GENTLEMAN'S PAGE II
Zab “Super” Judah;
The man the Elite are lining up to Beat
By: Phil Santos – Overhandright.com
His name still holds weight. He was once a solid champion who possessed three World Titles (WBC, WBA & IBF) and was widely considered to be the best Welterweight on the planet. Those days seem like a distant memory. Since losing to Carlos Baldomir the once “Super” Zab Judah has been recast as a marquee name no longer capable of beating the top fighters in his weight class.
Much like the man he accompanied to the ring as a youngster Judah’s future as a fighter seems to closely mirror that of Mike Tyson. Now before I get too far ahead of myself I want to make myself clear. It is my opinion that Zab is still a solid top ten Welterweight, a claim that at the end could not be made by Iron Mike. It is also apparent that Judah wishes to continue fighting and badly wants to reestablish himself as an elite fighter, another assertion that doesn’t jive with the end of Tyson’s career. In those ways they are different.
The parallels that I draw between Judah and Tyson are these:
In the time following their peaks they both experienced severe breakdowns. Tyson spent time in prison having been found guilty of rape and Judah had his boxing license revoked following a near riot during his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Neither fighter could ever be considered composed under pressure as witnessed during Tyson vs. Holyfield II when Tyson bit off a piece of the Champions ear while trying to avenge a TKO loss in his last fight with Evander. Judah has also lost his cool when faced with adversity within the ring. After referee Jay Nady opted to stop the fight between Judah and Kostya Tszyu, Judah flipped throwing a stool across the ring at Nady and held his glove under Nady’s chin before being restrained by security and police.
Both the careers of Tyson and Judah seemed to be spiraling downward before their unwanted layoffs from boxing and when they returned they were never the same. Tyson suffered his first to Buster Douglas then rattled off four wins before being sentenced to prison. Upon his return he earned some solid wins but he failed to recapture his position as the premier Heavyweight losing to Evander Holyfield twice and Lennox Lewis before hitting rock bottom and being knocked out by Danny Williams and Kevin McBride. Since returning from his suspension Judah has compiled a 2-1 record with 1 no contest. His victories have come against journeymen Edwin Vazquez and Ryan Davis. His loss came when he faced off against Miguel Cotto for the WBA Title. Judah earned the respect of fans with his effort but none the less was TKO’d in the 11th.
Moving on:
Onto the upcoming Shane Mosley vs. Zab Judah contest scheduled for May 31st. You can’t fault Judah for taking this opportunity against Mosley. Both men are coming off recent losses to Miguel Cotto and both are in need of a big name victory to re-enter the Welterweight title picture. The fight makes sense however it is Mosley who holds the clear edge. Mosley has never been knocked out, possesses just as much speed as Judah and has always packed more power. The deck is completely stacked in favor of a Shane Mosley victory. Judah deserves props for stepping up to the challenge and for that matter he has never been one to shy away from a tough fight.
While attempting to assess exactly what Judah must do to be successful against Mosley I have come to only one conclusion…I cannot envision a scenario in which Zab Judah wins this fight. Mosley holds the edge in ever important aspect imaginable with the exception of youth. And while youth can play a major role in our sport Mosley gave Cotto all he could handle en route to dropping a decision loss while Judah fought well but was worn out and eventually stopped in their bout.
I expect Judah to score early before being worn out by Mosley. Given his big fight experience and success along with his superior punching power and equally quick hands Mosley should stop Judah some time around the 9th or 10th round. This looks to be another entertaining fight for fans despite the relatively obvious outcome.
PS
PAVLIK WINS
AGAIN - BUT IT AIN'T OVER FOR JERMAIN- Ron Ross
It was a fight that could have gone either way. There were so many close rounds that a ten second burst of punching showmanship before the bell may have stolen more than half the rounds. Kelly Pavlik came to prove that the first fight was no fluke, that he was the best middleweight in the world, give or take six pounds. Jermain Taylor wants his title back. He came to prove that he deserves another crack at it. He lost the fight but may have won his point.
Strangely, the power displays of the first fight were not nearly as much in evidence this time around although they were permitted to pack super-middleweight poundage (each came in at 164). It is probably a sign of mutual respect for each others prowess and learning abilities. One thing that Pavlik proved is that he is for real. Not only can he punch with the best of the punchers, he can box with the best of the boxers.
Taylor seemed to have learned his lesson fairly well. He stayed away from Pavilik’s power punch and kept off the ropes. But Pavlik learned his lesson just as well. From this dual education, an anticipated fireworks-packed sluggers’ brawl became a tactical battle. Dueling left jabs, crisp combinations and evasive combat took over center stage. Taylor had good command of the ring and controlled much of the early action. When Pavlik landed what seemed to be his big
punch, Jermain, always moving away from and not into it, was able to shrug it off.
