Zab Judah Wins IBF 140 Title Stopping Kaizer Mabuza

Zab Judah Wins IBF 140 Title Stopping Kaizer Mabuza

By Ken Hissner at ringside, Doghouse Boxing (March 7, 2011) Doghouse Boxing
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It seemed like an experiment on the part of Main Events giving Zab Judah another opportunity at working toward another title but Judah came through Saturday night at the Amera Health Center inside the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, stopping Kaizer Matuza, 23-7-3 (14), of RSA for the vacant IBF light welterweight title in 0:59 of the seventh round.

As Mabuza was throwing a right Judad being the much quicker threw a left and got there first and down went Mabuza. When he got to his feet Judah was on him like a cat landing 5 unanswered punches with lightning speed forcing referee Sammy Viruet to put a stop to it. Earlier in the fight it looked like Judah slipped but his glove touched the canvas and Viruet called it a knockdown. It seemed to light a fire under Judah.

From the ring he grabbed the microphone and announced to the audience “I want to give all the glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For Judah to give the credit to his higher power proved the change for the better in his life. He also credited Kathy Duva, head of Main Events, and new trainer Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker and of course Judah’s dad who has always been there for him. The rest of the list is too many to put down. He even jokingly mentioned maybe Whitaker would return. He was so happy he ran through the upper level being greeted by many fans.

It was not an easy fight for Judah. “I told Pernell that he is very awkward and he told me to be patient and box him.” I knew by the middle of the fight the opportunity would come and it did,” said Judah. His close friend Mike Tyson was at ringside just before the fight. Mabuza and his trainer and manager want a rematch but since the title was vacant that is very doubtful that will ever happen.

Tarvis Simms, 27-1-1 (11), of Norwalk, CT, continued on his comeback easily defeating fellow southpaw John Mackey, 13-6-2 (6), of Montgomery, AL, over 8 rounds. It’s rare a southpaw match-up is good and this wasn’t one of those rare moments. Simms simply had too much talent for Mackey. Steve Smoger was the referee.

Joseph Crosy, 6-1 (1), of Brooklyn, NY, and Greg Hackett, 26 (0), of Philadelphia opened the card in a light middleweight 4. Crosby got the split decision. A draw would not have hurt in this one. Hackett’s action’s after the fight has brought a one-year suspension per a Main Events representative. Smoger was the referee.

Vinny O’Brien, 1-0 (1), of East Hanover, NJ, made his debut stopping outgunned David Navarro, 0-2, of Philadelphia at the end of 3 due to a left eye abrasion. O’Brien had his father Lee Estes, the former heavyweight in the corner. O’Brien had a good following behind him. This was a welterweight 4 with Smoger the referee.

Southpaw Shemuel Pagan, 2-0 (1), of Brooklyn, NY, tore into Marcos Garcia, 0-4, of Camden, NJ, like a buzzsaw forcing the referee Dave Franciosis to call a halt at 2:33 of the first round.

Jose Peralta Alejo, 5-1 (3), of Dominican Republic, and Clifford McPherson, 2-4-1 (1), started out even with McPherson using his jab. Alejo landed a questionable body shot followed by an overhand right with McPherson hitting the canvas holding his cup. The referee didn’t see it that way and counted him out at 2:33 of the first round.

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