Monday, July 11, 2011

Khan vs. Judah - Fireworks Shall Ensue

Anyone who thinks that Zab Judah is completely shot should think again. Even a 33 year old Zab is game for a firefight against a top competitor. Khan should provide the fuel for Zab's interest.

One of the problems with Judah in his career is that he has the tendency to take certain styles lightly...and does not prepare for the unexpected. Look at some of his worst losses - Tzsyu, for instance. In that fight, he was so confident that he'd be able to run the table on a supposed one dimensional puncher that he forgot to put his hands up and block what would be a succession of career changing right hands.
The same thing happened against Carlos Baldomir...he thought that he'd won both of those fights with pre-fight intimidation - only to lose badly to lesser fighters (or at least, less gifted).

Zab's best performances were during his defeats against Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto. Even with the tarnished legacy the Mayweather fight left (the unfortunate but severely intentional low blow), Zab showed that he was able to do what few have been able to accomplish against Mayweather - win successive rounds and look good doing it. In the Cotto fight, Zab fought one of his most crowd pleasing fights - and in a TKO loss showed heart that few these days seem to have.

I didn't think much of Amir Khan until after his war with Marcos Maidana. Khan showed that he can last 12 rounds against an earth shattering punch...and although I am not sold on his chin - managed to give back as much as he took.

If Zab has a fight left in him, this is the one. Styles (to me) look to be a great match for an all action fight, though I am concerned about Zab's conditioning. If he is indeed serious about a final run at all of the belts at 147, he needs to make sure every hour in the gym is focused - and that he regains at least some of what made him a superstar in his early 20's.

Prediction: Khan W UD
Hope: Zab KO 10

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