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Tszyu is just another opponent for Judah

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By Paul Upham: IBF junior welterweight champion Zab “Super” Judah faces the toughest test of his career when he meets WBC/WBA junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu on November 3 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to determine the undisputed champion of the world.
The undefeated 23 year-old New Yorker appears to have it all covered in the areas of speed, power and skill and is looking to utilize these tools to defeat Tszyu in a fight that promises to be a blockbuster for the fans.

“Throughout the years, everyone knows that a good boxer can beat a puncher any day,” said Judah, 27-0 (21) 1 NC. “I am confident that my skills are long. I will beat whatever Tszyu has.”

Looking through his list of career wins, Tszyu, 27-1-1 (22), stands out as easily the most testing opponent of his career, but Judah is unconvinced. “I do not know if this is my toughest challenge. Tszyu seems, from the media hype, to be a tough opponent. But who knows until we get there and lock up,” said Judah, who feels that any delay in this fight happening has been to his benefit.

“It has been to my advantage to wait because they (Tszyu's camp) have given me time to learn, get more experience, have more fights and train more. I am getting better and better and better. Tszyu is getting older and older. That is their fault. They did it to themselves. It is not my fault,” added Judah, who did concede that it is special having all three world title belts on the line.

“I prefer that the fight be for bigger things. Now, it is a mega fight. For me to unify the belt would be a great accomplishment at my age. I am a better fighter today than ever before.”

The most notable names on Judah’s winning record are Micky Ward, Jan Bergman and Terron Millett. When asked though, no one performance stands out for him. “I do not know what my best performance has been. I guess all of them. Every fight is different and a different turning point in my life. Every fight means different things. Every fight is the same to me. I just prepare well mentally and physically, and take on every challenger the same way,” said Judah.

“ I am just going to keep doing what I have been doing to prepare. I actually have to tone it down some. I have to bring it down now. I am more than ready. I was ready like one or two weeks ago. If they were to reschedule the fight and tell me it was in two hours, I would be 100 percent ready, weight and everything. Tszyu should know that I am a young fighter, and young people tend to overdo things. This is the biggest opportunity of my life, not because of the opponent, but the stakes that are on the line. He should have known that I would be ready.”

Judah does not normally watch tapes of his opponents prior to a fight, but his father Yoel suggested to him that he watch Tszyu for this fight. “Watching the tapes gave me 1000 percent more confidence. I watched his last four fights and some before that. I like to watch how a guy wins. Tszyu is like Swiss cheese to me. He has a lot of holes in him,” said Judah, who does not see Tszyu as a dangerous opponent.

“I think Tszyu is a good fighter. He is the champion, so I have to respect him for what he has done. I do not think Tszyu is a dangerous fighter. His style is tailor made for my style. I am going to show everyone that. It has been proven with Floyd Mayweather-Diego Corrales, Bernard Hopkins-Felix Trinidad and Marco Antonio Barrera-Naseem Hamed, that if you are a slick boxer and stick to what you do best, it is an easy job.”

Does Judah feel he will stop Tszyu? “I cannot say that I envision a scenario where I stop Tszyu,” said Judah. “I am in tremendous shape, and am ready for whatever. I know Tszyu's style. He only has a handful of options, and that is to come forward, try to keep pressure, try to throw the right hand, swing a hook, try to get a lucky punch, try to get me out of the zone. I already know the games and am prepared for anything.”

Tszyu-Judah will be shown on Showtime Championship boxing in the USA at 10 p.m. ET/PT with unbeaten Francisco "Panchito" Bojado defending his WBC youth title against former Mexican State junior welterweight champion Mauro Lucero in a
10-round bout

Judah has been a star in the making for the last few years but now is the time for him to really shine. A loss to Tszyu would seriously derail what is being mapped out as a super-star path to the top of the pound for pound rankings. “Becoming undisputed champion would be a great accomplishment for me. It would open more doors. Maybe people would recognize, see a little bit more and understand Zab Judah. There are always questions,” said Judah.

“No matter the outcome of this fight, there still will be questions. It will separate the boys from the men. In my book, it already has been separated, and I already know who the best fighter is. I can tell you the outcome of the fight right now. It is not for me to say. It is for you to watch it and see.”


Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
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