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Strange Sights at The Zab and Floyd Fight
MON April 8, BUSTER PARIS - It’s the end of round 2 and I’m nervous. This so far is not the cakewalk I thought it was going to be for Floyd. It’s a strange sight watching the pound per pound best fighter in the world struggle and look somewhat awkward. "Sworn Enemies" Huge Photo Gallery
It’s a strange sight watching the best pound per pound fighter in the world almost falling down – peddling backward to keep his balance and sweeping his glove ever so gently off the canvas, but not falling down.
And while it’s only the 2nd round it’s still a strange sight seeing Floyd Mayweather Jr. behind on the scorecards.
Saturday – April 8th 2006 at the Thomas & Mack Center in good old Las Vegas -“Super” Zab Judah and “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. were meeting in the ring to fight for (like it or not) the IBF Welterweight Title and the vacant IBO Welterweight Title – and - much more importantly, for a place in history as well as a confirmation or declaration of where they are both at today – i.e. – is Floyd really the best pound per pound fighter – can he beat Judah who is arguably the strongest, fastest and toughest opponent he’s ever faced? And is Zab all washed up or can he beat Mayweather who is undoubtedly the greatest fighter in the game today.
Before the opening bell I was convinced that Floyd would easily beat Zab, I thought Zab was a washed up and unfocused fighter with no real heart.
But again - after round 2 - it’s a strange sight to see said washed up fighter confidently and almost sadistically hammering away at the Sweet Science’s preeminent fighter – but nonetheless – that’s what’s happening…
Let’s back up a bit – start from the beginning and take a look at some of the highlights and lowlights of the match:
Ring walks – I thought they would be more dramatic and actually events within themselves. Floyd entered first which was a strange sight to see and Zab entered second. Both were fired up and obviously ready to go.
Round 1 – Judah was peppering his jab. Both fighters were tossing out some pops and since both fighters were so elusive they each were missing a lot of those feeling out jabs and range finders. Zab eventually lands a nice solid straight left, they tangle up – Zab lands another shot and Floyd almost slips. As most are this was an awkward feeling out round, but with the added gracelessness of an Orthodox stance meeting a Southpaw. I gave this round to Judah.
Round 2 – I also gave to Zab. They entangle and Mayweather lands a nice left hook and is becoming more offensively minded. The familiar clumsiness of the first round is alive and well and then a strange sight to see – Zab hits Floyd and Floyd stumbles backward trying to keep his balance – not sure if was the punch or a slip or both, but Mayweather is peddling back and his glove gently kisses the canvas, but not in any significant way – it did not effect his remaining upright. Judah followed up throwing more solid punches and landing well to the body.
Floyd was definitely having a hard time with Zab and with the Southpaw stance, but kept calm – no sign of panic or discouragement and Zab was amazingly sharp – sharper than I’ve seen him in a long time - you tend to forget that he can punch that fiercely and solidly, that he can move well and that he too is fast.
It’s at this point that as a Mayweather fan I’m nervous – Zab is looking “Super” and Floyd is looking clumsy which is a very strange sight to see.
Round 3 starts with Mayweather pressing the action as he begins walking down Judah. Zab is shooting out the right jab and Floyd starts to go to the body and introduces his left hook to Judah’s ribs. He also starts to land his jab and right hand. Mayweather’s best round of the fight and he gets the 10 points, but it’s still a strange sight not seeing “Pretty Boy” looking…well…pretty.
Round 4 – Zab punching all over Floyd and even though Mayweather beautifully blocks most of them Judah is still able to land some big shots. Floyd gets a few in of his own, but Zab’s are bigger and better and he wins the round.
Round 5 starts with some clinches and then Floyd begins to mount more of an attack and starts to be the one throwing first, but Judah is well able to counter. Then Mayweather picks up his practice from round 3 of stalking Zab – gets him on the ropes and starts landing hard and heavy to the head and body, which hurt Judah. Once off the ropes Zab does some funky ‘Zab-Jitszu’ moves with his hands which was actually effective in stopping Floyd’s attack and then Judah starts to come on and begins taunting Floyd, but the round ends before anything significant can happen. I gave this round to Mayweather.
Round 6 – The measuring round – it’s a slow start with Zab tossing jabs and straight lefts to Floyd’s body and it’s this round that I noticed that Floyd is brazenly and expertly measuring. He’s putting his left glove on Zab’s head – measuring, setting up and using the distance for him to pop his right hand into Zab’s face and that in turn sets up Floyd to land some nice body shots. Zab starts to mount his own offense, but to no real effect as Floyd is so elusive now. The round is Mayweather’s and ends with him landing a nice left hook.
Round 7 – Another round for Floyd. He is throwing well and shooting off combinations and then stunningly throws a beautiful uppercut at a cornered Judah. Mayweather is stalking Zab and it’s a strange sight to see Floyd carefully pinpointing his shots - not flurrying, but picking his target and pounding it.
