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Jay Gon: "Zab Needs To Dump Dad"
By Jason Gonzalez
With the “X-Plosive” showdown between the WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and Zab Judah now in the rear view mirror, I had the opportunity to compare what I saw live at ringside with what I saw on the replay.
I can truly attest that what you see live and what you see on television are two totally different things. While watching live the fight appeared to be one-sided. Now, on tape, the fight appeared more competitive.
The general ringside consensus was that Judah won only three rounds. However, after watching the rebroadcast I was under the impression that Judah swept the first three rounds and a few of the rounds in between were somewhat difficult to score. At one point during the telecast, HBO fight analyst Larry Merchant felt that Judah had excelled in one of the later frames in the fight. Meanwhile HBO’s unofficial ringside scorer Harold Lederman gave Cotto the nod in that particular stanza.
There is no question that Cotto has shown significant progress in each bout and deserves credit for the valiant effort that he put forth against Judah. But with that being said, Cotto has shown a tendency to take a little more leather than what he really has to. It was also apparent that Cotto can be outboxed. Judah momentarily achieved brief success when he boxed. Not to discredit Cotto’s victory, because it truly was one for the ages, I can’t help but wonder what the outcome would have been if Judah had different people working his corner.
The talk of Cotto/Floyd Mayweather should be put to rest for the time being. Cotto still needs a little more seasoning.
What I saw from Cotto on the night of June 9, would cause me to pick against him if he was to meet Mayweather in the immediate future.
As far as competition and skill level, Judah has been the best opponent that Cotto has faced. During the contest you saw shades of brilliance exhibited by Judah that at times seemed to trouble Cotto. Judah's superior hand speed combined with a substantial ring savvyness would cause me to lean in the direction of Judah if there was a rematch. However, me picking Judah to win a rematch is contingent on whether or not Judah makes the necessary changes that he has to make.
With the experience that Judah has, it struck me as rather odd that he was making all of the careless mistakes that he did.
The southpaw Judah, who should have been moving to his left, was moving to his right side all night long. As if that wasn't bad enough, Judah was just looking to land that one big left hand that would end the fight.
Judah's game plan was to move right into Cotto’s patented left hook to the body while hoping to stop a fighter that systematically breaks down opponents with tenacity and consistency. Do you see a problem here? I do...Judah was trying to implement a strategy that was just insane to say the least.
When Judah was originally under the tutelage of Lou Duva, he utilized his southpaw stance by moving to his left, giving his opponents awkward angles. It made Judah hard to find and hard to hit. Judah also threw every punch in the fistic textbook. What more evidence do you need than Judah’s 1998 bout with Micky Ward?
Fast forward to 2007, Judah was reluctant to throw combinations against Cotto. And instead of trying to dictate the tempo of the fight by boxing on the outside, he retreated backwards, ultimately succumbing to Cotto’s relentless pressure.
Now I admit that I’ve never trained anyone, let alone a fighter, a day in my life. But if I am able to point out these critical errors, I would think that a trained and licensed professional would be able too as well. But the advice that Judah was getting from his father, Yo’el, was very peculiar to say the least.
“Every time you touch him [Cotto], Zab you hurting him. Let your hands go [while motioning his hands in a punching motion and screaming] bing, ****, boom.”
In fact Yo’el went as far as to telling Zab that Merchant is always talking trash about him. How that pertains to the fight is beyond me, in fact I am still waiting on someone to fill me in.
Zab has regressed as a fighter as a result of working with his father.
Yo'el is a master at giving unclear instructions. Unless they're talking in codes, which I highly doubt because Judah wouldn't continuing making the same blunders.
As a trainer it’s imperative that you give your fighter clear and concise instruction. Yo’el never specified if it was a right or a left hand that Zab hurt Cotto with.
Yo’el never indicated as to when should Zab let his hands go.
Should Zab initiate the flurry or wait to counter Cotto?
Nor did he suggest as to how should Zab put his combinations together. Yo'el never specified as to where on Cotto's body should Zab target his two fisted attack. Yo'el never even relayed to Zab as to what distance Zab should try to fight from either. Is it on the outside or at a close proximity?
Yo’el throws so many punches in the corner I am surprised that he hasn’t knocked Zab out while sitting on the stool. I fully recognize and understand that Yo’el has brought Zab up from a kid to the amateurs all the way to the professional rankings.
I also acknowledge that it was with Yo’el that Zab won his three world titles. But at some point there comes a time where the routine gets old and you have to try something new. The formula that Yo’el and Zab have used in the past is no longer working. It appears that Yo’el is no longer equipped to bring Zab to that next level where he should have been.
