By Dave Cacciatore: Renowned for it’s toughness, Brooklyn’s reputation was dealt a blow when it’s very own Zab Judah coiled to the canvas on his knees and allowed himself to be counted out in his fight with Amir Khan. Even before Zab sought sanctuary in the fetal position, there was little doubt of who was the better fighter that night.
Khan blistered him with jabs, rights, and combinations. Judah could not match the speed and skill of the younger fighter. Nor did he appear as hungry as the 2004 Olympic Silver medalist from Bolton. The occasional counter punch aside, Judah did nothing in the fight. From the first round it was quickly apparent to Judah that he was not on the level of the much more aggressive and confident Khan.
If Judah the former two division world champion was a potential Hall of Fame candidate coming into this fight, there should be no doubt that he does not deserve to be enshrined in Canastota after. A solid resume and a collection of belts can only take a fighter so far towards greatness. Judah dripped with talent earlier in his career, but questions have always persisted about his heart. To be sure he showed plenty of bravery in his effort to dethrone Miguel Cotto. But that fight was a rare night in his career.
Should Judah not fight again, the legacy he will have cemented is as a Tyson type bully. A fantastic fighter when he has the advantages lined up on his side. An unrelenting punisher of the over-matched. But far less courageous and aggressive when his opponents strike back. Whether you want to look at the lackluster efforts in being out-hustled by the light hitting Cory Spinks in their first fight and the plodding workman like Carlos Baldomir. Or his pathetic display at the end of the Joshua Clottey fight to get to the scorecards. Zab Judah has no business having his name mentioned in the same group with ring legends like Marvin Hagler who did not know the meaning staying on his knees to avoid more punishment from an opponent.
Aside from the checkout job that Judah posted against Khan which may have been his worse, there is another fight that is just a shining example of why Judah does not belong amongst the greats. Floyd Mayweather Jr, undisputed and undefeated pound for pound champion gave Judah a chance at Hall of Fame greatness. And for four rounds, Judah gave the Pretty Boy all he wanted stinging him with fast hard shots to take an early lead. But what makes champions like Mayweather different from belt holders like Judah is that they find a way. Showing tremendous character Mayweather did not look for an escape route. He made adjustments and took the fight over picking Judah apart round after round. By the tenth Judah was fouling in frustration. There was not quit and frustration in Mayweather, just a firm resolve to win the fight and leave the excuses for his opponent to spout once it was over.
Judah on the other hand has shown that protecting his ego is more important than protecting his reputation in the ring. He has demonstrated that he can tolerate losing when he has some way to rationalize it afterwards. From complaining about headbutts, cuts, referee calls, etc. When Khan hit him with a shot on his belt line he had found the way out he was looking for. Judah was tied up with Khan at the time and Amir was not even able to gain full leverage on the punch which landed almost entirely on his protector. Nonetheless, this was his ticket out of the one-sided beating he was taking. That is why Zab never looked up when the referee was counting until long after he reached ten. That is why he was evasive in the post-fight interview and he tried to focus attention on the punch he took a dive on and not the domination that preceded it. That is why it would be insane for Zab or anyone else to talk of a rematch because the truth was so plain to everyone watching but the man who was once called Super.
It is hopeful though that the man who dominated Judah before his fifth round exit will not suffer the same fate. Amir Khan in many ways possesses the things that Judah has such as lightening fast hand speed and skills, as well as the things Judah lacks such as dogged desire to win and a maturity that far surpasses Judah’s 33 years. It is clear that there is only one fight for him right now in the junior welterweight division and that is Timothy Bradley. That contest promises to be everything that this past fight was not, two tough guys fighting a must win brawl. Both men often come straight forward on a line leaving their chins exposed and both men have never shown quit in the ring. Khan probably has the edge in power and Bradley probably has the edge in chin, both will be in top mental and physical condition. Boxing needs fights like this and not demonstrations in ego preservation.