I can?t say I share the buzz flying around for this weekends unification fight at Jr Welterweight between Amir Khan and Zab Judah. But it is a significant fight and if my brief time writing this column has proven anything, it?s that I can be incredibly wrong.
Let?s start with Zab, I think the soon to be released movie could well be titled Zab Judah vs Aliens. After all, from what I?ve been reading over the years he could wipe out an entire colony with one Herculean swat of his mighty left hand. If he remains focused that is. I honestly can?t recall another figure in the sport that has carried his early reputation this late into his career despite proving unequivocally that he is not that level of fighter. It?s especially puzzling in the internet age of fighters being shot and useless after only one loss.
Don?t get me wrong, Judah is not void of talent. But his speed has continually fooled fans and scribes into calling him a murderous puncher and even a slick boxer. He did have two highly publicized meltdowns against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. & Kostya Tszyu so I?m not going to say he has mirrored Marvin Hagler in the mental aspect of the sport. But with the exceptions of Carlos Baldomir & Cory Spinks he has been a remarkably consistent performer. Judah?s speed is capable of producing highlight reel knock outs against lesser opposition and it usually proves troubling early for elite fighters until they overpower or out skill him. The whole focused Zab thing is a myth. It may sound like I?m roasting him, but I?m actually defending him. Judah has been a solid guy, a multiple time belt holder, who just can?t cut it against the very best in the sport. All in all, he has had a very consistent career. Yup, I said it. Zab Judah is one of the most consistent fighters in the sport.
Unfortunately for him, I think he is facing one of the best tomorrow night. Khan is, oddly, on the other end of public perception. After winning a Silver medal in the Olympics he embarked on a pro career backed with considerable hype. That all came crashing down when Breidis Prescott annihilated him inside of a minute. That gave him the less than flattering moniker of Amere Con and it stuck even after a win over fading legend Marco Antonio Barrera and a dominant decision over top 5 Jr Welterweight Andriy Kotelnik that netted him his first World Title strap.
It was somewhat understandable as Marco is past his best days and a clash of heads produced a brutal cut on Barrera early in the fight. Kotelnik, while talented, is not a puncher. So when Khan squared off with power punching Marcos Maidana last year?a guy the internet experts said he was too afraid to fight? most were predicting that Khan would be out cold during the anthems. But that isn?t what happened, he floored Marcos with a body shot in the first round and endured a brutal onslaught late when he was out on his feet to take a well earned unanimous decision in the Fight of the Year. Yet still the pessimism remains. Can he drop the doubters against Judah?
The match up is a somewhat peculiar one with both men possessing tremendous speed and flawed defense. Even though he has a dangerous reputation, Judah?s main concern these days is not getting hit. I believe Amir is significantly faster and this will have Judah back on his heels pawing with his jab and winging an occasional prayer of a left hand. If he lands one, I have no doubt it will hurt Khan. But I also find it hard to envision Judah closing him out. If Maidana couldn?t do it, Zab won?t either.
Khan and Freddie Roach will have a proper game plan and I expect it to consist mainly of his jab and some flurries when Zab covers up. Judah isn?t going to come at him aggressively, so if he doesn?t walk into anything it should be smooth sailing. I?ll take Khan in what most will call a disappointing decision in the 10-2 or 11-1 range. And then we can lock Zab up until we break the glass for his next high profile opponent whom the masses theorize how he has a real good chance against because of his otherworldly power and rapid fire speed.
I want to give some credit to undefeated young British Heavyweights Derek Chisora & Tyson Fury for actually fighting each other instead of following the disturbing trend of fighting stiffs and waiting their turn for a shot at one of the Klitschko brothers.
While I don?t think either of them is any sort of threat to the champions. Fighting difficult fights builds experience and character. And that will give the winner the best opportunity when their day comes. As for the fight, I think very little of Fury and Chisora is an honest fighter with a lot of aggression and at least moderate skills. I think he should put a beating on the larger man and stop him somewhere in the middle rounds. Since he was a pawn in the Wlad/Haye saga, he deserves a chance at the title.
Orlando Salido makes the first defense of the Featherweight belt he pilfered from Juan Manuel Lopez in one of the year?s biggest upsets. I know very little about his opponent, Kenichi Yamaguchi, but if anyone deserves a home town defense against an unknown it is the long underrated Salido. Expect a victory there to set up a rematch with JuanMa in the fall.
