Zab “Super” Judah, Omar Weis

12.07 - Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Welterweight Champion Zab Judah will make his long-awaited return to the ring when he takes on IBF No. 6 contender Omar Weis in a 10-round showdown Saturday, July 13, on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In the eight-round co-features from Sam's Town in Tunica, Miss., talented, undefeated featherweight and 2000 U.S. Olympian Rocky Juarez will face Isidro Tejedor, while promising unbeaten heavyweight Malik Scott will battle Lyle McDowell on the Main Events promoted fight card.

Question: How is your training going?

Judah: Training has been great. I am having fun with this training camp again. I was anxious six or seven months ago. I was anxious on Nov. 4 to get back in the ring. I am ready to do it. It is not new to me.

Question: Is keeping your hands up something you are working on?

Judah: I have been working on a lot of stuff. With six months of suspension, it was a good thing to help me out. I sat back for six months and watched the game. I watched all the fighters, I watched different styles and different things - I just sat back and analyzed things and added things to my arsenal. I've learned so much over these six months.

Question: Do you feel more disciplined or will you go back to the old "flashiness?"

Judah: All great fighters have a little bit of flashiness in them. There is no way I can change my style totally. Zab Judah was created from that type of flashiness - quick hands and quick movements. I cannot change my game now, but I can fix it up and sharpen it up.

Question: Being from Brooklyn, why did you come to Florida to train?

Judah: Florida is nice - hot and beautiful. We are thinking about moving down there, too.

Question: Can you talk about your mental approach, coming off your first defeat?

Judah: You have to understand, in boxing, you have true beatings and then you have luck. It is like having a bad night on the craps table. I had a bad night, that is it. I did not take a beating. Sugar Shane Mosley took a beating; Tito Trinidad took a beating from Bernard Hopkins. I did not take a beating. I got hit with two punches the whole fight. I took a shot, went down and got back up, but the referee stopped the fight. That was it. How hard can it be to come back after that? It is not hard.

Question: Will you do things differently next time, if you are ever knocked down again?

Judah: I am a worrier by nature. To be in boxing, you have to be a worrier. The ground and me just do not mix. Once I hit it, I have to get up off it.

Question: What's the thinking in choosing a known spoiler like Weis?

Judah: I do not pick fights. He (Weis) had a big win - so let's do it. Ask Carl Moretti for that one.

Question: Are you looking beyond this fight?

Judah: No. I never look beyond any fight. I am here, so I cannot be looking beyond this fight. I am looking to take on this fight. This fight means a lot, no matter who the opponent is, because the world wants to know, 'How is he going to come back? How is he mentally? How is he physically? Is he still sharp? Does he still have it?' There are a lot of things that you have to come in to prove - not to anyone in particular - but to yourself. I am here to say, 'I am still me. I have not gone anywhere. I am still that young, vicious kid that everyone once talked about as no one will be able to touch. That is still me.' Do not think that just because I have one loss that I am back on the bottom. No way. You cannot go from the top to the bottom in one fight.

Question: Do you still have hard feelings for Jay Nady?

Judah: No. I do not have any feelings for him. He came in and did his job.

Question: Was the letter of apology you sent to Kostya Tszyu sincere or was it more of a political move?

Judah: That was a lie. I never sent Kostya Tszyu an apology. I feel like I do not need to apologize to Kostya Tszyu because I never did anything to Kostya Tszyu. I never touched Kostya Tszyu or harmed Kostya Tszyu, so what do I have to send an apology letter to him for? If he is scared to fight, then just say that. Do not start making excuse, saying I have to apologize first. I am not a little girl. I am a champion. I never in my life sent a letter to Kostya Tszyu. For what? I do not owe him an apology. My beef was with Jay Nady, not Kostya Tszyu.

Question: Are you going to fight Weis looking for a KO, or just outbox him?

Judah: I am going to do what I do best. I am a boxer-puncher. I am going to throw my combinations, and if it happens it happens, and if it doesn't it doesn't. I am prepared for whatever.

Question: What do you know about Omar and what are you doing to prepare for him?

Judah: I am not doing anything specifically. I have a style that is tailor-made for any fighter in the world. All I do is sharpen up my game. I just prepare myself mentally and physically for anything.

Question: Do you have any ambitions other than fighting at 140?

Judah: With this whole layoff, I have seen and heard and watched a lot of things happen. I have watched divisions change. A lot of fighters from the lower classes have said they are going to come up to this division and rule everything. If those little boys feel they can step up, then step up and do it. For you to be the best at 140, you still have to go through me.

Question: Do you feel like there is any part of your game that needs improvement?

Judah: I worked on everything. I kicked everything up times 10. My jab, my defense, getting my hands up, my movement, everything - I kicked it up times 10. Like I said, do not blame me for what you see Saturday night. Nevada did this. Nevada made this monster. They gave me the layoff and time to analyze everything.

Question: Is the loss still in your mind?

Judah: The first step to doing good is to admit the things you did wrong. I admitted the wrong I did, I worked on it, and I put it all behind me now. I am moving on to my next opponent, which is Omar Weiss. I realize Kostya Tszyu does not want any more part of this. I respect him for being a veteran. I made a mistake and had my hands down in the second round, and he went for it. I respect him for that. You cannot knock him for it.

Question: How long will you wait around for a rematch with Kostya?

Judah: I look for Kostya Tszyu to vacate his belt and give it up. I do not think he wants to fight any more. He had a great career. He lost a fight, earned his way back to the top, and he just wants to take major fights. There are still a lot of unanswered questions between Zab Judah and Kostya Tszyu. A lot of unanswered questions. Our fans were cheated. They were not given the chance to see the real Kostya Tszyu-Zab Judah fight. I mostly want to get it on again for the fans. The fans are my biggest thing.

Question: What kind of mental adjustments have you made in the last six months? What have you learned from the Tszyu fight?

Judah: I learned a lot. I learned not to deal with judges and referees any more. I handle my own business in the ring now. That fight is behind me right now. Realistically, that was a freak accident. That comes every now and again. It is like seeing a space ship in the sky. We do not see it very often. We only see it every now and again.

Question: Omar, any opening statements? How is your training going?

Weis: I am a professional and I hope everything goes well in the ring. I am training well, and training the same as I have before. I am in good shape. As far as tactics in the ring, I am going to wait and see what Judah does, and based on what he does, I will make adjustments. I have fought lefties before with no problems. I am not going to the ring to lose, I expect to win. I am confident and I am not afraid of anything. I do not have a real game plan going into the ring. I know what I need to do.

Question: What are your expectations for this fight?

Weis: I expect a lot of punches. Everyone has good and bad points. I am not going to say exactly how I will fight against Judah. I know I will have to use both hands, and I am going to have to throw a lot of punches.

Question: Why do you think so many top fighters want to face you in the ring when you are such a known spoiler?

Weis: I have a signed contract with Top Rank, and I fight whomever they say to fight. I am not sure why I am fighting these top opponents, but I am happy to do it.

Question: What would a victory mean to you in this fight?

Weis: My dream has always been to be champion of the world, and this would be another step
closer. I need to keep going and keep winning. I am only thinking about the championship belt.

Question: Have you studied Zab on tape, and, if so, what have you learned about him?

Weis: I am confident of winning. I think if I hit him hard in the chin, he may go down. Zab does not like to knock people down. He likes to box. I do not want to say too much. I will say more in the ring.