Zab Judah
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2008-07-14T12:00:34Z
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{{Infobox Boxer
|name= Zab Judah
|image=
|imagesize=
|caption=
|realname= Zabdiel Judah
|nickname= Super
|height={{height|ft=5|in=7.5|wiki=yes}}
|reach={{in to cm|num=72|abbr=yes|spell=American|precision=0|wiki=yes}}
|weight= [[Welterweight]]
|nationality= {{flagicon|USA}} [[Demography of the United States|American]]
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1977|10|27}}
|birth_place=[[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York]], [[USA]]
|death_date=
|death_place=
|style= [[Southpaw (boxing)|Southpaw]]
|total=43
|wins=36
|KO=25
|losses=5
|draws=0
|no contests=2
|}}
'''Zabdiel Judah''' (born [[October 27]], [[1977]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[Professional boxing|professional boxer]], who is a former [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] and [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] [[junior welterweight]] champion and former [[List_of_undisputed_boxing_champions#Welterweight|undisputed welterweight champion]] and is ranked #6 in the [[welterweight]] division by ''[[Ring Magazine|The Ring]]''.<ref>{{cite web
| title =The Ring Ratings
| work =[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]
| url =http://www.thering-online.com/ringpages/ratings2.html
| accessdate =2008-05-09 }}</ref> After compiling an amateur record of 110–5, Judah turned professional in 1996. On [[February 12]], [[2000]], Judah won the IBF junior welterweight title by defeating Jan Piet Bergman by fourth round [[knockout]]. He successfully defended the IBF title five times before losing to [[Kostya Tszyu]] by second round [[technical knockout]] on [[November 3]], [[2001]]. Judah's actions after the fight, which included throwing a stool across the ring and sticking his gloved fist into referee [[Jay Nady]]'s neck, resulted in him being fined [[United States Dollar|$]]75,000 and a six month suspension. On [[July 12]], [[2003]], Judah defeated [[DeMarcus Corley]] by [[split decision]] to win the WBO junior welterweight title. He made one successful defense of the WBO title before moving up to welterweight.
On [[April 10]], [[2004]], Judah lost by [[unanimous decision]] to [[Cory Spinks]] for the undisputed welterweight championship, but Judah would defeat Spinks by ninth round technical knockout in a rematch ten months later. After defeating [[Cosme Rivera]] by third round technical knockout, Judah was upended by [[Carlos Baldomir]] on [[January 7]], [[2006]]. ''The Ring'' would name Baldomir's victory over Judah the [[Ring Magazine upsets of the year|upset of the year]] for 2006. On [[April 8]], [[2006]], Judah lost to [[Floyd Mayweather, Jr.]] by unanimous decision in a fight that saw a near-riot inside the ring, when Judah [[low blow|low blowed]] Mayweather in round ten, causing both fighters' cornermen to come in the ring while police had to come in and control the situation. Judah was fined $250,000 and had his boxing license revoked for one year. On [[June 9]], [[2007]], Judah lost by eleventh round technical knockout to [[Miguel Cotto]] for the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] welterweight title.
