GL: When is training camp officially starting for your Febuary 9 bout with junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia? “As you know, we thought we was fighting Lamont Peterson back in August, so we’ve been preparing. Ever since the Vernon Paris fight, I’ve been keeping in shape and patiently waiting. I thought a big fight was going to happen between myself and Lamont Peterson, that didn’t happen so now I’m taking my talents to the WBA, WBC and ring belt. I’m also opening a new door on Showtime. I’m just thankful to God to be campaigning at the top level in a sport like boxing after sixteen years.”
“Most of the guys from my Olympic team are done or finished, the only two guys who are still relevant and around are Floyd and Antonio Tarver and that’s not bad company to be in.”
GL: What are your thoughts on Garcia as a fighter? And just so know I am aware of your little twitter beef with him.
Zab Judah: “You know what? The twitter thing is what I have to do to talk to these guys. These guys don’t wake up and say I want to fight Zab Judah, so if I don’t get under some guys skins a little bit fights wouldn’t be made. This is going to be like the Eagles and the Giants but on the boxing level. You got Garcia coming out of Philly and me coming out of Brooklyn at the Barclay’s Center.”
GL: Does fighting him in Brooklyn put any extra pressure on you?
ZJ: “It’s not pressure, it’s the opportunity that I’ve prayed for. This is something that I’ve asked for and this is something that I’ve wanted. I want to be the first to win the undisputed twice in two different weight classes.”
GL: How are you still comfortably making weight?
ZJ: “I don’t know. It’s insane! From 1996 till now is sixteen years right?”
GL: Yes. You fought for your first title at 140 pounds almost thirteen years to the day that your fight with Garcia is scheduled.
ZJ: “That’s a great accomplishment. That’s more than a decade of fighting at the championship level and that’s beautiful.”
GL: What are you hoping a victory over Garcia leads to?
ZJ: “A mega-fight with the best fighters out there. Those are the only fights I’m looking for right now. I’m not looking to win these titles to fight number one contenders, for all that they could keep the titles, I’m going straight for the top guys. Let’s do it, let’s have some fun and go big with it. God-willing once I win this fight I’ll be willing to give him a rematch because the young man did put his situation on the line when he didn’t have to. I will respect that and give him the automatic rematch right back, it’s no problem.”
GL: Is that something that you’re contractually obligated to do?
ZJ: “I’m not 100% sure, but it doesn’t matter. If he wants it, he can get it.”
GL: Both of you guys are considered big punchers, is there any way you see this fight going the distance?
ZJ: “They consider him a big puncher for knocking out Amir Khan and an old Erik Morales. They say he’s a big puncher, but I have more knockouts than he has fights. I don’t know what they’re talking about, because 15 of my opponents didn’t make it out of the first round, so that’s a puncher. The last undefeated guy who stepped up I knocked out, so as time goes on I’m getting better, I’m feeling sharper. It’s weird, but the older I get the better I get. For those of you who don’t believe in me and believe in Garcia, put your money where your mouth is.”
GL: Amir Khan is a common opponent. He was successful against Khan and you were not. Does that provide any extra motivation?
ZJ: “I realize and understand what happened in the Amir Khan fight. As long as I know what happened, I don’t worry about what he did. On Febuary 9 I’m going out there to show the world that I’m the best pound for pound fighter out there period. That’s it.”
