Zab Judah better be ready March 5th because this guy Kaizer Mabuza beat Kendall Holt down! Check the youtube video.
Yeah, the Hammer is dangerous - but not more dangerous than LMM, with whom Judah survived long enough to win a disputed decision. Mabuza has a very strong build for the division and a stifling bully style but his punches are far less straight and sharp then LMM's. Judah should be able to outland him fairly easily. The common perception at the time was that Holt must have become shot overnight...but he has since rebounded with a first round knockout win, so maybe it was just a bad style for him (or a bad night..or both).
I am going to go with Mabuza's momentum. He seems to have a solid imposing style and a decent chin, which could trouble Judah. Matthyse unfortunately couldn't get to Judah, though I hear it was a close affair that could have gone either way (I did not catch the fight). I could see Mabuza being stopped early though if Judah catches him.
It was a robbery IMO, but I rate Matthysse as a full class above Mabuza. Judah can be hurt, so Mabuza does have a puncher's chance...and he does have momentum on his side (having managed a decision win abroad over well regarded Fedchenko in his native Ukraine before making Holt submit).
IB, Iv always rated u as one of the knowledgeable posters on these boards...I do however disagree on Lucas being higher on the food chain than Kaizer. Remember styles do make fights and Mathysse/Mabuza are 2 very different styles, where Lucas didn't attack u can bet that Kaizer will. I kinda have an inside scoop bout the tactics for this fight from the Mabuza camp so we will see soon enough how it pans out
Judah was well beaten by Mattyse in what was yet again another sign of clear hometown biase in a fight in america. I heard Mabuza is decent but he will need a KO to beat Judah in America.
Mabuza has much higher activity than Matthyse so it should be alot easier for the judges to see him outland Judah
Judah must be on point. He needs to realize how lucky he was to escape with a win against Matthysse, and use that as a wake-up call. Hopefully he isn't surrounded with yes-men who are telling him "Oh you did great, you're doing fine, everything's A-OK..." I mean, Yoel is a given. "Bam boom bam bap, baby - you're the best baby, boom bap bam boom!". I mean everyone else around him.
Yeah Mabuza isn't a bum the guy can fight. With that said I think Zab will come in ready but that alone might not be enough.