==Amateur career==
Judah began boxing at the age of six and compiled an amateur record of 110–5. He was a two-time US national champion and three-time [[New York Golden Gloves]] champion. He also won the 1996 [[Police Athletic League|PAL]] national championship. Judah attempted to earn a spot on the 1996 US Olympic boxing team. After defeating [[Ishe Smith]] and [[Hector Camacho, Jr.]], Judah lost to [[David Díaz (boxer)|David Díaz]] in the finals, preventing Judah from qualifying for the Olympic boxing team.<ref name="Canadastar">[http://www.canadastarboxing.com/Fighters/zab-judah-profile.htm Canadastar Boxing: Zab Judah Profile and Bio] Retrieved on [[2008]]-[[05-09]].</ref>
==Professional career==
Judah made his professional debut as an 18 year old on [[September 20]], [[1996]], in [[Miami, Florida]] and defeated Michael Johnson by [[technical knockout]] in the second round. After winning bouts over George Crain and Omar Vasquez in May and June 1997 respectively, Judah closed the year with first-round [[knockout]]s over Cesar Castro, James Salava and Ricardo Vasquez. Judah began 1998 by knocking out Steve Valdez in the first round in January. Valdez, who had never been stopped in his career, went down four times in the fight. In March, Judah and his opponent, Esteban Flores, accidentally clashed heads in the second round, causing a cut to open above Flores' eye and the bout was stopped in round three as Flores could not continue because of the cut. The bout went into the books as a [[technical draw]], but the result was changed to a [[No contest (boxing)|no contest]] in May 1998. On [[April 14]], [[1998]], Judah battered two-time [[Dominican Republic]] champion Angel Beltre, stopping him in the second round.<ref name="Canadastar"/>
The victory earned Judah a bout against [[Micky Ward]] for the vacant [[United States Boxing Association|USBA]] [[junior welterweight]] title. Judah defeated Ward by [[unanimous decision]] to win the title. Judah successfully defended the USBA title by stopping [[Darryl Tyson]] in the eleventh round on [[October 15]], [[1998]]. Tyson was knocked down three times before the fight was stopped. Judah captured the interim [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] junior welterweight title with a fourth-round knockout over [[Wilfredo Negron]] in January 1999.<ref name="Canadastar"/>
===IBF junior welterweight title===
Judah's first title shot came on [[February 12]], [[2000]], at the [[Mohegan Sun]] in [[Uncasville, Connecticut]], against Jan Piet Bergman for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title. Judah knocked Bergman down twice in the first round, but Bergman sent Judah down to the canvas in the second round. Judah knocked out Bergman in the fourth round to win the title.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Smith
| first =Timothy
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah Defeats Bergman for Title
| work =[[The New York Times]]
| publisher =
| date =2000-02-13
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DEFD71631F930A25751C0A9669C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-09 }}</ref> On [[June 20]], [[2000]], Judah made his first title defense against [[Junior Witter]] in [[Glasgow, Scotland]]. It was an awkward fight for Judah, as Witter rarely engaged in an extended exchange of punches. Witter frequently switched between fighting right-handed and left-handed, making him an elusive opponent. By the middle rounds, however, Judah's consistent body punching slowed Witter down, and in the fifth round, Judah caught Witter with a straight left hand that hurt Witter and sent his mouthpiece skittering across the ring. Judah defeated Witter by unanimous decision.<ref name="Witter">{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah Wins in Title Defense
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2000-06-20
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DEFD71631F930A25751C0A9669C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-09 }}</ref>
Two months later, on [[August 5]], [[2000]], at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, Judah defeated former IBF junior welterweight champion [[Terron Millett]] by fourth round knockout. Judah was knocked down in the first round from a left hand. Judah rose quickly, and from that point on he dominated the fight. Judah hurt Millett with two [[striking combination|combinations]] near the end of the first round. In round two, Judah sent Millett down with a right hand to the chin. Millett survived the round, but he was clearly hurt. In round four, Judah charged across the ring and inflicted a series of blows on Millett, dropping him to the canvas for the second knockdown in the fight. Millett got up, but Judah continued his assault and knocked Millett down again. Millett rose at the count of four, but his legs were unsteady and the referee decided to stop the bout.<ref name="Millett">{{cite web
| last =Brown
| first =Clifton
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah Retains Title With Knockout of Former Champion
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2000-08-05
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E1DD133CF935A3575BC0A9669C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-09 }}</ref>
In his third title defense, Judah stopped Hector Quiroz in the eighth round on [[October 20]], [[2000]], at [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]] in [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]. Judah battered and bloodied Quiroz until the referee followed the advice of the ringside doctor and stopped the one-sided bout.<ref name="Canadastar"/>
On [[January 13]], [[2001]], Judah defeated Reggie Green by tenth round technical knockout at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Judah had trouble landing punches effectively against Green for the majority of the fight, but in round ten, he knocked Green down with a left [[Hook (boxing)|hook]]. Green beat the count, but Judah then ran across the ring and sent Green down to the canvas with a right hand, forcing the referee to stop the fight.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Cavanaugh
| first =Jack
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah Struggles But Stops Green in 10
| work =The New York times
| publisher =
| date =2001-01-14
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFD8153DF937A25752C0A9679C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-09 }}</ref>
On [[June 23]], [[2001]], Judah defeated Allan Vester by third round knockout in his fifth successful defense of the IBF title. In round two, Judah put Vester down to the canvas twice. In the third round, Judah knocked out Vester with a left hand that connected on Vester's temple. Vester went down on his knees and nearly lost his mouthpiece. The referee stopped the fight right before the closing bell. The fight would set up an unification match between Judah and [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] junior welterweight champion [[Kostya Tszyu]], who defeated [[Oktay Urkal]] on the undercard.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Wong
| first =Edward
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah and Tszyu Win, Setting Up Unification
| work =The New York times
| publisher =
| date =2001-06-24
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402EEDE1330F937A15755C0A9679C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-09 }}</ref>
===Unification match with Tszyu===
The much anticipated matchup between Judah and Tsyzu took place on [[November 3]], [[2001]], at the [[MGM Grand]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] for the [[List_of_undisputed_boxing_champions#Junior welterweight|undisputed junior welterweight championship]]. Judah entered the fight as a 3-to-1 favorite to win, and he won the first round by utilizing his superior quickness to land several punches on Tsyzu.<ref name="CBZ">{{cite web
| last =Bushnell
| first =Chris
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Tsyzu Levels Judah With One Punch
| work =
| publisher =Cyber Boxing Zone
| date =
| url =http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxingchronicle/articles_tszyujudah.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-10 }}</ref><ref name="ESB">{{cite web
| last =Frank
| first =Gonzalez
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Sharkie´s Week in Boxing: Who says nice guys never win?
