Boxing: Mayweather vs Judah

[H2O Man]

Saturday night, HBO PPV features Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Zab Judah in a welterweight bout. While it is being called a defense of Judah's IBF title, all boxing fans know that Ricky Hatton is the welterweight champion. This fight will determine who is in line to challenge Hatton -- although the #1 contender will remain Antonio Margarito in The Ring's rankings.

Judah, 34-3 with 25 KOs, recently blew a fight with Carlos Baldomir. While he had looked very impressive in flattening Cory Spinks last year, the Balomir fight exposed his weak chin, and his lack of dedication to training seemed sadly evident.

Mayweather is considered by many to be the pound-for-pound best in boxing today. He is a treat to watch, because he has skills that are looking to be on par with some of the best in boxing history. But he has to not only beat Judah, but more importantly, Margarito and Hatten, both of whom may pose serious problems for Mayweather. He has moved up several weight classes, and it will be interesting to see if his power can hold off Margarito or Hatton.

On the undercard, there are two potentially fantastic fights: WBA Lightweight Champ Juan Diaz defends against Jose Miguel Cotto, and in what may be the best match-up of the night, flyweights Jorge Arce and Rosendo Alvarez will slug it out.

[dr.zoidberg]

1. The Arce/Alvarez fight will steal the show.

Seriously, it will. You can't go wrong with Arce, who is arguably the best and certainly the most exciting flyweight in the world, going against Alvarez, who gave Ricardo Lopez all he could handle and then some, twice no less. This will be a great fight.

The Mayweather/Judah fight lost much of its luster with Judah pissing away the undisputed welterweight title in January against Baldomir. I have no idea why Mayweather took this fight, considering that he has everything to lose and nothing to gain by beating Judah. Judah needs this fight way more that Mayweather does. However, even with Judah needing this win badly, I don't think that he has what it takes to beat Mayweather. This fight could be an ugly, one-sided beating.

Last week, I saw what was easily the best heavyweight fight in years between Sergei Liakovich and Lamon Brewster. What initially started off as a solid boxing match picked up in intensity by the middle rounds as both men took good shots from one another. They both showed good skills and heart in their performances.

[H2O Man]

2. I thought last week's

fight was fantastic. Lamon Brewster fought a tough, brave match. But Sergei Liakovich showed that he can fight any heavyweight today. I might favor Calvin Brock at this point, and think Sam Peter has an even chance, but Liakovich has hand speed, and over-all talent that could make him champion.

I've heard that Judah is confident from past sparring that he can handle Floyd. But this isn't sparring, and Floyd has grown. I could see it going either way, though Zab's chin seems likely to be the deciding factor.

I agree 100% about Arce. I remember you saying this before, about it being the best fight on the card.

Glad to see the one fellow convicted and sentenced for killing Max K's brother. What a tragic story.

[TSIAS]

3. Hatton is actually the Jr Welter Champion

The true champion at Welterweight has to be Carlos Baldomir, who beat Judah by decision in January. Because Baldomir couldn't afford the IBF sanctioning fee, Judah retained the belt. That's totally ridiculous. Usually in a situation like that the title would just remain vacant.

That doesn't mean this fight isn't worth watching. Judah is a much better boxer than he showed against Baldomir. However, I think Mayweather is the more skilled fighter. I expect him to either stop Judah late or win a lobsided decision.

[dr.zoidberg]

4. Hatton's moving up to welterweight.

He's dropping the 140 lbs. title in favor of going after Luis Collazo, who is the WBA welterweight champion. Hatton want to use this fight to set up a unification fight with the winner of Mayweather/Judah or Baldomir/Gatti.

[H2O Man]

5. What the heck

was I thinking? I stand corrected.

Looks like Mayweather took control around the 4th round, and besides an incident late in the bout, had things under control.

Last night we went to the Golden Gloves championships. A friend who is a sparring partner for one of Hasim Rockman's sparring partners drove us to Syracuse to watch the fight card from the front row.

[H2O Man]

6. The controversy ....

What do you guys think about Don King's asking the commission to DQ Mayweather because of his uncle climbing into the ring? The rules are actually pretty clear on this, though it would be a shame to penalize Floyd for his uncle's stupidity. I remember when Roy Jones suffered his first lose; while some felt he should not have been DQed, the rules are clear, and he deserved the loss. While going by the rules would change the outcome here, it is different -- unlike Jones, Floyd didn't commit the foul. Actually, Zab took two very cheap shots. Too bad there isn't a way to follow the rules by penalizing the uncle.

[Stephist]

7. It would be a travesty

If Floyd "Merry"weather (Christ ESPN) got his victory taken away. Zab Judah wanted out of there so he threw an intentional low blow then a punch in back of Floyd's head. All that being said what the F%^K was Roger Mayweather thinking??? If as Floyd claims they new Zab was going to do it and there were only 5 seconds left in the round why risk it? Just wait until the end of the round to make your point.

Every time I see Roger Mayweather I think about the by gone days when Boxing was actually on network TV and Roger was on his way to being a big star until he came into the ring with sunglasses on his eyes and a big smile on his face.. he left the ring 2 minutes later no longer a star and no longer smiling the victim of an attitude adjustment courtesy of Rocky Lockeridge. Roger would go on to have a nice boxing career but he was never the same after the Lockeridge fight.

At first Floyd seem to have been traveling down the same path as his uncle Roger but he seems to be growing up. Not once did let his emotions get the better him last night. During the brawl he just went in a corner and didn't do anything he also helped quiet the situation by touching gloves with Judah after the incident.

Zab Judah was on his way to vindicating himself in this fight even after it was obvious he wouldn't win until he just had to remind everyone why he was "Zab Judah". it's ironic Zab is this generations Roger Mayweather. All the skills in the world but to much of a head-case as for Floyd I hope he gets rid of Roger he doesn't need him.

I thought the fight was far better then I could have expected and the under-card sands the Julio JR. fight was great too. I liked Lennox Lewis ( he added nothing to the commentary but I found his quiet demeanor refreshing) why did Lampley feel the need to come off so damn cool last night? And what the hell good would a left hook to the body do for him in his next life? He did have a great swipe at Toby Kieth last night though. Yes TK was fighting the war at the Thomas and Mack center last night. Lampley said there's Toby Kieth! I love his lyrics and I know you do too Larry. :) And Merchant was good last night too! (Did I just say that?)

All in all it was $45 well spent.