uses footwork and works off a jab, throws combos, keeps his hands up, and is always thinking defense during his offense. and not always looking to land one big shot!
if judah did work with another trainer all that trainer could really can do is make sure he's fighting fit and sharp on what he does do, reteaching someone like judah at his stage would be hard unless he really wanted to change for themselves. i personally don't think judah knows he needs to regroup, or if he don't want to or what, but until he does, he's just going to be an opponent from now on, a big name on someone else's win column..............
did you not see the Cotto fight? Judah has plenty left dogz, people are so quick to disregard or overrate nowadays.. Edwin Vasquez is a tough fighter, he fought a string of good competition.. http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=6444&cat=boxer ..true that he lost to the best people he's faced but he's a tough ass n1gga, he went the distance with Demetrius Hopkins and Matthew Hatton and he also had a Draw against Antonio Diaz whom is a recognized fighter as well.. he wasn't fighting no stiff you know there were many other lames he could have faced but this guy has fought quality opposition too, he may not have won but he gained the experience so he's no dummy, he fought back against Judah ya dig but unlike he did against Baldomir Judah didn't let this guy beat him..
not only did Judah fight pretty quick again after the Cotto fight he also has another scheduled fight against an unnamed opponent and this is all after the 1st REAL punishing loss in his career, Roy Jones got KO'ed again after the 1st time he lost like that so give him his props, he's keeping busy and can very well put himself in contention to make some more noise, people nowadays just don't want to give the benefit of the doubt, quick to kick a n1gga while he's down and love him while he's poppin and that ain't right, how is a guy as young, quick and skilled as Judah finished? not even Trinidad who is 34 is finished dogz and thats after a long ass lay off, Judah been real busy and he can come back strong, he beat Junior Witter and has the tools to do it again now too, people act like Zab ain't got no power until he knocks another guy the fuck out it's just too bad his comeback fight was against someone who only got KO'ed 3 times against people who moved on to become stars and was able to live through the fight..
why do you honestly feel Zab is done dogz? and what you mean by his "peeps"? you trippin on this dogz too many instilled bad habits? like what? the only one I see is immaturity AT TIMES but against Cotto he didn't display no faults, maybe he could've used that straight right a little more but other than that he was fighting back and being VERY effective, even rocked him so what are you talking about? not to sound like I'm attacking you or anything because I'm not, I actually respect your opinion as I do anybody who took the time out to make some points but I just don't agree and the reasons you put up for him not being able to bounce back just don't seem right to me, not too long ago Judah was the recognized Champion at Welterweight and only 2 years later he's finished? nah man thas not right.. 100
as to if judah can redeem himself? i would have to say no and be very solid in saying no, but i think that if he got a new trainer and different people around him who actually make him take things seriously, he might be able to finish his career with some dignity....................
main thing is to get rid of his dad as a trainer and get rid of his "peeps" so he can actually think straight.
but other than that, i say no. judah has too many instilled, ingrained bad habits, it would be tough for him to shape things up and learn to fight again like a real boxer who uses footwork and works off a jab, throws combos, keeps his hands up, and is always thinking defense during his offense. and not always looking to land one big shot!
if judah did work with another trainer all that trainer could really can do is make sure he's fighting fit and sharp on what he does do, reteaching someone like judah at his stage would be hard unless he really wanted to change for themselves. i personally don't think judah knows he needs to regroup, or if he don't want to or what, but until he does, he's just going to be an opponent from now on, a big name on someone else's win column..............
dead ass I hate when people speak of his street ties like MightyMikeA and a few other on here were saying, the only thing wrong with Judah is the fact that he's immature at times and can't maintain his focus but there are a lot of street cats who can so that ignorance has nothing to do with his street ties, it's just his mentality that feeds into bullshit but I don't see him being in the hood doing him as a problem, he has crazy good ability and could have beaten Floyd if his discipline was good, he went punch for punch with him for a WHILE. he's far from done dogz this guy is younger than a lot of names out there from his era, he only has 5 losses 4 of which could have went the other way if he would have just focused and stopped putting his fucking hands down like he did against Tszyu, trust me yo Judah is FAR from done but every fighter goes through this, these are just down points in a fighters career but he will have his chance again, being so young it's only right..