| work =
| publisher =East Side Boxing
| date =2001-11-05
| url =http://www.eastsideboxing.com/KostyaTszyuvsZabJudah.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-10 }}</ref>
With 10 seconds left to go in round two, Tszyu landed a right hand clean on Judah's chin and he backed away from Tszyu with his hands down. Tszyu went after Judah, throwing another right hand that landed on his chin and sent Judah crashing to the canvas. Judah jumped up instinctively and tried to signal that he was fine to referee [[Jay Nady]], but was hurt badly by the punch and fell down a second time. When Judah collapsed, Nady waved the fight over, resulting in a technical knockout victory for Tsyzu and Judah's first professional loss.<ref name="CBZ"/>
While Tszyu celebrated in his corner, Judah was in disbelief of what just happened and became infuriated.<ref name="ESB"/> Judah picked up his stool and hurled it towards center ring. While being restrained by his father and trainer, [[Yoel Judah]], he broke loose and walked up to Nady and stuck his gloved fist into his neck and had to be pulled off by cornermen. A few minutes later, Jimmy Lennon, Jr. announced the official decision, and Judah screamed out in agony and again had to be restrained by a growing number of security guards and cornermen.<ref name="CBZ"/> Judah was fined [[United States dollar|$]]75,000 and suspended for six months by the [[Nevada State Athletic Commission]].<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah Fined $75,000 And Suspended
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2001-12-01
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5DC103DF932A35751C1A9679C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-10 }}</ref>
===WBO junior welterweight title===
After defeating Omar Weis by unanimous decision in July 2002, Judah challenged [[DeMarcus Corley]] for the [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] junior welterweight title on [[July 12]], [[2003]], at the [[Orleans Hotel and Casino]] in Las Vegas. Judah knocked Corley down with a left hand in the third round en route to defeating Corley by [[split decision]]. Judah broke his left hand during the fight. In his first and only defense of the WBO title, Judah knocked out Jaime Rangel in the first round on [[December 13]], [[2003]].<ref name="Canadastar"/>
===Fights with Spinks===
On [[April 10]], [[2004]], at the [[Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino]] in Las Vegas, Judah fought [[Cory Spinks]] for the [[List_of_undisputed_boxing_champions#Welterweight|undisputed welterweight championship]]. Judah had trouble at the start figuring out how to fight Spinks, the taller fighter. He could not move forward to get inside, but was having success moving laterally. Spinks scored a knockdown in the eleventh round, but Judah came back and put Spinks down to the canvas in the final round. In the end, Spinks defeated Judah by unanimous decision with scores of 114–112 twice and 116–111.<ref name="Spinks">{{cite web
| last =Katz
| first =Mike
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Klitschko Knocked Out; Spinks Survives
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2004-04-11
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E0DE1138F932A25757C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-11 }}</ref>
For the rest of 2004, Judah defeated [[Rafael Pineda (boxer)|Rafael Pineda]] by split decision and Wayne Martell by first round technical knockout. On [[February 5]], [[2005]], Judah would get a rematch with Spinks at the [[Savvis Center]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]], Spinks' hometown. The fight was the first major bout in St. Louis in more than 40 years, and it was a sellout. Judah was the aggressor throughout the fight. He knocked Spinks down to his knees at the bell in the seventh round, but it was not ruled a knockdown. Spinks had a strong start to the ninth round and connected with a left hand, then followed with a right hand and a combination, but Judah scored a knockdown moments later. Judah pressed the attack after the first knockdown and avoided Spinks' desperate efforts to [[Grappling_hold#Clinch_hold|tie him up]]. After Spinks was knocked down for the second time, the referee stopped the fight, and Judah became the new undisputed welterweight champion.<ref name="Spinks 2">{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah Takes Spinks's Title To Ruin His Homecoming
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2005-02-06
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E7DD1E3BF935A35751C0A9639C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-11 }}</ref>
===Undisputed welterweight champion===
In his first fight as undisputed welterweight champion, he fought mandatory challenger [[Cosme Rivera]] on [[May 14]], [[2005]], at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Judah sent Rivera down with a straight left hand to the face less than 30 seconds into the bout. Rivera beat the count, but was knocked down again about 10 seconds later. Judah hit Rivera hard several times in the second round, and in the third round, he connected with a left uppercut, that caused Rivera to stagger backwards and fall into the ropes before hitting the canvas. Rivera rose at the count of five, but he was badly hurt and the referee stopped the fight.<ref name="Rivera">{{cite web
