Last night a message appeared on my Comcast cable box. It read: You still have time to order this Saturday’s exciting welterweight pay-per-view event “Sugar” Shane Mosley vs. Zab “Super” Judah. I wonder what would happen if you did order the May 31 fight that was officially canceled almost three weeks ago because of Zab Judah’s unfortunate incident with a shower and the resulting fifty stitches Zab had installed in his right arm?

Would you get a Zab Judah highlights montage showcasing the choking Jay Nady incident, the Roger Mayweather corner clearing brawl, the dizzying Kosta Tszyu knockdown? Or maybe you would get a clandestine video of what really happened in the infamous Las Vegas glass shower. ESPN’s Dan Rafael reports on his ESPN Insider blog that Judah did indeed put his jabbing arm threw glass only it didn’t occur because of an unfortunate slip.

No. Rafael’s sources told him that the 30-year-old Judah threw a temper tantrum in the Las Vegas Top Rank gym, got angry with his dad, and put his arm through the steam room shower door. The practical result is that now Zab will fight Ring Magazine’s #7 welterweight Joshua Clottey on August 2 on HBO instead of Ring Mag’s #2 Sugar Shane. Judah ranks #6.

Judah’s latest mishap cost him approximately $400,000 given the purse difference between the two fights. Through his multiple suspension and many career fines his uncontrollable temper has drained at least a conservative $1.5M from his accounts. If he defeats Clottey Judah will probably get another chance at Mosley once again proving his inimitable ability to bounce back.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Zab Judah and the Shower, The Real Story Emerges

Chris Byrd’s foray into the light heavyweight division did not go as planned. In a relatively shocking and ultimately sad bout Shaun George TKOd the former heavyweight champ late in the ninth round. Referee Jay Nady stopped the fight after George floored Byrd for the second time that round.

George’s demonstrative and dominating win, he was up 79-72 on all three cards, announced that he is yet another talented fighter in a division proving to be boxing’s finest. Byrd, on the other hand, did not prove that he belonged.

Byrd fought the smaller quicker George as if he were a plodding heavyweight and George did not oblige Byrd’s incorrect assumption. The 5/1 underdog dropped him in the first and pounded him throughout. He never slowed down his unceasing barrage, dancing around Byrd while peppering him with pinpoint punches and scoring numerous head shots. Byrd landed no punches of consequence and never threatened the 29-year-old Brooklyn native. This wasn’t the Byrd we thought we were going to see.

All our pre-fight thoughts regarding Byrd were wrong. His 37-pound weight loss and heavyweight experience did not help him one bit. Rather they proved to be severe hindrances. Byrd looked lost and unfamiliar with his new body, confused about the fight’s speed, too slow to present any kind of defense, and too weak to land any meaningful blows.

Byrd’s inability to be competitive is a sad indictment on the skill level chasm between the heavyweight class and light heavys below. Wlad Kiltschko need not appear on any pound-for-pound lists any time soon.

Chris Byrd really has no place to go from here. The light heavyweight division is full of great fighters and large purses but, last night’s fight showed, the 175-lb. Byrd cannot compete on their level without relearning how to fight as a smaller man would. And even then it’s uncertain that a powerful punch would ever materialize at that lighter weight.

George wasn’t the best choice for Byrd’s intro to a dramatically different style of boxing. He was too good and too focused. If Byrd is to return to the ring and make another attempt at this class then he’ll have to start much further down the competitive ladder. If he does then good luck. If he does not then last night was a farewell to a champion.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Chris Byrd’s Debut As A Smaller Man Goes Wrong