By Mark Workman

This past Saturday night, the boxing world witnessed one of the most ridiculous spectacles in recent memory when undisputed welterweight king Zab “Super” Judah was beaten by 16-1 underdog Carlos Baldomir, an Argentine bull who never stopped coming forward and throwing punches until Judah’s WBC belt was wrapped firmly around his waist.

During referee Arthur Mercante, Jr’s pre-fight instructions, Judah outrageously punched Baldomir on his left hip rather than touch gloves, and then had the gall in the post-fight interview to say it was an accident. Does Zab Judah not know that the world has a modern invention called a DVR? That was no accident.

Rumors had been flying that Judah hadn’t trained seriously for the Baldomir fight, and that fact could not have been more obvious Saturday night. It was also clear to anyone watching the fight that Judah was simply looking past the unheralded Baldomir to his superfight with “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather and wasn’t taking Baldomir seriously.

That proved to be the biggest mistake of Judah’s career, as he now watches millions of dollars go down the drain and his three belts are gone. And boxing fans now see another undisputed title blown to smithereens, thanks to Judah’s lack of dedication and laziness. Thanks, Zab.

Has Zab Judah and his father/trainer ever seen Mike Tyson’s fight with Buster Douglas? Do they not know what happens when you take the underdog lightly? Maybe they don’t own a DVR or VCR. I would suggest that they watch the fight, but I think it’s a bit too late now for a history lesson.

What’s even more annoying about this entire fiasco is that boxing fans are the ones who’ve truly lost out again. We’ve waited a long time for the superfight that was coming on April 8 between Judah and Mayweather. Now it’s history.

Should Judah have beaten Mayweather—something I’ve never believed he could do—other superfights against fighters such Britain’s Ricky Hatton possibly awaited him. Now those fights are also down the toilet. And once again boxing fans lose out after they’ve supported these fighters for quite some time. Why do we keep doing it? Why do we keep filling the pockets of the undeserving and those who make a mockery of the sport?

I seriously doubt that the Mayweather fight will still happen after Judah’s loss to Baldomir. It would be the crime of the century for Judah to get that payday and not Baldomir, who certainly deserves it. Unfortunately, Mayweather vs. Baldomir is far from a superfight and would be a hard sell, especially on Pay-Per-View. And that’s a shame for Carlos Baldomir.

I found it amazing that during the post-fight interview Judah said, “I don’t want to make excuses,” and then that’s all he did for five minutes, blaming everyone on the planet, including promoter Don King, saying he had too much press during the week leading up to the fight.

What serious boxer doesn’t work hard to promote his fights? It also requires some work to win fights, and training hard is part of that necessary effort.

By the way, has no one ever told Judah and his father that children watch boxing and that extreme profanity is inappropriate on a nationally televised program? Or do they just not care?

During the post-fight interviews and pathetic crying of spilt milk, I had memory flashes of Tyson vs. Douglas while Judah’s father stood there on television screaming about how his son had been robbed by the judges thanks to Don King, and that Zab had won the fight.

I wonder what fight he was watching. Was he watching it at all? Or did he just start watching it after Zab began to give the fight away? Or did he wake up in the seventh round when his son was on his knees hugging Baldomir’s legs?

Floyd Mayweather called Judah after the fight to console him for his loss. Or was he really calling him to share in the misery of millions lost? Maybe Mayweather should’ve told Judah to get rid of the horde of dead weight homies he carts around with him. Iron Mike must not have explained to him the lasting effects of that disease. Certainly they weren’t a distraction for Judah. That was probably Don King’s fault, too.

Zab Judah and Mike Tyson are friends, so I doubt the history lesson of dangerously underestimating the underdog was a mystery to young Zab. Or was it? A phone call from Iron Mike rather than from Floyd Mayweather probably would’ve served Zab better for what future he has left in boxing.

During his post-fight delusional ranting, Judah’s father continued to refer to Carlos Baldomir as “Baldazar.” That, alone, shows how much they overlooked their opponent. He didn’t even know his name.

Seeing Judah flailing around the ring and holding on for dear life after Baldomir rocked him in the seventh round was the harbinger of doom in my eyes. From that point forward, I knew Judah was going to lose the fight. You could see it coming from the intentional head butting that Judah was so desperately attempting to save himself.

I wonder if Judah even cares that his laziness has now left boxing fans with another undisputed title in ruins. What’s even more amazing is that Judah and Don King didn’t even have a rematch clause in their contract with Baldomir, another clear indication of how much they overlooked the Argentinean.

My hat goes off to Jean-Marc Mormeck and O’Neil Bell, two cruiserweights who provided fans with an exciting fight worthy of a rematch. Ironically, the Judah fight was the main event, but Mormeck vs. Bell was clearly the standout fight of the Showtime broadcast.

And even more praise should go to Jean-Marc Mormeck for being gracious in defeat and a true gentleman. Zab Judah could learn a few lessons from him. I hope O’Neil Bell will give Mormeck a chance to avenge the loss.

In the post-fight press conference Jean-Marc Mormeck said, “I’m sorry.” Sorry for what? For giving the fans a great fight, something Zab Judah didn’t do. Mormeck has nothing to apologize for. I applaud him. He gave it his all and the fans their money’s worth.

At the post-fight press conference Judah said that he was “still the WBA and IBF welterweight champion.” The delusions never seem to end. No matter what he or anyone in his camp says, Carlos Baldomir is the new undisputed welterweight champion.

I’d have some respect left for Zab Judah if he just came clean and admitted that he didn’t train hard enough, took Baldomir lightly and lost the fight. But don’t hold your breath for that one. I’m not. I find it difficult to have any sympathy at all for Zab Judah.

Maybe it’s time for Judah to leave his father at home on the couch in front of the television and get another trainer who’s able to objectively and realistically advise him in the ring when he’s in trouble, something that didn’t happen last Saturday night.

It amazes me how fighters like Judah think it is okay to come into the ring unprepared and put on a sloppy performance and think nothing about the fans in the audience who paid good money to see it.

I’m sure many boxing fans are now sitting back trying to think of reasons why they should ever spend another dime on Zab Judah. Frankly, I can’t think of a single one.

As we look back on many of the shocking boxing upsets that should not have happened, Judah vs. Baldomir will certainly rank with the biggest of them. But what’s most amazing is that Zab Judah could’ve avoided the entire debacle had he merely paid heed to the history lesson from a friend.