| last =Brown
| first =Clifton
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =With Quick Victory, Judah Shows Belt Fits Just Fine
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2005-05-15
| url =http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/sports/othersports/15judah.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-12 }}</ref>
His next fight took place on [[January 7]], [[2006]] at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]] against [[Carlos Baldomir]]. For Judah, the fight was a tuneup bout that would lead to a lucrative bout between Judah and [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] junior welterweight champion [[Floyd Mayweather, Jr.]], which was tentatively scheduled for April.<ref name="tuneup">{{cite web
| last =Abramson
| first =Mitch
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah Turned a Tuneup Fight at Home Into a Career Setback
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2006-01-09
| url =http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/sports/othersports/09boxing.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-12 }}</ref>
Judah entered the fight as a 10-to-1 favorite over Baldomir.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Canobbio
| first =Bob
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Baldomir vs. Mayweather: CompuBox Pre-Fight Analyst
| work =
| publisher =[[HBO]] Boxing
| date =
| url =http://www.hbo.com/boxing/events/2006/1104_baldomir_mayweather/columns/compubox_pre.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-12 }}</ref>
The stage was set when Judah unsportingly punched Baldomir on the thigh during the prefight introductions instead of touching gloves to show [[sportsmanship]]. The early rounds of the fight were close, but as the rounds passed, Judah was doing less than necessary to win, while Baldomir kept applying pressure on Judah.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Gonzalez, Jr.
| first =Frank
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Carlos Baldomir Takes WBC Title From Judah!
| work =
| publisher =East Side Boxing
| date =2006-01-06
| url =http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5736&more=1
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-12 }}</ref>
In round seven, Judah was hurt by a right hand and Baldomir landed a series of right hands to Judah's head along the ropes during the tenth round. Baldomir defeated Judah by unanimous decision with scores of 115–113, 114–113, and 115–112 from the three judges.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Abramson
| first =Mitch
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Baldomir Upsets Judah
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2006-01-08
| url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500EFDC1F30F93BA35752C0A9609C8B63
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-12 }}</ref>
''[[Ring Magazine|The Ring]]'' named Baldomir's victory over Judah the [[Ring Magazine upsets of the year|upset of the year]] for 2006. Judah's IBF and [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] belts were not on the line, because Baldomir did not pay sanctioning fees to the IBF and WBA.<ref name="tuneup"/> Baldomir did win ''The Ring'' and WBC titles, while the WBA title was vacated after Judah's loss, but the IBF still recognized him as their champion.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Lumpin
| first =John
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Alphabet Rules
| work =
| publisher =SecondsOut.com
| date =
| url =http://www.secondsout.com/news/index.cfm?ccs=534&cs=24607
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-12 }}</ref>
===Fight with Mayweather===
With the loss to Baldomir, it appeared that Judah's much anticipated bout with Mayweather was off, but Judah's promoter [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]] and Mayweather's promoter [[Bob Arum]] reworked the deals so the fight would go on. Mayweather was scheduled to earn a minimum $6 million while Judah was to earn $3 million plus a percentage of the profits, but because of Judah's loss, Mayweather earned a minimum $5 million while Judah was guaranteed $1 million plus a percentage of profits above $7 million.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web
| last =Rafael
| first =Dan
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah, Mayweather to fight in Vegas on April 8
| work =
| publisher =[[ESPN.com]]
| date =2006-01-26
| url =http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2300340
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-13 }}</ref> The fight took place on [[April 8]], [[2006]], at the [[Thomas and Mack Center]] in Las Vegas.
