Zab Judah: New Life at 140

July 18th, 2010

“The old Zab Judah is back”, said the former undisputed welterweight champ and junior welterweight titlist Friday night following a 3rd round TKO win over former lightweight contender Jose Armando Santa Cruz.

By “old” he meant young. At 32 years of age, Judah is looking to reclaim the shine he’s had twice in his career. First as a junior welterweight through his first 28 fights before losing for the first time via 2nd round TKO to Kosta Tszyu in 2001. Then again from 2005 – 2006 when he avenged a previous loss to welterweight champion Cory Spinks with a 9th round TKO in front of over 20,000 of Spinks hometown fans in St. Louis prior to shockingly losing his crown to journeyman Carlos Baldomir.

However, Judah is also looking to take the dazzling skill and ability he displayed in his youth and add a touch of maturity in his latest run at a world title at a weight class he hasn’t competed in since 2003.

Moving down from welterweight to junior welterweight, Judah hopes to find himself within the mix of the deep 140 pound divison by 2011.

“Zab’s always been a true junior welterweight” said his father and trainer Yoel Judah.

Now in a new weight division and with a new, but “old” promoter in Kathy Duva’s Main Events, the promotional firm that Judah began his career with, Judah will look to reclaim his spot amongst the top of the boxing heap.

Friday night in front of a “better than expected” 4,215 fans at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ as announced by Duva at the postfight presser, Judah looked forward to his next fight which will come at the same venue on October 2nd against an opponent to be announced.

Polish heavyweight Tomasz Adamek has made the Prudential Center his home since claiming the cruiserweight championship in 2008 with a decision win over Steve Cunningham and has built a fanbase so large in New Jersey that he recently attracted over 10,000 to see him win a decision over former Olympian Jason Estrada.

Judah, hailing from the much closer Brooklyn, NY, perhaps can do the same thing on the other side of the Hudson River from his hometown.

And for future foes, Judah make’s no mistake who he wants to fight.

"I want Alexander, Bradley, Khan," Judah said. "I don't care who they are. I will pick them off one by one."

With his name recognition and apparent regained focus, he likely could get one of them by next year if he just keeps winning.