Zab Judah

You know when he started out he reminded me of a Sweet Pea but with a little more pop. I was excited.
But he seemed to fsll in love with his power and ignore his other skills.
I often wonder if he had a better trainer what might have been because he had the talent.

 

Gary Smith wrote a feature on him in Sports Illustrated before the Kostya Tszyu fight.

Gary has written a lot of good boxing articles.

https://vault.si.com/vault/2001/11/...n-you-dont-know-boxings-strangest-family-saga

 

Extremely talented but mentally off. Way too cocky and low ring IQ. Wouldn't be surprised if his actual IQ is quite low.

 

A little off the deep end. Never change.

 

I wouldn't group Taylor with those guys. Incredible performance against prime JC Chavez just a couple of seconds in a judgement call short.

 

Beat:
Witter
MIllet
Green
Ward
Weiss
Corley
Spinks (best win)
Cosme Rivera
Matthysse
Mabuza
Vernon Paris

Lost:
Tszyzu
Floyd
Cotto
Spinks
Clottey
Baldomir

Khan (aging)
(Way too far past it for the other loses)

Apart from the Baldomir and Clottey fights, he didn't underperform that often. And he was pretty much supposed to lose against Paris, Spinks II, and Matthysse. Tszyzu never gave a rematch, which might have helped redeem his rep even if he ended up losing again.

 

While coming up Zab had incredible hand speed, great reflexes, knockout power and underrated defense, Judah was ripping through the competition. He was exciting as hell to watch, and he honestly looked unstoppable.

He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, having held the IBF and WBO junior welterweight titles between 2000 and 2004 and the undisputed welterweight title in 2005, which included a reign as the lineal champion from 2005 to 2006. He held the IBF junior welterweight title again in 2011.

Unfortunately no one could see inside his mind or spirit. Cus D’Amato said boxing is at least fifty percent mental. Zab didn’t have it in that department and that, plus ego, lead to the Tszyu fight and attacking the ref atrocity after he lost. Once his speed diminished he went the way of most speedy boxers who’s speed leaves. Gate keeper. See: Amir Khan, Gamboa, Etc etc.

Zab was a solid good, not great, champion who could entertain and dazzle.

 

I loved Zab Judah. Yes he was flawed mentally in the ring, but I loved his unorthodox style and he was a puncher. Yes not Pernell with power - that ridiculously overinflated his abilities - but always fun to watch.

 

Not even his own mother.

 

Max Kellerman. Recall how high he actually had this guy rated?

 

I forgot about that. Been a long time.