Judah started strongly and put up a valiant fight, at times matching Mayweather's speed and punching precision.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite web
| last =Johnson
| first =Chuck
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Mayweather survives Judah's low blows to win IBF belt
| work =[[USA Today]]
| publisher =
| date =2006-04-09
| url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2006-04-09-mayweather-judah_x.htm
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-13 }}</ref>
It appeared that Judah scored a knockdown in the second round when Mayweather's glove touched the canvas; however, referee [[Richard Steele (referee)|Richard Steele]] ruled it a slip.<ref name="BraggingRightsCorner.com">{{cite web
| last =Leanardi
| first =Mike
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Mayweather Passes The Biggest Test of his Career
| work =
| publisher =BraggingRightsCorner.com
| date =2006-04-08
| url =http://www.braggingrightscorner.com/leanardimayweather040806.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-13 }}</ref>
In round four, Judah landed a right hand to the head that caused Mayweather to retreat to the ropes and cover up. The momentum changed in the fifth round, when Mayweather hurt Judah with a combination to the face. Then Mayweather landed a right hand on the bridge of Judah's nose, and blood began to flow. The seventh round was the most dominant for Mayweather to that point. Once again, he drew blood from Judah's nose. A combination from Mayweather backed Judah into a corner, and Judah's foot movement was considerably slower than it had been earlier in the fight.<ref name="Times Mayweather">{{cite web
| last =Brown
| first =Clifton
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Mayweather Is Crowned, but Not Without a Fight
| work =The New York Times
| publisher =
| date =2006-04-09
| url =http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/sports/othersports/09boxing.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-15 }}</ref>
With about 10 seconds left in the tenth round, Judah hit Mayweather with a [[low blow]] and followed it with a right hand to the back of Mayweather’s head. As Mayweather hopped around the ring in pain, Steele called time to give Mayweather a rest period. Mayweather’s uncle and trainer, [[Roger Mayweather]], climbed into the ring, approached Judah and tried to choke him.<ref name="BraggingRightsCorner.com"/> Yoel Judah entered the ring and threw a punch at Roger. At that point, members of both fighters' camps entered the ring and an all-out melee ensued. More than a dozen security officers and police officers rushed into the ring and managed to control the situation.<ref name="Times Mayweather"/> After the ring was cleared, Roger Mayweather was ejected from the fight. Mayweather cruised through the last two rounds on his way to a unanimous decision victory by scores of 116–112, 117–113, and 119–109.<ref name="BraggingRightsCorner.com"/>
After the fight, the purses for both fighters were withheld until video of the fight could be reviewed. Don King argued that Mayweather should have been disqualified because his uncle was the first person to enter the ring.<ref name="Times Mayweather"/> At an [[April 13]] hearing, the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Roger Mayweather $200,000 and revoked his boxing license for one year. At a hearing on [[May 8]], the Commission disciplined the other offenders in the melee. It fined Yoel Judah $100,000 and revoked his license for one year, fined Mayweather cornerman Leonard Ellerbe $50,000 and suspended his license for four months, and fined Zab Judah $250,000 and revoked his license for one year.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Berlin
| first =David
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Boxing and the Law: Judah-Mayweather and Its Aftermath
| work =
| publisher =The Sweet Science
| date =2006-05-22
| url =http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3822/boxing-law-judah-mayweather-its-aftermath/
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-15 }}</ref>
===Return from suspension===
On [[April 13]], [[2007]], Judah made his return to the ring against Ruben Galvan at the [[Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel]] in [[Tunica, Mississippi]]. Judah came out strongly in the first round, landing numerous shots on Galvan. During the round, a bad cut opened near the top of Galvan's head. The referee called for a timeout to allow the doctor to take a look at the cut. Due to the severity of the cut, the fight was waved off. The cut was ruled to be caused by an accidental foul with an elbow and since the fight did not go past four rounds, the fight was ruled a no contest.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Eberline
