Zab to fight in three months..

[jack_the_rippuh]

Dear Zab,

Congratulations! You lived up to your nickname, “Super,” knocking out Cory Spinks and I have tremendous respect for you and your team. I know how hard you’ve worked to become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. You earned your title shot and took advantage of your opportunity. Now it’s my turn. I am your mandatory challenger. The IBF wouldn’t have allowed Spinks-Judah II to happen if both you and Spinks hadn’t signed an agreement that the winner would defend the title against me within 90 days of your February 5 fight. I was the No. 1 contender; you were No. 3 (No. 2 not rated).

I am sure you received the same letter from the IBF as I did, reminding you of your commitment, mandated by the IBF, to fight me by May 6. You deserve everything you have and I know you don’t want to relinquish your IBF belt without fighting me.

Before you start dreaming about a rematch against Kostya Tszyu, or big money fights against Oscar De La Hoya or Shane Mosley, you have to get past this hungry, 147-pound Mexican who is stronger than anybody you’ve ever stepped in the ring against. I’m riding a seven-fight win streak, including the last four by knockout, and at 28 I haven’t even reached my prime. Going into Spinks’ backyard and knocking him out was amazing, I know. When I fought (Dec. 4, 2003) unbeaten (28-0-1) contender James Hare, I had to go halfway around the world to his hometown in England, and I stopped him in the 10th.

Zab, you’re wearing my belt, and I’m ready to fight you for it. I heard that your promoter, Don King, is talking about you fighting your mandatory defense April 2. Let’s get it done. Just have your people call my promoter, Guilty Boxing.

IBF No. 1 Contender,
Cosme Rivera


I got this from Boxrec. Do you think he's going to fight and keep the undisputed title or do you think he'll just let the IBF belt go and let the welter-weight division titles rescatter themselves?

[spinksjinx]

Dear Zab,

Congratulations! You lived up to your nickname, “Super,” knocking out Cory Spinks and I have tremendous respect for you and your team. I know how hard you’ve worked to become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. You earned your title shot and took advantage of your opportunity. Now it’s my turn. I am your mandatory challenger. The IBF wouldn’t have allowed Spinks-Judah II to happen if both you and Spinks hadn’t signed an agreement that the winner would defend the title against me within 90 days of your February 5 fight. I was the No. 1 contender; you were No. 3 (No. 2 not rated).

I am sure you received the same letter from the IBF as I did, reminding you of your commitment, mandated by the IBF, to fight me by May 6. You deserve everything you have and I know you don’t want to relinquish your IBF belt without fighting me.

Before you start dreaming about a rematch against Kostya Tszyu, or big money fights against Oscar De La Hoya or Shane Mosley, you have to get past this hungry, 147-pound Mexican who is stronger than anybody you’ve ever stepped in the ring against. I’m riding a seven-fight win streak, including the last four by knockout, and at 28 I haven’t even reached my prime. Going into Spinks’ backyard and knocking him out was amazing, I know. When I fought (Dec. 4, 2003) unbeaten (28-0-1) contender James Hare, I had to go halfway around the world to his hometown in England, and I stopped him in the 10th.

Zab, you’re wearing my belt, and I’m ready to fight you for it. I heard that your promoter, Don King, is talking about you fighting your mandatory defense April 2. Let’s get it done. Just have your people call my promoter, Guilty Boxing.

IBF No. 1 Contender,
Cosme Rivera


I got this from Boxrec. Do you think he's going to fight and keep the undisputed title or do you think he'll just let the IBF belt go and let the welter-weight division titles rescatter themselves?

I think he will call out Tszyu as this is brewing:

NEWS FLASH
Tszyu vs Judah in 2005?
By Ray Wheatley -- World of Boxing
IBF 140 pound champion Kostya Tszyu could challenge the new unified welterweight champion Zab Judah in 2005. This would be their second meeting. Tszyu scored a knockout in two rounds over Judah to become the IBF junior welterweight champion in 2001. "The idea of a rematch is a possibility," said Tszyu's manager, Matt Watt. Zab's only loss as a welterweight came in 2004 when Cory Spinks scored a twelve round decison over the New Yorker. That loss was corrected when Judah defeated Spinks with an impressive TKO, capturing the unified welterweight title. Spinks was the favourite to win the fight, but Judah knocked him down twice, winning the fight in round nine. Judah may be unified welterweight champion, but the competition in that division is increasing, with Oscar de la Hoya and Shane Mosley announcing they are dropping back to welterweight poundage. "If they do move down, the attraction does intensify for Kostya to go to welterweight," Watt said. Before the Judah-Spinks bout, Tszyu made it clear he had his eye on the winner, saying: "Whoever wins, let's fight." But first he will take on England's undefeated junior welterweight Ricky Hatton. "Right now, Kostya is just looking towards the fight in June," Watt said.

Then their will be some BS reason as to why it ISNT made and then Zab will talk about how he had to fight his mandatory, because Zab already stated his belts are going nowhere and if he has to fight mandatories for the rest of his career he will to hold onto those belts. Although Zab recently stated: Hey Tszyu said no rematch after the first fight and he made me wait with no opportunity, then I might not even give him a shot. So take that for what it is worth, but Zab talked mandatory defense from the moment he became champion, Expect nothing more from Zab at this moment.

[straightjab65]

I think that Zab will fight both tszyu and rivera. Tszyu's not fighting hatton until june so I think Zab will fight Rivera in between now and the Tszyu fight. They'll probably meet up around november. Zab is a more mature and experienced fighter now and with a different referee I think Tszyu-Judah II will be a different story. Im not saying Zab will win but he will definatly be competitive.

[!!Captain]

IBF and the rest of the bunch don't mean much lately. I wouldn't be surprised if Judah chooses to fight someone for a large sum of cash, just like Tarver and Johnson did. I don't see anyone blaming them for that, either.

To establish his legacy, Judah needs to win the fight with Tszyu, otherwise it'll be Lewis vs. Klichko forever. Man, I would love to see Judah vs. Tszyu II.

[whdempsey]

I think that Zab will fight both tszyu and rivera. Tszyu's not fighting hatton until june so I think Zab will fight Rivera in between now and the Tszyu fight. They'll probably meet up around november. Zab is a more mature and experienced fighter now and with a different referee I think Tszyu-Judah II will be a different story. Im not saying Zab will win but he will definatly be competitive.

Come on. A different ref? Please, that complaint was bull**** in the beginning, and it still smells like that now. Judah went down twice from one punch, and that will always be the bottom line.

However, in terms o0f his schedule I think you're prolly right. Except for one thing, that is. If De la Hoya makes good on his word and drops down, the first thing he'll do is go after those belts of Judah's, in which case we'll prolly be looking at Tzyu-De la Hoya for the undisputed welterweight championship.

[joeboxer]

When you're the champ and you have big money fights that can be made defending the belts. Oscar, Mosely, Spinks, why would you risk that.
Also if he makes a few title defenses then loses to De La Hoya he can always go back and make the Tzu thing happen.

[The Fix]

zab should get the big fights. sanctioning bodies are a joke and zab should fight the best fighter at or near his weight.