Amir Khan and Zab Judah set to battle in Las Vegas

Amir Khan and Zab Judah set to battle in Las Vegas

By John J. Raspanti, Doghouse Boxing (July 21, 2011) Doghouse Boxing
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By John J. Raspanti, Doghouse Boxing (All Photos © Tom Hogan - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions): Amir Khan figured he’d be meeting Timothy Bradley in July until Bradley, rejected the fight, leaving the door open for Khan to meet someone else. That someone turned out to be the veteran Zab Judah, who readily agreed to fight Khan on July 23 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight is for Khan’s WBA junior welterweight belt and Judah’s IBF version.

Khan (25-1, 17 KOs) is 24 years old and stands 5’10. Judah (41-6, 28 KOs) is nine years his elder at 33 and stands 5’7. Khan began his career spectacularly, winning his first 19 fights until meeting Breidis Precott in 2008 and getting knocked out in under a minute in what many called the upset of the year. Khan hid out and regrouped, fired his trainer, and hired Freddie Roach to rebuild his career. Khan has won seven fights in a row since Roach took over, beating the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Paulie Malignaggi, Marcos Madiana (barely) and in his last fight Paul McCloskey.

Judah’s career has been a mixed bag of talent shown and wasted. Blessed with superior boxing skills and very fast hands, southpaw Judah won the vacant IBF title in 2000 and retained it until Kostya Tszyu separated him of the belt and his senses a year later. Judah came back to win the WBO version of the title against DeMarcus Corley and then lost it to Cory Spinks in a bid to win the welterweight title. He did defeat Spnks in their rematch in 2004 becoming a champion again only to lose a close decision to Carlos Baldimar and a wider one to Floyd “Money” Mayweather. Judah gave up on the welterweight division after loses to Miguel Angel Cotto and Joshua Clottey in 2008. He took some time off and in 2010 and dropped down to his more natural weight of 140 pounds. Judah looked sharp and in shape though his win against Len Matthysse was debatable. In his last fight, he dominated Kaizer Mabuza winning via a seventh round technical knockout.

Khan will enter the ring in Las Vegas as a prohibitive 3-1 favorite. Khan and Judah are both extremely confident fighters with equally suspect chins. Khan hung on for dear live in his fight with Marcos Madiana, wobbling around the ring late in the fight like jello and whip cream. Judah has tasted the canvas twice in his last two fights.

The bout should be an entertaining affair with both fighters landing nasty punches. Judah’s best hope is to land a “Breidis bomb” early and hope Khan can’t recover. Can Judah's suspect stamina hold up?

Can Khan's chin? The edge goes to Khan here by either a late stoppage or decision.
-- Questions/comments j ohnboxing1@hotmail.com

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