| first =Richard
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Boxing Result: Zab Judah - Ruben Galvan
| work =
| publisher =SaddoBoxing.com
| date =2007-04-14
| url =http://www.saddoboxing.com/5074-zab-judah-ruben-galvan.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-16 }}</ref>
===Fight with Cotto===
On [[June 9]], [[2007]], Judah took on WBA welterweight champion [[Miguel Cotto]] in New York City before a soldout crowd at [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref name="ESPN Cotto">{{cite web
| last =Rafael
| first =Dan
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Cotto keeps crown on 11th-round knockout of Judah
| work =
| publisher =ESPN.com
| date =
| url =http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2899424&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-16 }}</ref>
In the first round, Cotto landed a low blow that put Judah to the canvas. Referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. offered a stern warning to Cotto. In the third round, Judah took yet another low blow from Cotto, which resulted in Cotto receiving a point deduction.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Woods
| first =Michael
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Pugilistic Pride Of P.R. Cotto Downs Zab
| work =
| publisher =The Sweet Science
| date =2007-06-09
| url =http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/5152/pugilistic-pride-cotto-downs-zab/
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-16 }}</ref>
Cotto and Judah delivered an all-action brawl, but after weathering some difficult early rounds as he figured out Judah's southpaw style and adjusted to his speed, Cotto took over the bout. In round seven, both fighters went toe-to-toe and in round eight he hurt Judah several times. In round nine, Judah took a knee to gain a breather from Cotto's aggressive style. By the tenth round, Judah was bleeding from a cut over his right eye and was hurt by an uppercut from Cotto that sent him retreating to the ropes, but Judah stayed upright. Early in the eleventh round, Cotto landed a combination that dropped Judah to the canvas. He managed to get to his feet, but Cotto went after Judah with a relentless attack, turning him sideways along the ropes as he continued to throw punches. That forced the referee to stop the fight.<ref name="ESPN Cotto"/>
Judah, who trailed 97–91 on all three scorecards, claimed he had been weakened by the two low blows early in the fight. He said, "The first low blow was very hard. The second one took a lot out of me. The low blows affected me from the time they hit me." Cotto earned $2.5 million plus a piece of the pay-per-view profits, while Judah earned $1 million plus a percentage of the profits.<ref name="ESPN Cotto"/>
===Fights after Cotto===
Judah fought Edwin Vazquez at the [[Hard Rock]] resort in [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], on [[September 7]], [[2007]]. Despite suffering a cut over his left eye, Judah defeated the overmatched Vazquez by unanimous decision. Judah hurt Vazquez several times over the course of the contest. Judah injured his left hand midway through the fight, however, and was unable to finish off Vasquez.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Rafael
| first =Dan
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Scorecard: Witter makes bold statement by blasting out Harris
| work =
| publisher =ESPN.com
| date =2007-09-10
| url =http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=3011677
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-16 }}</ref>
On [[November 17]], [[2007]], in [[Providenciales]], Judah defeated Ryan Davis by unanimous decision to win the vacant [[International Boxing Council|IBC]] [[light middleweight]] title. Judah was scheduled to fight [[Shane Mosley]] on [[May 31]], [[2008]], at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, but it was postponed after Judah needed 50 [[Sutures|stitches]] in his right arm after slipping in his bathroom and smashing it through a glass shower door.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Rafael
| first =Dan
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Judah's right arm injury forces postponement of Mosley fight
| work =
| publisher =ESPN.com
| date =2008-05-08
| url =http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3387139
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-16 }}</ref> Judah is scheduled to face [[Joshua Clottey]] for the vacant IBF welterweight title on [[August 2]], [[2008]].<ref>{{cite web
| last =Rafael
| first =Dan
| title =Judah to face Clottey in August for welterweight title
