  |
|
|
|
Zab Judah challenges Joshua Clottey on HBO "Boxing After Dark" this Saturday, August 2, for the IBF welterweight title vacated by Antonio Margarito.
The winner is likely to be "rewarded" with a fight against WBA champ, Antonio Margarito. Although meeting Margarito in the ring seems more like what Caligula might have arranged for a losing gladiator. Hardly a reward. Judah possesses speed, good power, and an athleticism that most fighter's can only dream of, yet he inexplicably lost to Carlos Baldomir, and has consistently fallen short against the sport's A-list--Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, and Cory Spinks (although he eventually avenged the Spinks loss with a KO). There's no shame in losing to the likes of Cotto or Mayweather, no one in his right mind would say there is, but the 2nd round KO loss to an aging Tszyu and an apathetic performance versus the hard-headed, but slow, Baldomir, has caused many to question Judah's mental discipline. Perhaps Judah's greatest gift is that he is able to contract any meaningful fights at all. Judah has three losses, one no contest, and two victories in his last six fights. The victories are over Edwin Vasquez and Ryan Davis, whose combined records are 42-16-4. And they probably aren't that good. But Judah has talent, and talent means potential as long as he can get his head straight. At 30-years-old, Judah must take advantage of his gifts right now. As gifts go, Clottey is a lot like getting fruitcake for Christmas. Sure, you appreciate the gesture, but is it what you really wanted? Clottey is a tough guy from Ghana, Africa, who fought in relative obscurity until giving Antonio Margarito a full twelve rounds in a unanimous decision loss back in '06. Yes, the same Margarito who caused the much ballyhooed Cotto to take a knee in the 11th round this past Saturday. Clottey was in line for a second crack at Margarito, having won an IBF eliminator over Shamone Alvarez back in December, and Margarito having run over Kermit Cintron in the Spring, but Margarito canned his IBF belt in favor of facing Cotto. Business is business. Clottey brings solid skills and a solid chin with him when he steps into the ring. While not a devastating puncher, he certainly has enough pop to shake Judah. So who's the tough guy in the ring this Saturday? Clottey. Who has the edge in talent? Judah. The big question is, who has the best chance versus Margarito? Based on Clottey's previous performance against Margarito, in which he may, or may not, have sustained an injury to his left hand in the fourth round, he certainly had the fortitude to stand up to the Tornado for twelve rounds. As for Judah, standing up to Clottey's steady pressure would be a very positive sign in a career that desperately needs one. If Judah can stare down Clottey over twelve rounds and beat him, he could give Margarito a solid test and an entertaining fight for the fans--as long as it lasted. Caligula would approve.
The copyright of the article Zab Judah Gets Another Chance in Pro Boxing is owned by Bill Scherer. Permission to republish Zab Judah Gets Another Chance in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