If there was one advantage that Kelly Pavlik had, it was his ability to reach down and pull it up from the bootstraps in the last two rounds. In the final round he opened all cylinders, looking like a fighter who felt he was in a fight that had to be pulled out. He fought to impress the judges and he did. It was those last two rounds that cemented the win for him. Surprisingly, the crowd booed the unanimous decision Judges Glenn Trowbridge 116-112, Dave Moretti 117-111 and Patricia Jarmin 115-113 saw for Pavlik. I agreed with the 115-113 tally, feeling that it was rounds eleven and twelve that counteracted an otherwise fine performance by Taylor. It is important that he put this loss in proper perspective. His future is still ahead of him.
Kelly Pavlik seems on the road to super-stardom. That doesn’t mean there isn’t another lane for his twice vanquished foe, Jermain Taylor, who, himself has a twice vanquished foe named Bernard Hopkins. It’s a wide horizon – let the stars shine!
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Coming soon: NINE ... TEN ... AND OUT!
The Two Worlds of Emile Griffith
by Ron Ross
CEDRIC KUSHNER, GOTHAM BOXING, K2 PROMOTIONS, WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO AND SHELLY FINKEL ANNOUNCE AMICABLE SETTLEMENT
January 13, 2008. New York, New York.
Cedric Kushner, Gotham Boxing, K2 Promotions, Wladimir Klitschko and Shelly Finkel are pleased to announce that they have reached an amicable settlement related to a case that had been filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in early 2007. Kushner, Gotham and their counsel, Robert Hantman of Hantman Associates in New York City, along with K2, Klitschko, Finkel and their counsel, Bruce Zabarauskas of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP, worked over the holidays to reach the agreement, with final signatures being received Friday, January 10, 2008.
Wladimir Klitschko will face Sultan Ibragimov in a Heavyweight Title unification bout in New York’s Madison Square Garden on February 23rd. The parties will work together that night as well as Gotham Boxing’s New York based middleweight sensation Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will be featured in a supporting bout. Tickets for February 23rd show are available at the Madison Square Garden Box Office and at Ticketmaster.com
FOOTBALL COACHING LEGEND BILL PARCELLS JOINS TEDDY ATLAS AND BEVY OF CELEBRITIES AT 11TH ANNUAL DR. THEODORE A. ATLAS DINNER ON THURSDAY NIGHT, NOVEMBER 15, AT HILTON GARDEN INN ON STATEN ISLAND
New York, November 1—The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation moves into its second decade with the 11th annual “Teddy” Dinner set for Thursday night, November 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island. Football coaching legend Bill Parcells spearheads the bevy of celebrities from sports and entertainment who will join boxing trainer and ESPN/2 commentator Teddy Atlas at the gala to assist the less fortunate.
Tables and individual tickets are available by calling 888-505-7070.
Joseph Spinelli will be honored with the 2007 Community Service Award at the benefit.
The boxing community will assist the Atlas Foundation en masse, with former heavyweight champion
Michael Moorer and Hall of Famer Lou Duva joined by former fighters Brian Adams, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Gerry Cooney, Chuck Wepner and Renaldo Snipes. Boxing broadcasters Max Kellerman and Bob Papa of HBO, and Brian Kenny and Joe Tessatore of ESPN will also be on hand.
They will be joined by a superb list of sports and television celebrities including: the Devils Ken Daneyko, former Jet Bruce Harper, jockey Mike Luzzi, Giants Super Bowl standouts Sean Landeta and Karl Nelson, ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap, actors Chuck Zito Holt McCallany, and Chris Maloney, American renowned electric bass player Jeff Berlin, Staten Island baseball product Frank Menechino, former Eagle Mike Mamula, former Dolphin Garo Yepremium, and disc jockey Goomba Johnny.
CIGAR
TAYLOR DETHRONED BY UPSTART PAVLIK
BERTO IMPRESSIVE IN STOPPING ESTRADA
TRUFAN SEPT 29, 2007
Unbeaten middleweight sensation Kelly Pavlik came off the deck in the second round to stop previously unbeaten and long reigning champion Jermain Taylor in a tremendous bout in Atlantic City.
Pavlik, 159 1/2, was hurt and floored by a flurry of punches that left him near out on his feet. As the second round wore on, however, Pavlik regained his composure and rebounded in round 3.
After that it was classic boxing and counterpunching with Pavlik being the aggressor - before the fateful ending when Pavlik , who, for most of the evening, threw the right hand over the low left hand of his counterpart, started Taylor's downward spiral with a right hand. Pavlik then connected with two uppercuts and a left hook that left Taylor down in the corner as referee Steve Smoger called it over - at 2:14 of the seventh round. Pavlik is now undisputed middleweight champion.