| work =
| publisher =ESPN.com
| date =2008-05-23
| url =http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3410020
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-06-28 }}</ref>
==Personal life==
Judah has nine brothers and two sisters. Five of his brothers also box, with two of them, [[Josiah Judah|Josiah]] and [[Daniel Judah]], boxing professionally. Judah's father and trainer, [[Yoel Judah]], was a six-time kickboxing world champion and a seventh degree [[Black belt (martial arts)|black belt]].<ref name="Cotto V Judah">{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Cotto V Judah Bio
| work =
| publisher =Live Fight
| date =
| url =http://www.livefight.com/news.php?news_id=122&y=2007&m=05
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-18 }}</ref> Judah's father is an avowed [[Israelite]], or Black Jew, and Judah's family has declared themselves Jewish.<ref>[http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=boxing&ID=250 Judah, Zab "Super"]. Jews In Sports Online. Retrieved on [[2008]]-[[05-18]].</ref><ref>[http://www.braggingrightscorner.com/yjudah.html An Exclusive Interview with Yoel Judah]. BraggingRightsCorner.com. Retrieved on [[2008]]-[[05-18]].</ref> However, there is some confusion about Judah's religion because in 2006, Zab thanked "his lord and savior [[Jesus Christ]]" after his fight against Mayweather.<ref>{{cite web
| title =Judah-Mayweather
| publisher =[[YouTube]]
| url =http://youtube.com/watch?v=BpVlaVy12hE
| accessdate =2008-05-18 }}</ref> Such a statement would suggest that at that point in time, at least, he would not be recognized as being Jewish by the mainstream Jewish community, even by the most liberal standards.<ref name=incompat>A belief in the divinity of Jesus is incompatible with Judaism:
* "The point is this: that the whole Christology of the Church - the whole complex of doctrines about the Son of God who died on the Cross to save humanity from sin and death - is incompatible with Judaism, and indeed in discontinuity with the Hebraism that preceded it." Rayner, John D. ''A Jewish Understanding of the World'', Berghahn Books, 1998, p. 187. ISBN 1-57181-974-6
* "Aside from its belief in Jesus as the Messiah, Christianity has altered many of the most fundamental concepts of Judaism." [[Aryeh Kaplan|Kaplan, Aryeh]]. ''The Aryeh Kaplan Anthology: Volume 1, Illuminating Expositions on Jewish Thought and Practice'', Mesorah Publication, 1991, p. 264. ISBN 0-89906-866-9
* "...the doctrine of Christ was and will remain alien to Jewish religious thought." Wylen, Stephen M. ''Settings of Silver: An Introduction to Judaism'', Paulist Press, 2000, p. 75. ISBN 0-8091-3960-X
* "For a Jew, however, any form of shituf is tantamount to idolatry in the fullest sense of the word. There is then no way that a Jew can ever accept Jesus as a deity, mediator or savior (messiah), or even as a prophet, without betraying Judaism." Schochet, Rabbi J. Immanuel. [http://www.cjnews.com/pastissues/99/july29-99/feature/feature2.htm "Judaism has no place for those who betray their roots"], ''[[Canadian Jewish News]],'' July 29, 1999.
* [http://foundationstone.com.au/HtmlSupport/WebPage/Missionaries/missionariesAndCults.html Judaism and Jesus Don't Mix] (foundationstone.com)
* "If you believe Jesus is the messiah, died for anyone else's sins, is God's chosen son, or any other dogma of Christian belief, you are not Jewish. You are Christian. Period." (''[http://www.beliefnet.com/blogs/virtualtalmud/2006/08/jews-for-jesus-whos-who-whats-what.html Jews for Jesus: Who's Who & What's What]'' by Rabbi Susan Grossman (beliefnet - virtualtalmud) August 28, 2006)
* "For two thousand years, Jews rejected the claim that Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophecies of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the dogmatic claims about him made by the church fathers - that he was born of a virgin, the son of God, part of a divine Trinity, and was resurrected after his death.... For two thousand years, a central wish of Christianity was to be the object of desire by Jews, whose conversion would demonstrate their acceptance that Jesus has fulfilled their own biblical prophecies." (''Jewish Views of Jesus'' by Susannah Heschel, in ''Jesus In The World's Faiths: Leading Thinkers From Five Faiths Reflect On His Meaning'' by Gregory A. Barker, editor. (Orbis Books, 2005) ISBN 1-57075-573-6. p.149)
* "No Jew accepts Jesus as the Messiah. When someone makes that faith commitment, they become Christian. It is not possible for someone to be both Christian and Jewish." (''[http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_c/bl_jesus.htm Why don't Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah?]'' by Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner)
