Thread: Judah v Urango possibly in March, Zab says pac beats Floyd

Exclusive 8CountNews interview: Zab "Super" Judah



November 18th, 2009


Brad Cooney


8CountNews.com recently sat down with former world champion Zab "Super" Judah and got an update with what's going on with his career as of late. Judah is coming off of an impressive 2nd round knockout over Ubaldo Hernandez. Zab informs 8CN that next on his radar screen is the current IBF Jr Welterweight champion, Juan Urango. The former three time world champion is hoping to get the title shot in March 2010. Zab also breaks down the Pacquiao vs Cotto fight, and additionally predicts a Pacquiao split decision victory over Floyd Mayweather. Don't miss what else the Superman had to say in this exclusive 8CountNews interview.

8CN - Zab, thanks for joining 8CountNews

ZJ - Thanks for having me.

8CN - First and foremost, give us your thoughts on your recent 2nd round knockout over Ubaldo Hernandez.

ZJ - My performance being a year out of boxing? I give myself a B. Actually I give myself an A. I feel good about where I am at in my career. I feel good about my conditioning, my future plans, I feel great.

8CN - You got two wins back to back now, what are your plans next?

ZJ - I want to go after the champion, Juan Urango. He's a good champion, he brings a lot of excitement in the ring and it will be a good fight between me and him.

8CN - You have fought the best fighters in the world. Everybody is talking about Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather. Do you still see yourself in the mix of things?

ZJ - At this time I am just wanting to focus on Juan Urango, and focus on the IBF championship. I want to get myself in good conditioning, and once I get that title in my possession then I will focus on them other guys like Pacquiao and those other guys out there.

8CN - How do you see a fight between you and Urango playing out?

ZJ - I think as far as speed, I am faster than him. I think he will be surprised by my power. I already know that he is a strong fighter, so I am preparing for all the shots that he throws. I am preparing for that, and I will be ready.

8CN - Has your team started negotiations for this fight?

ZJ - Yes, my team started with this already. I have been getting some advice from Mr J Prince, so were just trying to make it work.

8CN - When would you like this fight to happen?

ZJ - March, early March.

8CN - You talked about being focused now, what was going on previously that made you not focused?

ZJ - There is no one thing, it's just an accumulation of things. I had too much time on my hands, I don't know, just being Zab Judah. I have my son in my life now and he is my life. My daughters are still there, and they are my world. I am living for someone else right now and that's my children. I am making them better people, that's my focus now.

8CN - That's the most intelligent thing that I have ever heard you say. A family will change a man.

ZJ - That's right.

8CN - Give me your thoughts on Pacquiao vs Cotto. Did you think that Pacquiao was going to be THAT dominant over Cotto?

ZJ - No, personally I thought Cotto would have gotten him late. But I did say that if Cotto didn't watch out for Pacquiao's speed that Manny would be a problem for him. Cotto never adjusted to Manny's speed. He didn't know what the Hell was going on since round one. Manny was throwing punches from angles, and so fast, left hand leads, upper cuts, Cotto never seen that before. I mean I was surprised, I must say.

8CN - You have been around a long time, and you have fought the best fighters in the world. Have you ever seen anybody do what Manny is doing?

ZJ - He's a very mentally focused person. I love what he's doing mentally, he has his mind made up that he's not going to get beat no matter what weight class he is in. The reason why I say that it's not impossible for him to get beat is that anything is possible. But, not just anyone can beat him, he's it right now. He is the legend of our time. They say that every 30 years or so someone comes along and does something like this.

8CN - How do you see Floyd doing against Pacquiao?

ZJ - It would be a good fight, but it won't be a shutout like he got against De La Hoya and Cotto. Mayweather has good defense, it will throw Pacquiao off. I also feel that it would be a 12 round split decision for Manny Pacquiao. I just feel if Pacquiao puts up his normal effort and it goes 12 rounds, they won't do that Mayweather nod shit, that's not going to happen.

8CN - Do you think Manny wins fair and square, or are you saying that Manny would get the nod because he's Manny Pacquiao?

ZJ - I think it will be close, but Floyd will go out with a bang. Floyd doesn't have the power to keep Manny off of him. I fought Floyd, I haven't fought Manny, but I watch him and he's a little force. He backed Cotto up the whole fight, Cotto was in there doing those Salsa dances, I thought he was in there doing a tap dance or something (laughing) I didn't know what the Hell he was doing.

8CN - How would you try to beat Manny Pacquiao?

ZJ - You can't let him come forward. You have to back him up with good combinations. Another thing, you have to have power to back him up with. If you don't have power, you are not going to back him up. He's a strong little mother fer, and he's fast, he's sharp. Right now I just want to stay off of the radar screen. I don't want nobody ducking me, I am the quiet storm that nobody see's right now.

8CN - Give me some closing thoughts Zab.

ZJ - I am going to take Juan Urango's title, believe that, let the world know that there will be a new IBF champion of the world. I need the belt in order to campaign back at 140 lbs. Juan, you're the next guy in the way. I want to thank my fans for being there. Shout out to the New York Yankee's, Brooklyn what up!



