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by David P. Greisman - Throughout Zab Judah’s career, any isolated negatives have almost always outweighed the impressive positives.
Judah was a highly touted junior welterweight prospect, compiling an undefeated record and earning a title belt that made him a perfect opponent for fellow beltholder Kostya Tszyu in a unification match that would decide which man was the true cream of the 140-pound crop.
Judah, with his speed and power, took round one. Tszyu, with a single right hand, took the fight.
Angered by what he felt was an early stoppage, Judah confronted referee Jay Nady, shoving his glove into Nady’s throat and, later, throwing a stool at the third man in the ring.
It was shocking. It was a sign of things to come.
Judah’s inconsistency was exasperating. In his February 2005 rematch against Cory Spinks, Judah took short money but was nonetheless motivated, knocking Spinks out to become the welterweight champion. But less than a year later, Judah arrived unprepared for a mandatory defense against Carlos Baldomir, unanimously losing his championship to an overwhelming underdog.
Despite the defeat, Judah proceeded to a pay-per-view showdown with Floyd Mayweather. And for four rounds, one could almost forget that Judah was coming off of a recent loss yet receiving a major payday. With speed, power and focus, Judah more than held his own with the boxer many regarded as, pound-for-pound, the best of the Sweet Science.
It didn’t last much longer.
Mayweather had correctly depicted Judah as a frontrunner, and “Pretty Boy Floyd” began to take over as the fight progressed. And then, in the infamous 10th round, Judah socked Mayweather with a blatant blow below the beltline and followed it up with a vicious rabbit punch. Those indiscretions, along with the ensuing in-ring melee, put Judah on the shelf for a year.
Blazing hands. Power that could change the course of a fight with a single shot. And potential that meant little as long as it belonged to someone as immature and inconsistent as Judah.
Somehow, Judah may have restored his reputation with a loss.
Against a wrecking ball named Miguel Cotto, Judah threw brilliant counters that temporarily stunned the undefeated welterweight titlist, endured two flagrant but apparently unintentional low punches that would’ve left many permanently singing soprano, and weathered a nonstop onslaught with uncharacteristic heart. Judah lost for the fifth time in his career, but if he can recover from the mental and physical damage, he will find that the boxing world just might have forgiven his sins in favor of the sacrifices he made.
Judah triumphed in defeat, and in the week following his bout with Cotto, the win-loss dichotomy was turned on its head in several other fights.
On the opening bout of Versus’ Fight Night, Almazbek “Kid Diamond” Raiymkulov waged an entertaining war against the solid Miguel Huerta. And though Huerta was clearly intended to play the fall guy for Raiymkulov, he refused to give in to the Kyrgyzstan native. The outcome seemed obvious – an upset victory for Huerta and Raiymkulov’s second loss. But judges Don Ackerman and Frank Adams marred what was otherwise a wonderful fight, their 114-113 tallies giving Raiymkulov an unpopular split decision win. While questions remain about the flaws in this Diamond, Huerta’s ring value has risen. [details]
Judah was a highly touted junior welterweight prospect, compiling an undefeated record and earning a title belt that made him a perfect opponent for fellow beltholder Kostya Tszyu in a unification match that would decide which man was the true cream of the 140-pound crop.
Judah, with his speed and power, took round one. Tszyu, with a single right hand, took the fight.
Angered by what he felt was an early stoppage, Judah confronted referee Jay Nady, shoving his glove into Nady’s throat and, later, throwing a stool at the third man in the ring.
It was shocking. It was a sign of things to come.
Judah’s inconsistency was exasperating. In his February 2005 rematch against Cory Spinks, Judah took short money but was nonetheless motivated, knocking Spinks out to become the welterweight champion. But less than a year later, Judah arrived unprepared for a mandatory defense against Carlos Baldomir, unanimously losing his championship to an overwhelming underdog.
Despite the defeat, Judah proceeded to a pay-per-view showdown with Floyd Mayweather. And for four rounds, one could almost forget that Judah was coming off of a recent loss yet receiving a major payday. With speed, power and focus, Judah more than held his own with the boxer many regarded as, pound-for-pound, the best of the Sweet Science.
It didn’t last much longer.
Mayweather had correctly depicted Judah as a frontrunner, and “Pretty Boy Floyd” began to take over as the fight progressed. And then, in the infamous 10th round, Judah socked Mayweather with a blatant blow below the beltline and followed it up with a vicious rabbit punch. Those indiscretions, along with the ensuing in-ring melee, put Judah on the shelf for a year.
Blazing hands. Power that could change the course of a fight with a single shot. And potential that meant little as long as it belonged to someone as immature and inconsistent as Judah.
Somehow, Judah may have restored his reputation with a loss.
Against a wrecking ball named Miguel Cotto, Judah threw brilliant counters that temporarily stunned the undefeated welterweight titlist, endured two flagrant but apparently unintentional low punches that would’ve left many permanently singing soprano, and weathered a nonstop onslaught with uncharacteristic heart. Judah lost for the fifth time in his career, but if he can recover from the mental and physical damage, he will find that the boxing world just might have forgiven his sins in favor of the sacrifices he made.
Judah triumphed in defeat, and in the week following his bout with Cotto, the win-loss dichotomy was turned on its head in several other fights.
On the opening bout of Versus’ Fight Night, Almazbek “Kid Diamond” Raiymkulov waged an entertaining war against the solid Miguel Huerta. And though Huerta was clearly intended to play the fall guy for Raiymkulov, he refused to give in to the Kyrgyzstan native. The outcome seemed obvious – an upset victory for Huerta and Raiymkulov’s second loss. But judges Don Ackerman and Frank Adams marred what was otherwise a wonderful fight, their 114-113 tallies giving Raiymkulov an unpopular split decision win. While questions remain about the flaws in this Diamond, Huerta’s ring value has risen. [details]