</ref>
In July 2006, He was arrested after a celebrity basketball game at Madison Square Garden on a Family Court [[Warrant (law)|warrant]].<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Zab Judah Arrested
| work =
| publisher =HHNLive.com
| date =2007-07-26
| url =http://www.hhnlive.com/news/more/161.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-18 }}</ref> In August 2007, Judah became involved in a fight at Stereo nightclub in New York. According to the ''[[New York Daily News]]'', Judah started throwing punches after he was hit first by someone who approached him. Two of the perpetrator's friends then joined in the fight. The perpetrators were thrown out of the club. After reviewing the videotape, the club indicated the assailants "might have been plotting something."<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Zab Judah in a Fight Outside the Ring
| publisher =EURweb.com
| date =2007-08-03
| url =http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur35585.cfm
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-18 }}</ref>
[[New York Police]] linked [[rapper]] [[Fabolous]] to a crew of robbers who targeted Judah twice. According to police reports, the Street Fam Crew, the gang that attempted to rob Judah, is made up of 20 members, all former drug dealers from Fabolous' [[Brooklyn]] neighborhood. In 2006, three men tried to rob Judah as he stood next to his yellow [[Lamborghini]] on West 27th Street at [[10th Avenue]] in New York City. The three men drove up to Judah in a minivan at about 5 am, and came out. One man pulled a black handgun on Judah, and told him to put his jewelry on the hood of his car. Judah ran instead. The muggers followed in their minivan, but crashed into a tree a block away. All three robbers fled the scene, but one was captured by a [[Homeland Security]] agent on his way to work, and another was grabbed by a nearby cab driver. "A bunch of idiots that didn't have no control over what they were doing; they messed with the wrong guy," said Judah.<ref>{{cite web
| last =Vester
| first =Mark
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Fabolous' Crew Linked to Zab Judah Robberies
| publisher =BoxingScene.com
| date =2007-12-10
| url =http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=11639
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =2008-05-18 }}</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of male boxers]]
*[[Notable boxing families]]
*[[List of light welterweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of welterweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of The Ring world champions]]
*[[List of WBC world champions]]
*[[List of WBA world champions]]
*[[List of IBF world champions]]
*[[List of WBO world champions]]
*[[List of boxing triple champions]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
* {{boxrec|id=006945}}
* [http://boxing.about.com/od/records/a/judah.htm Zab Judah fight-by-fight career record]
* [http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fighters/judah_zab/bio.html HBO Boxing bio]
* [http://www.boxinggurus.com/judahz.php Zab Judah profile] from BoxingGurus.com
* {{MySpace|superoutlaws|Zab Judah}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box|
before=[[Terron Millett]]<br>(stripped)|
title=[[IBF Light Welterweight Champion]]|
after=[[Kostya Tszyu]]|
years=[[February 12]], [[2000]]–[[November 3]], [[2001]]
}}
{{succession box|
before=[[DeMarcus Corley]]|
title=[[WBO Light Welterweight Champion]]|
after=[[Miguel Cotto]]<br /><small>Filled vacancy</small>|
years=[[July 12]], [[2003]]–2004 <br> Vacated
}}
{{succession box one to three|
before= [[Cory Spinks]] |
title1= [[WBC Welterweight Champion]]|
years1= [[February 5]], [[2005]]–[[January 7]], [[2006]] |
after1= [[Carlos Manuel Baldomir]]|
title2= [[WBA Welterweight Champion|WBA Welterweight Super Champion]]|
years2= [[February 5]], [[2005]]–[[January 7]], [[2006]] |
after2= Super title terminated<br /><small></small>|
title3= [[IBF Welterweight Champion]]|
years3= [[February 5]], [[2005]]–[[April 8]], [[2006]] |
after3= [[Floyd Mayweather, Jr.]]|
}}
{{end box}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Judah, Zab}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:American boxers]]
[[Category:Southpaw boxers]]
[[Category:Jewish boxers]]
[[Category:Black Jews]]
[[Category:African American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Junior-welterweights]]
[[Category:Welterweights]]
[[Category:World boxing champions]]
[[Category:World Junior Welterweight Champions]]
[[Category:World Welterweight Champions]]
[[de:Zab Judah]]
[[ja:ザブ・ジュダー]]
[[ru:Джуда, Заб]]