It took Yo'el and Zab two tries and 21 rounds to beat Cory Spinks. As to whether or not Spinks is an elite fighter remains to be seen. One thing that is obvious is that Cotto and Mayweather are in elite fighter category. Yo’el hasn’t been able to help Zab overcame the obstacles in a "big fight".
The father/son trainer/fighter relationship very rarely works, mainly because the father tries to live vicariously through the son. Also the line of respect and professionalism is crossed. It then becomes a matter of 'when are you my dad?' 'And when are you my trainer?'
There is a time for fun and games and there is a time when it’s business as usual. And this is something that the son/fighter has difficulty comprehending. It’s not by coincidence that Judah struggles to live a disciplined life. Here is an example: instead of Yo’el keeping his son, Zab, in check during the Mayweather fight, Yo'el instigated a melee that saw himself and Zab at the focal point of the fracas. Think back to the recent conference call where Yo’el pretended to be Zab. How do you explain that?
It's quite clear that from observing Judah in the fight with Cotto, that he still has a lot left in the tank. But if Judah wants to reach that superstar status that was once considered a given when he was younger, it's highly recommended that he leave his ‘pops’ immediately.
Not to say that Judah shouldn’t work with his dad, but as far as working Zab's corner in the immediate future; the answer is a resounding no. Zab should be looking for someone else to take over the training responsibilities in the corner much sooner than later.
I feel that Pernell Whitaker is a great candidate for the job. Whitaker is another southpaw that puts a major emphasis on boxing. Plus Judah came up under the guidance of Whitaker as an amateur. Just recently on Friday Night Fights, Whitaker expressed a great desire to train Judah.
James “Buddy” McGirt is another highly qualified individual that would mesh well with Judah. McGirt stresses defense and boxing.
A possible reunion with Duva shouldn’t be out of the question.
In fact I could even see a Teddy Atlas turning Judah’s weakness into his most valued commodity. Atlas is a great motivator and makes the least confident believe in themselves as well as their ability.
It’s now up to Judah if he will heed to what he's being told. Where he wants to take his career is solely up to him. But if it's true that “30 is the new 20,” [Judah will be tuning 30 in October] I got a hunch that everything that I am saying is going to fall on deaf ears.
Weigh in readers, who do you feel will be the best fit for the job?
By Jason Gonzalez
With the “X-Plosive” showdown between the WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and Zab Judah now in the rear view mirror, I had the opportunity to compare what I saw live at ringside with what I saw on the replay.
I can truly attest that what you see live and what you see on television are two totally different things. While watching live the fight appeared to be one-sided. Now, on tape, the fight appeared more competitive.
The general ringside consensus was that Judah won only three rounds. However, after watching the rebroadcast I was under the impression that Judah swept the first three rounds and a few of the rounds in between were somewhat difficult to score. At one point during the telecast, HBO fight analyst Larry Merchant felt that Judah had excelled in one of the later frames in the fight. Meanwhile HBO’s unofficial ringside scorer Harold Lederman gave Cotto the nod in that particular stanza.
There is no question that Cotto has shown significant progress in each bout and deserves credit for the valiant effort that he put forth against Judah. But with that being said, Cotto has shown a tendency to take a little more leather than what he really has to. It was also apparent that Cotto can be outboxed. Judah momentarily achieved brief success when he boxed. Not to discredit Cotto’s victory, because it truly was one for the ages, I can’t help but wonder what the outcome would have been if Judah had different people working his corner.
The talk of Cotto/Floyd Mayweather should be put to rest for the time being. Cotto still needs a little more seasoning.
What I saw from Cotto on the night of June 9, would cause me to pick against him if he was to meet Mayweather in the immediate future.
As far as competition and skill level, Judah has been the best opponent that Cotto has faced. During the contest you saw shades of brilliance exhibited by Judah that at times seemed to trouble Cotto. Judah's superior hand speed combined with a substantial ring savvyness would cause me to lean in the direction of Judah if there was a rematch. However, me picking Judah to win a rematch is contingent on whether or not Judah makes the necessary changes that he has to make.
With the experience that Judah has, it struck me as rather odd that he was making all of the careless mistakes that he did.
The southpaw Judah, who should have been moving to his left, was moving to his right side all night long. As if that wasn't bad enough, Judah was just looking to land that one big left hand that would end the fight.
Judah's game plan was to move right into Cotto’s patented left hook to the body while hoping to stop a fighter that systematically breaks down opponents with tenacity and consistency. Do you see a problem here? I do...Judah was trying to implement a strategy that was just insane to say the least.