Exclusive 8CountNews interview: Zab "Super" Judah

Man it's kinda crazy, I'm kinda getting a new respect for Judah. Sure he loses his head, sure he's a bit of a douche. But he has been competitive with everyone he has been in the ring with, he just loses his focus. But a focused Judah could have a shot of beating everyone at WW and LWW.

funny how the king of the chicken dance has the gaul to comment on anyone else "dancing" in the ring

In Zab's defense, he did try to stand up and continue the fight even if he was already so out of it, hence the chicken dance. Not everybody would have wanted to continue the fight being that badly hurt, especially against Tszyu. You have to give him props for that.

Originally Posted by ElTerribleMorales

funny how the king of the chicken dance has the gaul to comment on anyone else "dancing" in the ring

Change of heart for Zab? He picked Cotto to defeat Pacquiao. Now he's predicting Pacquiao to defeat Mayweather.

if it happens ill be picking urango to upset judah

Zab just has the nature to get distracted in fights, and I think he's kept people around him that have the same nature.... So even outside fights, you would sense that unfocused attitude from him...

He needs people around him that train his thought onto one thing and when that happens you will see him almost become a new person... If he had that through his career he could have had more wins where he had losses.. I have no doubt..

I have that same growing respect for him, but I do hope that he has the team to take his skills and heart and passion and direct it the right way to win fights, ie. "win fights - Right from the day of the fight announcement, through the camp, until the final bell"

He hasn't had that...


Some fights in the corner in round 2, his trainer will be like "I told you he was going to use elbows" etc etc and will just have a b!tching session the entire time Zab is on the stool, then he goes back even less focused on his job than when he sat down. The trainer should be getting him focused while on the stool and help him make adjustments.. Not get him worked up over potential fouls and draws his attention entirely towards something as negative as that. And it also suggest that the focus even during CAMP was on the negatives of the fight... Before he's even entered the ring, Zab is ready to snap...

Was just terrible management of a fighter and I really hope that is sorted and we see a fresh zab the way he should have been the whole time..

Originally Posted by hitmanhatton

if it happens ill be picking urango to upset judah

i'm pretty sure that at 140 Urango will still be the favorite over Judah lol

Originally Posted by The_Infinite

In Zab's defense, he did try to stand up and continue the fight even if he was already so out of it, hence the chicken dance. Not everybody would have wanted to continue the fight being that badly hurt, especially against Tszyu. You have to give him props for that.

Originally Posted by ElTerribleMorales

funny how the king of the chicken dance has the gaul to comment on anyone else "dancing" in the ring

given the beating that Cotto took, getting up and trying to go the distance shows his heart and basically tosses out the "he's a quitter" crap from the Margarito fight, my point is, who's Judah to poke fun of the guy that ripped his ass apart? lol cause no matter how bad Pacquiao beat Cotto, Miguel knocked Judah the fuck out lol

Originally Posted by fanjohn

Change of heart for Zab? He picked Cotto to defeat Pacquiao. Now he's predicting Pacquiao to defeat Mayweather.

ummm yea we read the article buddy

I've always had a lot of respect for Judah's skills (not so much for his temperament), although I don't think anyone should take it to heart when he says he believes Pac will win by 'split decision' against Mayweather.

Originally Posted by Dizaster

Zab just has the nature to get distracted in fights, and I think he's kept people around him that have the same nature.... So even outside fights, you would sense that unfocused attitude from him...

He needs people around him that train his thought onto one thing and when that happens you will see him almost become a new person... If he had that through his career he could have had more wins where he had losses.. I have no doubt..

Now isn't that a shame considering his father is his trainer? But I know exactly what you mean. His father would make any fighter lose his focus with his corner advice. It makes no sense!

I'm going with Urango by late stoppage in this 1 after a few rock moments in the early rounds. Damn it seems Judah has been around forever and he is still a young man.

Originally Posted by ElTerribleMorales

Originally Posted by hitmanhatton

if it happens ill be picking urango to upset judah

i'm pretty sure that at 140 Urango will still be the favorite over Judah lol

Originally Posted by The_Infinite

In Zab's defense, he did try to stand up and continue the fight even if he was already so out of it, hence the chicken dance. Not everybody would have wanted to continue the fight being that badly hurt, especially against Tszyu. You have to give him props for that.

given the beating that Cotto took, getting up and trying to go the distance shows his heart and basically tosses out the "he's a quitter" crap from the Margarito fight, my point is, who's Judah to poke fun of the guy that ripped his ass apart? lol cause no matter how bad Pacquiao beat Cotto, Miguel knocked Judah the fuck out lol

Originally Posted by fanjohn

Change of heart for Zab? He picked Cotto to defeat Pacquiao. Now he's predicting Pacquiao to defeat Mayweather.

ummm yea we read the article buddy

id be suprised considering the difference in class each have faced before

Urango/Judah is a good fight at this stage. There is no telling where Judah is at right now, so I'm going to call it 50/50.

Urango knocks him out.

i thinks thats pretty dumb,

i mean the guy is freakin HUGE, i dont thinkjudah has the chin to deal with his power,

the only way i see zab winning is probably 12 round hit and run.....lol