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Last Chance Time For Judah
By Ron Borges
LAS VEGAS – Zab Judah didn’t have to ponder the question for even a moment before he replied because he not only knew the sad answer, he’d lived it.
“When I look back at my career I just feel like I cheated myself,’’ the former undisputed welterweight champion said. “I didn’t give myself a fair chance. But I know if I lose this fight it’s only because it wasn’t meant to be. I know I have the talent. If it doesn’t come out now, it’s not going to come out.’’
What Judah is hoping comes out this weekend is his vast storehouse of physical gifts – speed, reflexes, power, ring generalship and relentless desire. They are the tools of his trade and Judah possesses them in considerable supply. If he can harness them it would seem IBF No. 1 contender Joshua Clottey will be facing a considerable problem Saturday night at the Palms, the upscale Las Vegas casino resort where Judah and Clottey will fight over the vacant IBF welterweight title.
That title became available when Antonio Margarito willingly relinquished it for a chance to beat up Miguel Cotto, the reigning pound-for-pound champion and the WBA title holder at 147 pounds. In essence, Margarito was hoping for the same thing Judah is hoping for. He was hoping his talent would come out, which it did last Saturday night not more than a mile or two from where Judah will seek perhaps his final redemption in boxing.
What resulted that night was a bravura performance against Cotto, one in which Margarito stopped Cotto in the 11th round by twice forcing him to take a knee before he gave up his title and opened up a spot among the ranking welterweights that Judah once felt he would fill.
When Zab Judah first became undisputed champion three years ago by stopping Cory Spinks in a rematch to claim the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, it appeared he had finally fulfilled all the promise he had shown ever since his amateur days. Three months later he battered and tormented a challenger named Cosme Rivera in his first title defense and the boxing world was convinced he had found himself at last after a career of a lot of success but some despairingly poor performances when he found himself on the biggest stages.
But just as Judah appeared on the cusp of becoming a force in the welterweight division he was outworked by journeyman Carlos Baldomir in a fight that cost him the WBC and WBA titles and was beaten by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in his next outing to sacrifice the IBF title as well. Worse, a near riot broke out that night after Judah hit Mayweather low and then behind the head, a scuffle that ultimately cost Judah $250,000 and resulted in a year suspension from boxing.
In his second fight back, Judah rocked Cotto several times and cut him badly but ended up being dropped four times (twice from low blows and twice from legitimately damaging punches) before he was stopped with 49 seconds left in the 11th round. It was a valiant night for Judah but one that ended in the same harsh way that four of his other title fights had – with him being beaten down.
That’s why at 30 and entering his 16th world title fight, Judah knows there is little room for error any more. This time he must fight to his potential and perhaps beyond it to fight off one of the hardest men in the division just to get himself back into the position of having his named mentioned with welterweights like Margarito, Cotto, Paul Williams, Shane Mosley and newly crowned WBC champion Andre Berto.
They are the bright lights of the division now while he remains a flicker who could become a flame but only if he doesn’t flame out against Clottey.-continue click link.
By Ron Borges
LAS VEGAS – Zab Judah didn’t have to ponder the question for even a moment before he replied because he not only knew the sad answer, he’d lived it.
“When I look back at my career I just feel like I cheated myself,’’ the former undisputed welterweight champion said. “I didn’t give myself a fair chance. But I know if I lose this fight it’s only because it wasn’t meant to be. I know I have the talent. If it doesn’t come out now, it’s not going to come out.’’
What Judah is hoping comes out this weekend is his vast storehouse of physical gifts – speed, reflexes, power, ring generalship and relentless desire. They are the tools of his trade and Judah possesses them in considerable supply. If he can harness them it would seem IBF No. 1 contender Joshua Clottey will be facing a considerable problem Saturday night at the Palms, the upscale Las Vegas casino resort where Judah and Clottey will fight over the vacant IBF welterweight title.
That title became available when Antonio Margarito willingly relinquished it for a chance to beat up Miguel Cotto, the reigning pound-for-pound champion and the WBA title holder at 147 pounds. In essence, Margarito was hoping for the same thing Judah is hoping for. He was hoping his talent would come out, which it did last Saturday night not more than a mile or two from where Judah will seek perhaps his final redemption in boxing.
What resulted that night was a bravura performance against Cotto, one in which Margarito stopped Cotto in the 11th round by twice forcing him to take a knee before he gave up his title and opened up a spot among the ranking welterweights that Judah once felt he would fill.
When Zab Judah first became undisputed champion three years ago by stopping Cory Spinks in a rematch to claim the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, it appeared he had finally fulfilled all the promise he had shown ever since his amateur days. Three months later he battered and tormented a challenger named Cosme Rivera in his first title defense and the boxing world was convinced he had found himself at last after a career of a lot of success but some despairingly poor performances when he found himself on the biggest stages.
But just as Judah appeared on the cusp of becoming a force in the welterweight division he was outworked by journeyman Carlos Baldomir in a fight that cost him the WBC and WBA titles and was beaten by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in his next outing to sacrifice the IBF title as well. Worse, a near riot broke out that night after Judah hit Mayweather low and then behind the head, a scuffle that ultimately cost Judah $250,000 and resulted in a year suspension from boxing.
In his second fight back, Judah rocked Cotto several times and cut him badly but ended up being dropped four times (twice from low blows and twice from legitimately damaging punches) before he was stopped with 49 seconds left in the 11th round. It was a valiant night for Judah but one that ended in the same harsh way that four of his other title fights had – with him being beaten down.
That’s why at 30 and entering his 16th world title fight, Judah knows there is little room for error any more. This time he must fight to his potential and perhaps beyond it to fight off one of the hardest men in the division just to get himself back into the position of having his named mentioned with welterweights like Margarito, Cotto, Paul Williams, Shane Mosley and newly crowned WBC champion Andre Berto.
They are the bright lights of the division now while he remains a flicker who could become a flame but only if he doesn’t flame out against Clottey.-continue click link.
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