A rematch clause is in the contract and there is a possibility of a bout in the spring of 2007.
In a previous bout, welterweight Andre Berto stepped up in class and slowly dismantled contender David Estrada en route to an 11th round TKO. Estrada was game but Berto provided too much firepower for him to overcome. More later . . . .
JLM
TAYLOR - PAVLIK : AND THE WINNER IS...
I'm REALLY on fence on picking a winner. Of
course I want Kelly who is from Ohio to win but Taylor is by far the best
guy he's ever met. Pavlik though is one of the most dedicated fighters
I've seen in years.
I think Kelly is going to have a lot of trouble with Taylor's speed and
movement. Pavlik likes to go to the body though and he does it very well.
Hopefully as the fight wears on this
will slow Taylor down. I look for Taylor to jump to an early lead but he
has not been in with power punchers like Kelly. It will be interesting to
see how Jermain holds up.It too will
be interesting to see how Pavlik holds up under steady barrages of
punches.
I believe because of sub par
performances against tricky and difficult fighters people have forgotten
that Taylor is quite talented. I think Jermain would have looked like a
million bucks against Miranda.
It comes down to who wants it more. I just think Kelly is the hungry
one in this match. It should be a real barnburner though.
Jim Amato
CINCINNATI MIDDLEWEIGHT ROY DALE PASSES AWAY
Over the course of his career Roy Dale would meet top shelf opposition like Miguel DeOliveira, Tom Bogs and Juan Carlos Duran. In 1973 he met reigning world's middleweight champion Carlos Monzon in a non-title fight. The great King Carlos halted Dale in the fifth round.
Roy ended his career with a very respectable 31-19 record. May he rest in peace.
PETE MEAD 1940's Middleweight
FROM GolfBoxer: Just a note to let old fight fans know that Pete Mead, 1940's middleweight contender out of Grand Rapids, MI and New York City, passed away Monday July 2, 2007 in Jonesboro, AR. He was 83 yrs old and had a very exciting career that spanned about 10 years. He fought the likes of Fritzie Zivic, Herbie Kronowitz (4 times I think), Rocky Graziano, and Joey DeJohn. He fought 5 times in Madison Square Garden, 4 of them as the main event, and his fight with DeJohn there was ranked in the top 10 fights in Garden history and called the "bloodiest of all time." He was the first fighter from the state of Arkansas to ever fight a MAIN EVENT in the old garden, and also the last.
He spent most of his adult life teaching young kids the art
of boxing, and
never took a single dollar for the lessons. He was a true champion of the
sport though he never fought for the title. He will be missed.
MEAD BOXING RECORD
CLICK HERE
He stepped up his competition beating Vince LaSalva and Jerry Fiorello. Pete split two bouts with rugged Herbie Kronowitz and then defeated the pride of Niles, Ohio, Sonny Horne. Mead then scored a big victory over Fritzie Zivic. In 1947 Pete returned to the Garden and lost a verdict to the highly regarded Harold Green. In his next match Mead lost a return bout with Horne. Pete rebounded to defeat Horne in their rubber match. Next he scored a tenth round KO victory over Rueben Shank. Mead would then rack up eight more wins including split decisions over the great Cocoa Kid and Kronowitz. Pete would drop an eight rounder to Vinnie Rossano but he roared back to stop tough Joey DeJohn in five rounds.
In 1948 Pete would again outscore Kronowitz but then he lost a split verdict to Al Priest. He would lose another decision to Priest but rallied to outduel Tony Masciarelli on two occasions. On June 14th Pete would suffer the first KO loss of his career as the talented contender Walter Cartier knocked him down three times and stopped him in round three. Pete would return to defeat Charley Zivic and draw with Joe Rindone. He then stopped at the Cleveland Arena long enough to outpoint Mickey Doyle. Mead would the lose a rematch with Rindone.
On February 25, 1949 Pete met Joey DeJohn again. This time at the Garden. In what is considered one of the greatest fights to ever take place at the Garden, Pete got off the floor in rounds three and five to stop a dead game DeJohn in round seven. Many call this bout the bloodiest Garden battle of all time. It would turn out to be Pete Mead's last victory. He dropped a ten round duke to French contender Robert Villemain at the Garden. He again met DeJohn this time in Rochester, New York and DeJohn turned the tables on Pete with a seventh round stoppage. Mead then traveled to England where he lost on points to Dave Sands and was stopped in four by Randy Turpin. In 1950 Pete returned to the States but he was knocked out by Rocky Graziano in three rounds thus ending his fine career.
Pete retired with a respectable 39-16-1 record and the reputation as a real crowd pleaser. He wrote an outstanding book titled " Blood, Sweat and Cheers ". I read it not once but twice. If you can ever get a hold of this book, do so. You will not regret it. Rest in peace Mr. Mead.