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I've mentioned these quotes before, but couldn't find the article to back it up, so I did some research and finally found it...
Tszyu-Judah: Will The Boxer Prevail Again?
by Doug Fischer (Thursday October 25, 2001) Photo by: Matt Foster
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES — This has been the year of the boxer so far. Mayweather over Corrales. Barrera over Hamed. Byrd over Tua. Hopkins over Trinidad. What will we see with Judah-Tszyu?
International Boxing Federation junior welterweight champ Zab Judah said he's ready to add to this year's precedent along with the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association belts that currently belong to Kostya Tszyu when the two 140-pound kings face off in Las Vegas on Nov. 3rd to unify the junior welterweight titles. However, Tszyu asked the media assembled at the posh Cicada restaurant this past Wednesday afternoon "who is the boxer in this match?"
The majority of boxing fans and press would answer Judah, the slick-and-quick southpaw and betting favorite who turns 25 on October 27th. Tszyu, 32, respectfully begs to differ.
"People should remember that I was one of the best amateurs boxers, ever, and at one time considered invincible," said Tszyu, who is 27-1-1 (22) as a pro, but compiled a 259-11 amateur record along with European titles in '89 and '90 and the world championship in '91. "Then my punching power arrived and maybe it blocked my brain a bit as I got older. I stopped boxing.
"This time, I've gone back to the basics. I've watched lots of my amateur tapes during this camp."
Tszyu's camp has included a more than 180 rounds of sparring with four southpaws — two amateur standouts and two pro vets (David Sample and Gary St. Clair). Tszyu — who has been in Las Vegas for the last two weeks, along with Judah — would spar two rounds with each fighter to keep the intensity of his workouts high. As usual, mixed in with the traditional boxing training routine overseen by head coach Johnny Lewis, Tszyu engages in a daily series of floor exercises that include Yoga-inspired stretches, martial arts-type poses, and plyometric-type calisthenics all designed to increase his strength, speed and flexibility.
Judah, 27-0 (21), says Tszyu can train anyway he wants, the outcome of Nov. 3rd will be the same.
"Kostya Tszyu has got to get lucky to beat me," Judah told reporters after his meal. "I've heard about all the training he does — under-water workouts and all this — whatever. I do street trainin' in Brownsville (Brooklyn), try doin' that!"
Judah isn't buying Tszyu's line about going back to his amateur roots.
"Tszyu hasn't fought like that in years," he said. "he can try to box, but he'll go back to what he's been doing as soon as he gets hit, that's how it is. See how he's fought in his last two fights? That's how he'll fight me. You can't change your style three months.
"He's gonna try to press me — what else can he do? He'll be ****** if doesn't. He's not a boxer. He can't get up on his toes and jab and move."
Judah can — and his speed may only be second, or third, behind Roy Jones and Floyd Mayweather. Maybe.
"He's not versatile like me," said the Brooklyn native. "He's not used to someone boxin', movin', jabbin', usin' the ring."
Tszyu admits that Judah's combination of youth, power and speed will be difficult to overcome, but not his boxing style.
"I've fought and defeated many southpaws in my career — amateur and pro," he said. "I won my first world title against a southpaw (Jake Rodriguez, a 6th-round stoppage in January of '95, his 14th pro fight), I unified the titles against (Sharmba) Mitchell (in February of this year).
"In the amateurs I beat Gussie (Orzubek) Nazarov (who went on to win and hold the WBA lightweight title for five years in the '90s) and Artur Grigorjan (the current WBO lightweight champ who is undefeated — 33-0 — as a pro). I know how to beat a good southpaw."
Of course, those amateur wins were more than 10 years ago, and without coming right out and saying it, Judah alluded to Tszyu's age and the possibility that the Russian-born, Australian resident is past his prime.
"In his last two fights, he's shown signs of slowin' down," Judah said. "His last fight (against Oktay Urkal — a decision win in June), I don't know, man, I'm glad he won, but everybody there thought the other guy won.
"For the first time, I've watched tapes of a fighter I'm going to fight, and I've started callin' him 'Swiss Cheese' 'cause he's got mad holes in his defense."
Although his face shows a lot of scar tissue from his many ring battles, Tszyu's body is still hard as a rock, and of course the two-time champ refuses to give into Father Time.
"Me? Old? Never," he said. "It's not how old you are, it's how you feel, and the way I feel now is no comparison to when I was in my early 20s — I am much stronger. I bench press 120 kilos (about 260 pounds), I do squats — even though I hate them — with a 100-kilo person on my shoulders.
"I'm still fresh. My age isn't who I am. Power, experience and desire make me who I am."
Judah will give Tszyu that much.
"Kostya's a hard man," he said. "I've fought Russians in the amateurs and they are tough fighters — Russian people are strong, period. You have to be to grow up in that cold. But it doesn't matter.
"A fight is only as tough as you make it. When you see fighters standin' in front of each other and sluggin' it out it's because they want to do that. It's ego and emotion taking over. But you don't have to fight like that.
"Ali showed us all," Judah said on his way out of the Cicada restaurant.
"What about when Frazier fought him?" Fox Sports Net boxing commentator Rich Marotta asked.
"He fought him like that because he wanted to," Judah replied.
Or perhaps Frazier gave Ali no choice. Whether Tszyu boxes Judah like he says he can or takes the fight to right to the younger man, Nov. 3rd will present the first real test in the Brooklynite's bright career. Judah and boxing fans will find out if the Sweet Science will prevail again.
