by James Slater: Zab “Super” Judah, the former two-weight champ, looked great last time out when he starched the respectable Jose Armando Santa Cruz inside three-rounds. Feeling as great as he looked off the back of that win, the 32-year-old southpaw has publicly proclaimed he is the best 140-pounder fighter in the world right now.
And, according to Dan Rafael over at ESPN.com, Judah, now 39-6(27) has tried to get himself a big fight with one of the current light-welterweight contenders, only to get turned down by all the big names his promoter Kathy Duva approached. Judah wanted to face a recognizable name in his next fight, before taking on the Khans, the Bradley’s and the Alexanders of the sport, but the Brooklyn man will have to make do with taking on 37-year-old Michael Clark, 40-5-1(18) on Oct. 2nd instead.
“I know he’s coming to win,” Judah told ESPN.com of Clark. “I’m just excited. I’m back in training. I am looking to go in there and show the world I am the best 140-pounder in the world.”
While a win over Clark won’t do that for Zab, it’s not his fault the other, more well known guys his promoter approached chose to avoid the fight. Reportedly, Duva offered the October date to Juan Urango, Victor Cayo, Paulie Malignaggi, Lucas Matthysse, Julio Diaz, Kendal Holt and Joel Casamayor. Either one of these seven names would have been an interesting opponent for Zab, yet they all reportedly declined the fight.
Despite this, Judah is confident he will, in time, get dates with ALL of the reigning world champions at 140.
“With the [recent] performances of [Tim] Bradley and [Devon] Alexander, I consider myself the best guy in the division,” Zab said. “Those guys know that with me back at 140 that my eyes are set on them. I don’t know which order they [the champions] will be taken in, but there will be order in the court. I am looking to be undisputed champion at 140-pounds.”
This, of course, is the kind of bold talk we expect from the always-confident Judah; and fights between he and the champions would certainly be very interesting. Always at his best at 140-pounds Zab, with his speed and power – not to mention his matured attitude and experience – would prove a real test for the likes of Khan and Alexander. I’m not sure I’d pick him to beat Bradley, but the other two, maybe.
In the meantime, Zab must take care of Clark at The Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey.
Clark, a pro since 1993, and a former “Contender” participant, is a good boxer who once challenged for the WBO 135-pound belt – losing inside five-rounds to Artur Grigorian. Holding a win over the late Leavander Johnson, as well as a draw with Verquan Kimbrough more recently, Clark has won his last two, both on points. Having boxed all over the scale in his time – from anywhere from 135 to 151-pounds – Clark boxed at light-welter in his most recent fight; a May 2010 win over Jason Pires.
Can Clark derail Judah’s big plans? Not unless he can score one huge upset.