Zab is still working his jab well, but his output is lower – he’s slowed down. Mayweather attacks his body and begins landing big right hands smack on Judah’s face. By the end of the round Judah is bleeding from the nose and mouth and is looking worse for wear.
Round 8 would be another round for Mayweather. Zab would still be using his jab and throwing punches, but Floyd is landing better ones – both lefts and rights and is looking finally like he’s very much in charge. Judah is looking more and more beat up as Mayweather continuously lands hooks to his face and body. Near the end of the round Zab turns it on and lands a couple of strong punches letting us know that he is not out of this yet.
Round 9 – Floyd is continuing to land nice clean punches. Its funny too that Floyd is fighting Judah the way you expected Arturo Gatti to fight Floyd back in June ‘05 – he is stalking Zab, walking him down and brawling. It’s a strange sight to see “Pretty Boy” not majestically creating fistic art, but coming in face first with his gloves on his head and brutally launching crushing blows. He is continuing to measure with the left and hammer Zab with the right. It’s another round for “Thunder” Mayweather.
Round 10 – Floyd gets the round, but it’s a very strange round to see on many different levels – like the return of Roger Mayweather (Floyd’s uncle and trainer) to the ring and the moment where Kick Boxing champ Yoel Judah (Zab’s father and trainer) tries to tussle up with Roger - and the most surprising result of all was that referee Richard Steele did the absolute right thing and handled it beautifully.
You’ll read a lot about what happened in this round – it’ll go down as a smaller version of a Fan Man type moment…or like when what’s-his-name went after referee Jay Nady…oh ya…
Here’s the way it went down -- Floyd was proficiently and skillfully winning the round – measuring Judah and menacingly stalking him all over the ring, he was now able to throw his trademark combinations and really was putting a beating on Zab – so – Zab’s in trouble and tries to come back and either on purpose or not nails Floyd hard - right on the cup - with an enormous low blow – and Floyd doubles over in pain while Zab purposefully smashes him in the back of the head.
Richard Steele immediately calls for time out – and then Roger Mayweather stupidly struts into the ring. Well of coarse Yoel Judah has to come into the ring as well and these two start heading towards each other as security and both corners pour into the ring as well – and Zab decides to go after Roger, but winds up hitting someone else.
Anyway it’s bull crap and chaos – eventually everyone settles down and order is restored. There are 5 seconds to go to finish up the 10th and what does Floyd do after all this madness, stupidity and thug behavior? He initiates a gentleman’s and great sportsman’s gesture to ‘touch ‘em up’ – THAT’S class.
Rounds 11 and 12 I actually had for Judah – he was really the aggressor, but I think it was more a matter of Floyd showing him that he can’t hurt him. The rounds really showcased Floyd’s brilliant speed, amazing poise and defensive gifts. Zab desperately wanted to land that big left, but couldn’t. Mayweather went so far as to sit on the ropes and offer it up to Judah – he also taunted Zab by tapping his own chin and saying come and get it.
The bell sounds ending round 12 and it’s all over.
HBO’s fantastic unofficial scorer Harold Ledderman had the bout 116 to 112 for Mayweather. The Judges all had it for Mayweather: 119-109, 116-112 and 117-111 and I had it at 115 to 113 for Floyd.
After all these strange sights the best and most familiar one was seeing “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather hoisted up with arms raised in victory and receiving two new belts - and becoming champion in yet another new weight division – making him a 4 time champ in 4 different divisions (Super Featherweight, Lightweight, Light Welterweight and now Welterweight).
Post Fight Analysis:
In the end Judah proved that he’s not a washed up fighter and that he still has some good skills and I’m sad to say – still is hot headed and lacks character when it counts.
What’s next for Zab? – I don’t see him being a factor in the game for too much longer and see him becoming more of a gatekeeper and tester for the new crop of 147-pounders much like DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Courley is for the Light Welterweights.
For his own piece of mind a rematch with Carlos Baldomir would be good, but doesn’t need to happen and probably wont – and I’d like to see him against Miguel Cotto if Cotto moves up, but ultimately I’d love to see him against Ricky Hatton.
For Floyd – he’s solidified his place in the history books and once again showed us that he is truly the most versatile fighter fighting today. He can change and adapt to overcome any situation and is absolutely deserving of his pound per pound crown.
What’s next for Floyd? The world is screaming and demanding for him to face Hatton or Cotto – and these would be great fights – make no mistake about it – and I wonder if they will ever happen.
It will be a very strange sight indeed to see “Pretty Boy” and “The Hitman” going at it. There hasn’t been such a perfect stylistic match up since June of 1980 in Montreal Canada where another fluidly beautiful master of the art and skill of the Sweet Science met up with a relentless nightmare of brawling fury and tsunami like aggression – of course I’m talking about “Sugar” Ray Leonard and “Manos de Piedra” himself – Roberto Duran.
Here’s a last strange sight to leave you with – Mayweather vs. Hatton would be a much better fight.
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Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions.
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