I've mentioned these quotes before, but couldn't find the article to back it up, so I did some research and finally found it...
Tszyu-Judah: Will The Boxer Prevail Again?
by Doug Fischer (Thursday October 25, 2001) Photo by: Matt Foster
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES — This has been the year of the boxer so far. Mayweather over Corrales. Barrera over Hamed. Byrd over Tua. Hopkins over Trinidad. What will we see with Judah-Tszyu?
International Boxing Federation junior welterweight champ Zab Judah said he's ready to add to this year's precedent along with the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association belts that currently belong to Kostya Tszyu when the two 140-pound kings face off in Las Vegas on Nov. 3rd to unify the junior welterweight titles. However, Tszyu asked the media assembled at the posh Cicada restaurant this past Wednesday afternoon "who is the boxer in this match?"
The majority of boxing fans and press would answer Judah, the slick-and-quick southpaw and betting favorite who turns 25 on October 27th. Tszyu, 32, respectfully begs to differ.
"People should remember that I was one of the best amateurs boxers, ever, and at one time considered invincible," said Tszyu, who is 27-1-1 (22) as a pro, but compiled a 259-11 amateur record along with European titles in '89 and '90 and the world championship in '91. "Then my punching power arrived and maybe it blocked my brain a bit as I got older. I stopped boxing.
"This time, I've gone back to the basics. I've watched lots of my amateur tapes during this camp."
Tszyu's camp has included a more than 180 rounds of sparring with four southpaws — two amateur standouts and two pro vets (David Sample and Gary St. Clair). Tszyu — who has been in Las Vegas for the last two weeks, along with Judah — would spar two rounds with each fighter to keep the intensity of his workouts high. As usual, mixed in with the traditional boxing training routine overseen by head coach Johnny Lewis, Tszyu engages in a daily series of floor exercises that include Yoga-inspired stretches, martial arts-type poses, and plyometric-type calisthenics all designed to increase his strength, speed and flexibility.
Judah, 27-0 (21), says Tszyu can train anyway he wants, the outcome of Nov. 3rd will be the same.
"Kostya Tszyu has got to get lucky to beat me," Judah told reporters after his meal. "I've heard about all the training he does — under-water workouts and all this — whatever. I do street trainin' in Brownsville (Brooklyn), try doin' that!"
Judah isn't buying Tszyu's line about going back to his amateur roots.
"Tszyu hasn't fought like that in years," he said. "he can try to box, but he'll go back to what he's been doing as soon as he gets hit, that's how it is. See how he's fought in his last two fights? That's how he'll fight me. You can't change your style three months.
"He's gonna try to press me — what else can he do? He'll be ****** if doesn't. He's not a boxer. He can't get up on his toes and jab and move."
Judah can — and his speed may only be second, or third, behind Roy Jones and Floyd Mayweather. Maybe.
"He's not versatile like me," said the Brooklyn native. "He's not used to someone boxin', movin', jabbin', usin' the ring."
Tszyu admits that Judah's combination of youth, power and speed will be difficult to overcome, but not his boxing style.
"I've fought and defeated many southpaws in my career — amateur and pro," he said. "I won my first world title against a southpaw (Jake Rodriguez, a 6th-round stoppage in January of '95, his 14th pro fight), I unified the titles against (Sharmba) Mitchell (in February of this year).
"In the amateurs I beat Gussie (Orzubek) Nazarov (who went on to win and hold the WBA lightweight title for five years in the '90s) and Artur Grigorjan (the current WBO lightweight champ who is undefeated — 33-0 — as a pro). I know how to beat a good southpaw."
Of course, those amateur wins were more than 10 years ago, and without coming right out and saying it, Judah alluded to Tszyu's age and the possibility that the Russian-born, Australian resident is past his prime.
"In his last two fights, he's shown signs of slowin' down," Judah said. "His last fight (against Oktay Urkal — a decision win in June), I don't know, man, I'm glad he won, but everybody there thought the other guy won.
"For the first time, I've watched tapes of a fighter I'm going to fight, and I've started callin' him 'Swiss Cheese' 'cause he's got mad holes in his defense."
Although his face shows a lot of scar tissue from his many ring battles, Tszyu's body is still hard as a rock, and of course the two-time champ refuses to give into Father Time.
"Me? Old? Never," he said. "It's not how old you are, it's how you feel, and the way I feel now is no comparison to when I was in my early 20s — I am much stronger. I bench press 120 kilos (about 260 pounds), I do squats — even though I hate them — with a 100-kilo person on my shoulders.
"I'm still fresh. My age isn't who I am. Power, experience and desire make me who I am."
Judah will give Tszyu that much.
"Kostya's a hard man," he said. "I've fought Russians in the amateurs and they are tough fighters — Russian people are strong, period. You have to be to grow up in that cold. But it doesn't matter.
"A fight is only as tough as you make it. When you see fighters standin' in front of each other and sluggin' it out it's because they want to do that. It's ego and emotion taking over. But you don't have to fight like that.
"Ali showed us all," Judah said on his way out of the Cicada restaurant.
"What about when Frazier fought him?" Fox Sports Net boxing commentator Rich Marotta asked.
"He fought him like that because he wanted to," Judah replied.
Or perhaps Frazier gave Ali no choice. Whether Tszyu boxes Judah like he says he can or takes the fight to right to the younger man, Nov. 3rd will present the first real test in the Brooklynite's bright career. Judah and boxing fans will find out if the Sweet Science will prevail again.
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