When Judah was originally under the tutelage of Lou Duva, he utilized his southpaw stance by moving to his left, giving his opponents awkward angles. It made Judah hard to find and hard to hit. Judah also threw every punch in the fistic textbook. What more evidence do you need than Judah’s 1998 bout with Micky Ward?
Fast forward to 2007, Judah was reluctant to throw combinations against Cotto. And instead of trying to dictate the tempo of the fight by boxing on the outside, he retreated backwards, ultimately succumbing to Cotto’s relentless pressure.
Now I admit that I’ve never trained anyone, let alone a fighter, a day in my life. But if I am able to point out these critical errors, I would think that a trained and licensed professional would be able too as well. But the advice that Judah was getting from his father, Yo’el, was very peculiar to say the least.
“Every time you touch him [Cotto], Zab you hurting him. Let your hands go [while motioning his hands in a punching motion and screaming] bing, ****, boom.”
In fact Yo’el went as far as to telling Zab that Merchant is always talking trash about him. How that pertains to the fight is beyond me, in fact I am still waiting on someone to fill me in.
Zab has regressed as a fighter as a result of working with his father.
Yo'el is a master at giving unclear instructions. Unless they're talking in codes, which I highly doubt because Judah wouldn't continuing making the same blunders.
As a trainer it’s imperative that you give your fighter clear and concise instruction. Yo’el never specified if it was a right or a left hand that Zab hurt Cotto with.
Yo’el never indicated as to when should Zab let his hands go.
Should Zab initiate the flurry or wait to counter Cotto?
Nor did he suggest as to how should Zab put his combinations together. Yo'el never specified as to where on Cotto's body should Zab target his two fisted attack. Yo'el never even relayed to Zab as to what distance Zab should try to fight from either. Is it on the outside or at a close proximity?
Yo’el throws so many punches in the corner I am surprised that he hasn’t knocked Zab out while sitting on the stool. I fully recognize and understand that Yo’el has brought Zab up from a kid to the amateurs all the way to the professional rankings.
I also acknowledge that it was with Yo’el that Zab won his three world titles. But at some point there comes a time where the routine gets old and you have to try something new. The formula that Yo’el and Zab have used in the past is no longer working. It appears that Yo’el is no longer equipped to bring Zab to that next level where he should have been.
It took Yo'el and Zab two tries and 21 rounds to beat Cory Spinks. As to whether or not Spinks is an elite fighter remains to be seen. One thing that is obvious is that Cotto and Mayweather are in elite fighter category. Yo’el hasn’t been able to help Zab overcame the obstacles in a "big fight".
The father/son trainer/fighter relationship very rarely works, mainly because the father tries to live vicariously through the son. Also the line of respect and professionalism is crossed. It then becomes a matter of 'when are you my dad?' 'And when are you my trainer?'
There is a time for fun and games and there is a time when it’s business as usual. And this is something that the son/fighter has difficulty comprehending. It’s not by coincidence that Judah struggles to live a disciplined life. Here is an example: instead of Yo’el keeping his son, Zab, in check during the Mayweather fight, Yo'el instigated a melee that saw himself and Zab at the focal point of the fracas. Think back to the recent conference call where Yo’el pretended to be Zab. How do you explain that?
It's quite clear that from observing Judah in the fight with Cotto, that he still has a lot left in the tank. But if Judah wants to reach that superstar status that was once considered a given when he was younger, it's highly recommended that he leave his ‘pops’ immediately.
Not to say that Judah shouldn’t work with his dad, but as far as working Zab's corner in the immediate future; the answer is a resounding no. Zab should be looking for someone else to take over the training responsibilities in the corner much sooner than later.
I feel that Pernell Whitaker is a great candidate for the job. Whitaker is another southpaw that puts a major emphasis on boxing. Plus Judah came up under the guidance of Whitaker as an amateur. Just recently on Friday Night Fights, Whitaker expressed a great desire to train Judah.
James “Buddy” McGirt is another highly qualified individual that would mesh well with Judah. McGirt stresses defense and boxing.
A possible reunion with Duva shouldn’t be out of the question.
In fact I could even see a Teddy Atlas turning Judah’s weakness into his most valued commodity. Atlas is a great motivator and makes the least confident believe in themselves as well as their ability.
It’s now up to Judah if he will heed to what he's being told. Where he wants to take his career is solely up to him. But if it's true that “30 is the new 20,” [Judah will be tuning 30 in October] I got a hunch that everything that I am saying is going to fall on deaf ears.
Weigh in readers, who do you feel will be the best fit for the job?
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