Zab Judah - Badly Managed?

I've always been a big fan of Zab and for the hell of it I was looking at his boxrec rundown. I really think Team Judah has made fights at the wrong times. Everyone knows that Kostya Tszyu was dead in the water until Zab got lazy. He ate up a few wins (Weis, Corley, & Rangel) and got UD'd by Cory Spinks, which he later avenged by a TKO victory. After his loss to Baldomir I see some problems. Coming off a loss he is matched up with Mayweather who was fresh off of beating Arturo Gatti's ass worse than anything I've ever witnessed & disposing of Sharmba Mitchell in a similar manner. He should have been fead a couple easier fighters before stepping up to undefeated Floyd who was kicking ass left & right. After disaster, he is arranged to fight Miguel Cotto? Who was still undefeated & shredding his competition. Maybe I'm being naive by thinking it would have made a difference but I gotta think his career has been hampered by bad luck & bad timing.

Comments (8)

iecen

For a fighter to keep losing yet still gets the big money fights, I'll say he is managed exceptionally well. Zab is not given big money fights, he takes less money to fight these guys so bigger opportunities can come in the future. Why do you think he gets the fights because he ask for loads of money.

17y ago

MaTTuP

He showed a lot of heart but he took a very bad physical pounding in that fight. I think that fight was the beginning of his great downfall. That fight was very punishing and took a lot out of him. Being 31 means nothing, it's about ring age. He's been fighting at the world class level for a decade, has been knocked down more than a couple times, been knocked out. What is most concerning is that in his last 5 fights he has been cut three times. For a guy who has not been known to get cut to start getting late in his career, these are portents. Good point, he does have a lot of ring mileage on him. I don't know what is up with all the cuts lately. It's always his damn eyebrow area (where they would be if he had eyebrows lol).

17y ago

Mr_Ryan

I'm with you there. He showed flashes of brilliance against Cotto, even managed to hurt him twice if I remember correctly. He took everything Cotto had to dish out. That's one of my favorite fights that Zab was in because he showed a lot of heart which he is questioned a lot about. He showed a lot of heart but he took a very bad physical pounding in that fight. I think that fight was the beginning of his great downfall. That fight was very punishing and took a lot out of him. Being 31 means nothing, it's about ring age. He's been fighting at the world class level for a decade, has been knocked down more than a couple times, been knocked out. What is most concerning is that in his last 5 fights he has been cut three times. For a guy who has not been known to get cut to start getting late in his career, these are portents.

17y ago

Dynamite_Kid

If Judah had half a bollock he would be at the top now, but it just goes to show that being mentally strong is just as much as important as being skilled that is why Hatton is the best 140lbs and Judah aint. Judah has waay more skill than Hatton, but he is weak mentally.

17y ago

MaTTuP

zab gets hated on due to his persona as a bad boy from brooklyn, but he is a 2 time 140 champion and the former undisputed 147 champion. is 16-6 in championship fights. zabis only 31 and has time to build on his legacy at140. I think he can beat any figher at 140 bradley being his toughest challenge. zab doesn'thave the skill sets to defeat large fighters like clotey, margartio, and williams. I would like to see zab getanother shot cotto though. I'm with you there. He showed flashes of brilliance against Cotto, even managed to hurt him twice if I remember correctly. He took everything Cotto had to dish out. That's one of my favorite fights that Zab was in because he showed a lot of heart which he is questioned a lot about.

17y ago

Mr_Ryan

I actually think he's been managed very well. He constantly loses these fights he's supposed to win and always finds himself in high profile matchups. When you get in the ring and can't get the job done, it's not your manager or your promoter's fault, it's your own.

17y ago

Pepe_Smith

For a fighter to keep losing yet still gets the big money fights, I'll say he is managed exceptionally well.

17y ago

MaTTuP

the ct fight was bad management. the baldomir, floyd, and kosta fights were missed opportunites. zab has had opportunities due to his enormous talent and can still resurrect his career if he can restablish himself at 140. taking on a few 140 champs should put him back in the mix. I really hope so. I think he has gotten a bum rap for his record. If it wasn't for that nasty gash he had against clottey I think he would've won that one too.

17y ago