some of you are also saying his skills are flawed, ya clearly don't know Judah like that then because he one of the most skilled and talented fighters in quite some time, when he wants to break you down and has his mind focused on doing so he will hit you with every necessary punch to do so, look at Spinks who is another master boxer who tends NOT to stand there and brawl, a slick, quick boxer who even gave JT trouble at Middleweight Spinks being 13 pounds out of his natural weight..
Judah ROCKED him in his own back yard dogz a lot of people forget that.. people gotta look at what his hands were saying in those fights, they talked and very loud for him yo but his cockiness fucked him over.. thats something that pertains to the way his mind works not no lack of skills or no time spent on a corner shooting dice because I know people who know him personally and they can tell you how hard he trains and how dedicated he is to the sport of boxing it's just some things you cant help.. at times he can be immature, yes, but in no way, shape or form does that take away from his skill or ability and NO all that street shit doesn't phase him, get that thought out of your heads, Antonio Tarver was a drug user before he got big in boxing and got cleaned up and look at him now, KO'ed a legend and is a current champion, that street shit got nothing to do with nothing, believe dat.. 100
he would beat julio
I think Julio would give him a run for his money. Julio has learned alot ever since he lost. He knows what it's like to go down and be hurt. Julio will become dangerous. That kid wants to win. Julio Vs Zab Judah should happen. One more shot!
This man has had enough shots. He just can't do it!
Zab Judah ain't coming back. Put him against a prospect right now. I doubt he would even get by them.
Why does this keep getting discussed? I have never seen someone get so many oppurtunities and title shots after continuosly losing in big fights. When are people gonna realize that he is obviously not that good and doesn't ever show up in the big fights. He has all the talent but doesn't know what to do with it has to be one of the most mentally weak fighters ther is outside of Golota.
Zab Judah is a mediocre at best. HE's fast, he's accurate, but not powerful enough to knock down 147's, where the big players and big money is. He's just a punching bag for the division. Get over yourselves...
Without a doubt Zab can!!! He alot more skill in his pinky finger then half the world champs running around at the moment!!! his only problems have been mental!!! He is showing he is strong enough to overcome that by picking himself up out of the mud thats!!! Keep up the good work zab an lets hope we see you back in the mix of it very soon!!!
Maybe, It certainly is not out of the realm of possibility.What i said was Cotto was obviously slower and chiney to Zabs power early! I did not call Cotto inferior. I said Judah had lost to inferior opposition in the past.
Judah is one of the most naturally gifted fighters i have ever seen. I don't like the prick at all, but he is a phenomenon! I say that because since Mike Tyson i have never seen more natural talent held back by stupidity!
IMHO zabs biggest mistake was not distancing himself from his father and Brooklyn. He should have hired a real Trainer and focused on his profession. He let his environment ruin him, but that is not to say it's too late!
We will see!
Easton, this was a great and very real post, my friend.
Don, rep for your people.
Maybe, It certainly is not out of the realm of possibility.What i said was Cotto was obviously slower and chiney to Zabs power early! I did not call Cotto inferior. I said Judah had lost to inferior opposition in the past.
Judah is one of the most naturally gifted fighters i have ever seen. I don't like the prick at all, but he is a phenomenon! I say that because since Mike Tyson i have never seen more natural talent held back by stupidity!
IMHO zabs biggest mistake was not distancing himself from his father and Brooklyn. He should have hired a real Trainer and focused on his profession. He let his environment ruin him, but that is not to say it's too late!
We will see!
I think Tszyu permanently rattled Judah. He hasn't been the same since.
18y ago
Can Zab Judah ever redeem himself? | BoxingScene Community