By David Kolb
Approximately two and a half months ago, in this space, I stated how lucky Zab Judah was to have the uncanny ability to resurface despite all the baggage he brings to the table.
I wrote: There must be something about Zab Judah.
In no way, shape, or form does he have any business being the center of attention any longer. He’s embarrassed himself so many times –both in and out of the ring.
But Judah has that something special that so many can’t pinpoint; that something that keeps him in the limelight.
Perhaps the fact that he can flat out crack with his wicked left hand or that he has a tad of Mike Tyson-like unpredictability in him. Or maybe it’s that he can look like the best fighter on the planet for any given round.
He was privileged to land the “Sugar” Shane Mosley PPV bout that would have thrust him back into the limelight; however Judah would do what only Judah could.
Blow it.
The fight was to take place this coming Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Nevada; however, news broke May 8 that Judah hurt his arm while falling in the shower. His arm was viciously cut. Many would see the grotesque images of his forearm that made the rounds on the internet. No one however questioned that he was injured, yet many questioned how the injury occurred.
The truth never surfaced.
“It is very unfortunate that Zab suffered this injury and that this great event had to be canceled,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said. “We are already in discussions with all parties involved to attempt to reschedule the fight for the near future.”
The fight would never happen as Mosley decided against rescheduling, leaving both Judah and Mosley without a spring fight.
To date, Mosley is still without a dance-partner for his next payday. Meanwhile, Judah has once again found a way to resurface for an important fight.
Judah is now set to face Joshua Clottey for the recently vacated IBF welterweight title, on August 2. The IBF belt became available when Antonio Margarito vacated his title to face Miguel Cotto in a big money fight. Yes, the money won’t be as nice as it would have been had he faced Mosley; however, Judah amazingly has a crack at the 147-pound title once again.
Clottey, whose career has been progressing nicely since parting from DiBella Entertainment and joining Bob Arum’s Top Rank, earned his shot at the title when he defeated Shamone Alvarez in the IBF title eliminator last December.
Clottey’s last title fight came when he was defeated by Antonio Margarito in December of 2006 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In that fight, Clottey looked great in the early rounds until he hurt his hand and Margarito cruised to victory.
The fight between Judah and Clottey looks to be a solid matchup. Clottey is a stay at home fighter who wears down opponents, often with a high work-rate. Judah, as we all know, is a power southpaw that will wait around – sometimes too long - for his one opportunity to knock his opponent out.
Interestingly, this battle of the New Yorkers – Judah from Brooklyn, Clottey from the Bronx - will take place one week after the much anticipated battle for welterweight supremacy in Las Vegas when Top Rank’s stablemates collide. Of course it’s not out of the question that the Cotto-Margarito winner will face the Judah-Clottey winner to unify, but two of those possible matchups have already played out; Margarito defeating Clottey and Cotto punishing Judah at Madison Square Garden in June of 2007.
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