Zab Judah, a three-time Junior Welterweight titlist and former undisputed Welterweight world champion, is ecstatic to fight in his hometown for the first time as a professional. “This is a great opportunity, because this is the first time that I will be fighting in Brooklyn as a professional. It’s a great feeling, and I think the last time I fought in Brooklyn, New York, was in the Golden Gloves.”
Brooklyn, the “thoroughest borough” which was once home to great fighters such as Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, and Eddie Mustapha Muhammad as well as to a plethora of legendary rappers like the Big Daddy Kane, Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z, is the perfect place for Judah to fight in, as the popular fighter has always connected with the hip-hop generation.
One gets the sense that the Brooklynite feels that he has to return home to reclaim some of the magic that made him a “super” prospect in the eyes of all who witnessed his amazing skills since his amateur days.
“I feel like superman, like how he came out of the booth and he became superman again,” explains Judah. “So this is the old Zab Judah all over again, I’m going back to my roots, Brooklyn New York, and when I come out of the booth it will be flying colors again.”
However, many are questioning just how much Judah has left at 34-years-old with so many grueling fights behind him. In his 16-year career, the fighter has shared the ring with the likes of Kostya Tszyu, Cory Spinks, Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, and most recently, Amir Khan.
His performance against Khan last July has been cited as evidence that the veteran is not the same fighter that, win or lose, thrilled fans with his blazing speed, thunderous power and an attitude to match in his prime years in the sport.
Judah did not let his hands go enough against Khan to be competitive against the young and hungry champion. The Brit dominated the fight for the first 4 rounds until a body shot dropped Judah for the count in round 5.
“People are questioning me,” admits Judah, clearly aware of the criticism and the calls to perhaps call it a career. “I understand that everybody was a little upset at the last outing, but there are some things that are out of your control. It kind of hurts your feelings, because people are saying ‘that wasn’t a low blow, you got hit with a body shot.’ A body shot? Me? Come on, my body was tremendous. It was as hard as a brick. Amir Khan is no knockout puncher that can stop someone with a body shot. It was a low shot that jammed the cup right into my testicles.”
That loss aside, the Pernell Whitaker-trained Judah insists that the fire to succeed still burns in his belly and that it is fueled by his new found spirituality.
“Oh yeah, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has re-lit my fire, my fire is back, my hunger is there,” exclaims Judah. “I feel like Jesus when he was at the mountaintop 40 days and 40 nights with no food or water and this is how I am going into this fight. I hate going backwards and trying to explain, but everybody that knows me knows I have a heart like a lion. They used to say ‘he has too much heart, he’s too wild,’ and now they’re saying ‘he’s soft.’ You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t, but come March 24th you’re going to see Zab Judah and I’ll do what I do best. I think the respect that I deserve as a fighter will be given back at this fight to come.”
In Vernon Paris (26-0, 15 KOs), Judah is facing another undefeated fighter who is a decade younger. In fact, the 24-year-old from Detroit is as brash and cocky as a young Zab Judah was in his prime.
“I remember being in that kind of a position before. I was what Paris is trying to be,” reminisces Judah, now wise enough to know that talking tough does not mean a thing if one cannot back it up in the ring. “I was that kid once, the trash talker, the loud mouth, but it don’t pay the bills. March 24th is a boxing match, and that’s the only thing that should count for anything.”
Judah cites a lack of mental and sometimes physical preparation as the main reasons why he ended up on the losing end of big fights where he started fast and strong. Zab believes that the tricks he learned in 48 professional fights will be too much for a young, inexperienced fighter.
“It’s a 12 round fight, and I’m fighting a fighter that’s never been passed 8 rounds ever in his career. I’ve been 12 rounds numerous times with some of the top fighters in the world today,” explains Judah. “Vernon Paris is going into a depth of water he’s never ever swam and he’s going to find out there is no bottom.”
The fighter clearly counts on experience to be the deciding factor in this fight, but he takes exception to those who call him “old” at 34 years of age.
“It’s funny how they call you old at 34. I don’t understand what’s old. Old is experience and experience is great. I think that everybody that’s old in the game of boxing is great. If you watch the great Bernard Hopkins, he’s done it time after time. George Foreman has shown the world he can do it. I’m not comparing myself to these guys age-wise, but those guys are another decade older than myself. If you look at the whole [Olympic] team of ’96, myself, Antonio Tarver and Floyd Mayweather, we are probably the only three that are still rolling strong. People have to remember just last July I was a champion of the world. Now I’m coming back to rightfully get back what’s mine.”
So is there anything in particular about Vernon Paris that concerns Judah?
“Hopefully he shows up!” quips Judah. “It’s not just Vernon Paris, you gotta understand, he’s just the fighter at hand. It could be any fighter. It’s about Zab Judah being the best Zab Judah he can be.”
The fighter does have a message for his young opponent, however.
“You have to respect everywhere that you go. You can’t disrespect or bad mouth anywhere that you go and just expect to walk out there plain and calm. Vernon Paris is coming to Brooklyn City, New York. I don’t want anyone to say that this is a Detroit vs. Brooklyn fight, because it’s totally not. I love Detroit, I represented Detroit, I defended my world title on the Tyson-Golota undercard in Detroit, I have a lot of friends in Detroit and I love Detroit. The only one that is thinking something like this is Vernon Paris and his weak minded crew. At the same time, all that I ask the young man is to come in here and prepare for a boxing match. Come here and give respect and respect will be given back. Understand that you are going through Brooklyn, NY. You can’t come here with disrespect.”
Other than demanding respect, the Brooklyn native claims that he is rejuvenated and blessed that he has one more opportunity to turn back the clock.
“Anybody that knows me knows winning means more to me than anything. I could care less who it is, just that Zab Judah steps in there and be the best Zab Judah that Zab can be. It’s a blessing to be in the situation where I’m at. I was stopped on a low blow, and I’m back fighting for the number one spot for the IBF belt again. I’m excited again. I’m feeling like I’m 22 years old again. The fire is lit, my airline tickets are ready, my hotel is booked. Brooklyn is ready. That’s all I can say, this is going to be great.”
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