In some ways, it's hard to say a guy has had a disappointing career when he's won belts at 140 and been the undisputed champ at 147. But you have to consider Zab an overall disappointment, because he could have been so much better.

The obvious fault with Zab is his head. Great athletes raise their level when they're challenged, other athletes come undone. Zab has usually broken down mentally when he's been physically challenged.

I also think that Zab would have benifitted from a switch in trainers earlier in his career. I'm not blaming Yoel Judah for Zab's defeats, but I think it would have helped Zab to work with someone who would have taught him a classic boxing style. Yoel was a kickboxer and always taught Zab a style that was based more on athleticism and not pure boxing skill. Contrast that with someone like Floyd, who was trained in the classic techniques since he was a kid.

It's weird, a few years ago Zab looked like he had really turned the corner. He knocked out Spinks in Cory's hometown, and then in his first defense he absolutely DESTROYED Cosme Rivera. It looked like he was ready to be a Top 5 PFP guy. Then the Baldomir fight came along and everything fell apart.

Zab isn't done, he's still one of the top 7 or 8 welterweights in the world, and he'll be in another big fight soon, because he's talented and people like watching him fight. But he'll never be the great champ people thought he could be.