06.01.06 – By Ralph Rimpell: Any hardcore boxing fan knows Zab Judah (34-2, 25 KOs) is an extremely talented fighter. This young man possesses speed, punching power, and is a southpaw to boot. At the beginning of his professional career, he was often compared to as Pernell Whitaker Jr., because of his ability to evade punches. Judah became a star when he defeated former champion Terron Millet and retained his International Boxing Federation Junior Welterweight championship on August 5, 2000.
Judah would have a chance at superstardom, ala Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De la Hoya, when Judah met the respected and long reigning champion Kostya Tszyu in a highly anticipated junior welterweight unification match on November 3, 2001. He, by his own admission, would become careless and lose by a controversial second round stoppage.. Unable to secure a rematch with Kostya Tszyu, Judah would return to square one by winning two more fights, and once again reign as a world champion by capturing the World Boxing Organization Junior Welterweight championship by defeating Demarcus Corley on July 12, 2003. By then, he had severed his promotional ties with Main Events and had signed with Promoter Don King.
After one title defense, he would moved up to the welterweight division and challenged the new undisputed welterweight champion, Corey Spinks on April 10, 2004. He would lose his focus by allowing an aggressive Spinks, not known for his punching power, to dominate the first half of the fight and suffer a surprise flash knockdown. Judah would come back to win most of the later rounds, flooring the champion and coming very close to knocking him out in the twelfth round, only to lose by a split decision. Unlike the Tszyu fight, Judah would get a rematch and knock Spinks out to gain the undisputed welterweight crown and become the new King of the hill on February 5, 2005.
Zab Judah has been to the top of the boxing world by winning world championships. He has also been to the bottom of the boxing world twice, when he was knocked on his butt by Tszyu and Spinks. Judah would vow to never again lose his focus. Since winning the welterweight crown, he has made one successful title defense. This Saturday, January 7, 2005, in New York (Judah’s Hometown) at Madison Square Garden he will face Carlos Baldomir (41-9-6-12 KOs). If he wants Mayweather, he has to defeat this tough determined Argentinean, who has not lost a fight in seven years. This will be a tough fight. In my opinion, Judah will win because he knows he has to.
So, for the sake of this argument, let us jump ahead to April 8, 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada. I submit four reasons, dear reader, why Zab Judah will defeat Floyd Mayweather:
1. Mayweather has always had the speed advantage against all of his opponents. In facing Judah, Mayweather’s speed will be negated. He will finally face an opponent where he will be unable to use his speed to dominate en route to victory.
2. Floyd will have some success using his defensive skills (rolling his shoulder, catching punches with gloves, counter punching, etc.). He may even win the first three rounds. Judah will stalk him like a hungry lion stalks a deer and adjust to Floyd’s fighting style. Then, Floyd will eat more leather than he has ever eaten as the fight progresses. Floyd will retreat after Judah begins to catch him with the left hand. Floyd will not be so pretty after this fight.
3. Floyd has never really been hit by a dangerous fighter. Diego Corrales has to be excluded, because he had drained his body to make the 130lb weight limit from 160lbs in a short time span, and was very weak when he fought Mayweather. Mayweather does not punch as hard as Tszyu. His knockouts come from a combination of punches that wear the opponents down. Judah has one punch knockout power. Floyd will taste the canvas at least twice.
4. Mayweather reportedly makes millions of dollars a match on HBO for fighting B level fighters and apparently much more for fighting, by defeating Arturo Gatti. Judah, no doubt, craves a lucrative contract from the either HBO or Showtime. Judah will not let this opportunity escape him. He is wiser, more focused, and hungry. This fight is for all the marbles, and superstardom. Their fight will determine the difference between the pretenders and contenders. Judah will impose his will on Mayweather. This is his last chance and he knows it.
Judah will win by a convincing eighth round TKO!