Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Former welterweight champion Zab Judah and his father and trainer, Yoel Judah, were fined and had their licenses revoked by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday for their roles in an April 8 melee that erupted during Zab Judah's fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The commission came down the hardest on Zab Judah, who was fined $250,000 -- his entire cut of the $1 million paid by Top Rank to promoter Don King to deliver Judah for the fight -- and had his boxing license in Nevada revoked for one year.
Yoel Judah was fined $100,000 and also had his license revoked for a year. He and Zab can reapply for licenses April 8, 2007.
"I'm happy it's over but I thought it was very unfair," Yoel Judah told ESPN.com. "We stated our case and they gave us the hardest penalties. They came down hard on us. It was bad. They said they were trying to make a statement."
Zab Judah told ESPN.com that he was shocked at how harshly he was punished.
"I thought it was crazy," he said. "I don't think it was fair. A lot of BS was involved. I thought I'd get $100,000 fine and maybe a four-month suspension. I was very surprised at how harsh they were. They gave me the maximum out of everyone and Roger [Mayweather] started the whole thing."
In addition, Leonard Ellerbe, a Mayweather adviser and one of his cornermen, was fined $50,000 and had license suspended for four months. His license will be re-instated Aug. 19.
All three were involved in the 10th-round brawl that came close to igniting a full-scale riot inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The incident happened with five seconds remaining in the 10th round when Roger Mayweather, Floyd's uncle and trainer, entered the ring because he was upset at Zab Judah, who had hit his nephew with a blatant low blow followed by a right hand to the back of the head, both dangerous and illegal punches.
As referee Richard Steele called timeout to give Mayweather a chance to recover, Roger Mayweather stormed toward Judah, which prompted Yoel Judah to also enter the ring. He went straight for Roger Mayweather and threw a punch at him.
Seconds later, the ring was filled with members of the fighter camps, including Ellerbe, and security forces in a scary free-for-all that came close to sparking a riot among the 15,170 fans in the arena.
During the melee, Zab Judah hit Ellerbe behind head and charged through two Nevada inspectors.
After several minutes, order was restored and the fight continued. Floyd Mayweather eventually won a unanimous 12-round decision.
"I was really shocked, especially for Zab, at how bad the penalties were," Yoel Judah said. "Zab thought I was being attacked [by Roger Mayweather] and he came to my rescue."
A few days later, Roger Mayweather was fined his entire paycheck, $200,000, and had his license revoked for a year.
At Monday's regular commission meeting, the final one in the tenure of longtime executive director Marc Ratner, the rest of the punishments were doled out.
"They all apologized, and I think it was sincere. It was tough day," said Ratner, who is leaving his post May 13 for an executive position with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. "Everyone handled it very professionally. None of the licensees left smiling. The commission felt that it wanted to send a very strong message. This incident was so close to a full-scale riot that innocent people could have gotten hurt or maimed. The commission felt very, very strongly that this cannot happen again."
The commission didn't punish Ellerbe as harshly as the others because he didn't throw any punches during the altercation, Ratner said.
Zab Judah's previous history in Nevada worked against him, Ratner said. Judah was suspended for six months and fined $75,000 following a 2001 TKO loss to Kostya Tszyu. After that loss, Judah was so enraged by referee Jay Nady's stoppage that he threw a ring stool at Nady and shoved a gloved hand under Nady's chin.
"It all comes into play," Ratner said.
Also at Monday's meeting, Roger Mayweather's appeal of his punishment was denied.
"We heard Roger's appeal and nothing was changed," Ratner said.
The suspensions extend throughout the United States because states generally honor suspensions in other states. However, because none are medical suspensions, but rather for disciplinary reasons, Ratner said that it would be up to each state to decide whether it would license any of those punished.
Yoel Judah said he hadn't made up his mind about appealing the ruling.
Zab Judah said he didn't plan to appeal.
zab lost his entire paycheck and a year of his prime for trying to be a hero. plus he is in trouble with the IRS. Plus his marketability is next to nothing. he is definetly one of the wasted talents in boxing history
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Say what you want about Zab, but if he would have kept throwing punches against Floyd, it could have been an early night for the Pretty Boy. I'm sure that's the reason they are doing everything possible to keep Zab out of peoples minds so they don't have to answer any questions about why there's no rematch. Roger Mayweather gets a lesser fine and he still gets to do his job (which is done in the gym) and Zab is out of work. Hhmmmm....... sounds like a conspiracy to me.
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Zab lost. He didn't and won't beat Floyd, lets quit making excuses.
As for his suspension and fine, the only reason it was worse is because of what happened after the Tszyu fight. As for Yoel, he started the punching.
Zab could still have big fights in Jersey, or New York. Hopefully King will help him, or Zab will find a new promoter. Zab still makes welterweight interesting with him in it. He just needs someone to go to work for him, and get him some immediate fights somewhere other than Vegas.
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unknowndonor
Zab lost. He didn't and won't beat Floyd, lets quit making excuses.
As for his suspension and fine, the only reason it was worse is because of what happened after the Tszyu fight. As for Yoel, he started the punching.
Zab could still have big fights in Jersey, or New York. Hopefully King will help him, or Zab will find a new promoter. Zab still makes welterweight interesting with him in it. He just needs someone to go to work for him, and get him some immediate fights somewhere other than Vegas.
Nobody's making excuses for Zab but if you're gonna tell me that he wasn't landing the best and cleanest shots against Floyd that anybody ever has, then you didn't see the fight. He definitely lost the fight but if he didn't stop being aggressive, the outcome could have been different. Not saying it would have but it could have. The Nevada commissioner did what he did cause he obviously has something against Zab. Not to mention he's leaving boxing for UFC so he doesn't have to answer for being totally unfair. They took away the man's purse and livelyhood for a year while Roger Mayweather still gets to train Floyd and get paid to do so. You tell me if that's not an agenda against Zab.
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
Think about it...if Zab devoted as much time to training as he did the phrase "You know what I'm sayin" he might of had a shot at winning that fight
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Well im sure they will both be utterly missed. ::**
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
This fine and suspention wouldn't be as bad if Judah had never had that Tszyu incident.
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Quote:
Originally Posted by raleights
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
You know what I'm saying?!
Know what I'm saying
Na mean?
Think about it...if Zab devoted as much time to training as he did the phrase "You know what I'm sayin" he might of had a shot at winning that fight
LMAO
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Well, Father and Son can get some Quality Time Together Now! :LMAO:
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
I wonder how many times the words 'You Know What I'm Saying' come up during a conversation between the 2....record setting numbers I garuntee it
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Didn't they only lose their licenses in Las Vegas? Which means he can fight elsewhere, as long as that state grants a license, right? Just like when Tyson fought Lewis, Mike couldn't fight in Vegas, so they fought in Tennessee. I didn't catch all the details, but I know Don King is big in NY, so why couldn't Zab just start fighting at the Gardens?
Re: Judah and father fined, both lose license for year!
Quote:
Originally Posted by raleights
I wonder how many times the words 'You Know What I'm Saying' come up during a conversation between the 2....record setting numbers I garuntee it
You mean like Allen Iverson saying "practice" ;D
