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Former undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah will face Edwin Vazquez at the Hard Rock resort in Biloxi, Miss., in the Sept. 7 season finale of "Friday Night Fights" (ESPN2, 10 p.m.).
"It's a signed deal. I got the contract back [Tuesday]," said Brian Young of Prize Fight Promotions, Judah's promoter. "Zab has already been in the gym the past two weeks. He's ready to go. He's excited about getting back in the ring."
It will be Judah's first fight since his exciting 11th-round TKO loss to welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto on June 9 at New York's Madison Square Garden, a candidate for fight of the year.
Although he's 0-3 with a no contest in his last four bouts, Judah (34-5, 25 KOs) remains one of the top welterweights in the world. Besides the loss to Cotto, he was also outpointed by pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. and upset by Carlos Baldomir last year. Judah came back in April from the Mayweather loss and a subsequent one-year suspension for inciting a brawl between corners during the 10th round to have a one-round no contest with Ruben Galvan. The fight was stopped because of accidental elbow that opened a cut on Galvan's face.
Vazquez (22-10-2, 8 KOs) is coming off a competitive June 23 decision loss to Matthew Hatton, the younger brother of junior welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton. Vazquez scored a late knockdown in the fight.
Before closing out the season with Judah, ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" has a trio of solid cards leading up to the finale.
• On Aug. 17, exciting featherweight prospect Jason Litzau (21-1, 18 KOs) headlines against former prospect Emmanuel Lucero (23-4-1, 14 KOs).
• On Aug. 24, welterweight Delvin Rodriguez (20-2-1, 12 KOs) and Chris Smith (20-4-1, 13 KOs) hook up in a crossroads fight. They both badly need a win and a good performance. Rodriguez was knocked out in the eighth round by Jesse Feliciano in his last fight in March. Smith, once considered a top prospect, has lost four of five.
• On Aug. 31, welterweight Shamone Alvarez (18-0, 11 KOs) is slated to step up his competition by facing veteran Ben Tackie (29-7-1, 17 KOs), who has never been stopped. The undercard will feature the return of former junior welterweight titlist Juan Urango (17-1-1, 13 KOs), who lost a decision to world champion Hatton in January. Urango will face Daniel Alicea (30-6-2, 22 KOs), who is long past his best days at featherweight.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
"It's a signed deal. I got the contract back [Tuesday]," said Brian Young of Prize Fight Promotions, Judah's promoter. "Zab has already been in the gym the past two weeks. He's ready to go. He's excited about getting back in the ring."
It will be Judah's first fight since his exciting 11th-round TKO loss to welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto on June 9 at New York's Madison Square Garden, a candidate for fight of the year.
Although he's 0-3 with a no contest in his last four bouts, Judah (34-5, 25 KOs) remains one of the top welterweights in the world. Besides the loss to Cotto, he was also outpointed by pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. and upset by Carlos Baldomir last year. Judah came back in April from the Mayweather loss and a subsequent one-year suspension for inciting a brawl between corners during the 10th round to have a one-round no contest with Ruben Galvan. The fight was stopped because of accidental elbow that opened a cut on Galvan's face.
Vazquez (22-10-2, 8 KOs) is coming off a competitive June 23 decision loss to Matthew Hatton, the younger brother of junior welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton. Vazquez scored a late knockdown in the fight.
Before closing out the season with Judah, ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" has a trio of solid cards leading up to the finale.
• On Aug. 17, exciting featherweight prospect Jason Litzau (21-1, 18 KOs) headlines against former prospect Emmanuel Lucero (23-4-1, 14 KOs).
• On Aug. 24, welterweight Delvin Rodriguez (20-2-1, 12 KOs) and Chris Smith (20-4-1, 13 KOs) hook up in a crossroads fight. They both badly need a win and a good performance. Rodriguez was knocked out in the eighth round by Jesse Feliciano in his last fight in March. Smith, once considered a top prospect, has lost four of five.
• On Aug. 31, welterweight Shamone Alvarez (18-0, 11 KOs) is slated to step up his competition by facing veteran Ben Tackie (29-7-1, 17 KOs), who has never been stopped. The undercard will feature the return of former junior welterweight titlist Juan Urango (17-1-1, 13 KOs), who lost a decision to world champion Hatton in January. Urango will face Daniel Alicea (30-6-2, 22 KOs), who is long past his best days at featherweight.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
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