Zab Judah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zab Judah
Judah in 2010
Statistics
Real name	Zabdiel Judah
Nickname(s)	Super
Rated at	Light welterweight Welterweight Light middleweight
Height	5 ft 7 in
Reach	72 in
Born	(1977-10-27) October 27, 1977 (age 47) New York City, New York, U.S.
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	56
Wins	44
Wins by KO	30
Losses	10
No contests	2

Zabdiel Judah (born October 27, 1977) is an American former professional boxer. He competed from 1996 to 2019. Zab Judah won many world championships in two different weight classes. In 2005, he became the undisputed champion in the welterweight division. This means he held all the major championship belts at the same time. He also held important titles like the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight titles. His boxing career ended in 2019 after a tough fight, when he had to stop boxing due to a health issue.

Zab Judah's Early Boxing Days

Zab Judah started boxing when he was only six years old. He had a great amateur career, winning 110 out of 115 fights. He was a two-time national champion in the U.S. and won the New York Golden Gloves three times. He also won the PAL National Championship in 1996. Even though he beat some strong boxers like Ishe Smith, he did not make the Olympic team. However, he still went to the 1996 Summer Olympics as an alternate.

Zab Judah's Professional Boxing Career

Starting as a Pro Boxer

Zab Judah became a professional boxer when he was 18 years old. His first professional fight was on September 20, 1996, in Miami, Florida. He won that fight by technical knockout in the second round. A technical knockout happens when the referee stops the fight because one boxer cannot continue safely.

In April 1998, Judah won another fight against Angel Beltre in the second round. In March 1999, one of Judah's fights was stopped early because he accidentally bumped heads with his opponent, Esteban Flores. Flores got a cut, and the fight was later changed to a "no contest." This means the fight result did not count for either boxer.

Judah then won the USBA Light Welterweight title by beating Micky Ward. He successfully defended this title by stopping Darryl Tyson in the eleventh round in October 1998.

Becoming an IBF Champion

In January 1999, Judah won the Interim IBF Light Welterweight title by knocking out Wilfredo Negron in the fourth round. On February 12, 2000, he won the main IBF Light Welterweight title. He knocked out Jan Piet Bergman in the fourth round to claim the title.

Judah defended his title for the first time against Junior Witter in Scotland. It was a tricky fight because Witter was hard to hit. Judah kept punching Witter's body, which slowed him down. Judah won the fight by a unanimous decision, meaning all the judges agreed he won.

Two months later, in August 2000, Judah fought Terron Millett. Judah was knocked down in the first round but quickly got up and took control. He knocked Millett down several times and won by knockout in the fourth round.

He continued to defend his IBF title successfully. In October 2000, he stopped Hector Quiroz in the eighth round. In January 2001, he defeated Reggie Green by technical knockout in the tenth round. In June 2001, Judah knocked out Allan Vester in the third round. This win set up a big fight for Judah against Kostya Tszyu.

Big Fight: Judah vs. Tszyu

The exciting fight between Judah and Kostya Tszyu happened on November 3, 2001, in Las Vegas. This fight was to decide the Undisputed Light Welterweight Champion. Judah was expected to win.

However, with only 10 seconds left in the second round, Tszyu landed a powerful punch that sent Judah down. Judah quickly got up, but he was still dizzy and fell again. The referee stopped the fight, giving Tszyu a technical knockout win. This was Judah's first professional loss.

Judah was very upset about the decision. He threw his stool and argued with the referee. Because of his actions, Judah was fined $100,000 and suspended from boxing for one year.

Winning the WBO Title

After his suspension, Judah returned to the ring in July 2002 and won a fight by unanimous decision. In July 2003, he challenged DeMarcus Corley for the WBO Light Welterweight title. Judah knocked Corley down in the third round and won the title by a split decision. This means the judges were not all in agreement, but most of them scored the fight for Judah. In his only defense of this title, Judah knocked out Jaime Rangel in the first round in December 2003.

Moving Up: Welterweight Division

Judah vs. Spinks I

On April 10, 2004, Judah fought Cory Spinks for the Undisputed Welterweight Championship. Spinks was taller, and Judah had trouble getting close to him. Spinks knocked Judah down in the eleventh round. Judah fought back and knocked Spinks down in the final round. But in the end, Spinks won the fight by unanimous decision.

Judah's Comeback Fights

After the loss to Spinks, Judah fought two more times in 2004. He defeated Rafael Pineda by split decision and Wayne Martell by technical knockout in the first round.

Judah vs. Spinks II

On February 5, 2005, Judah had a rematch with Cory Spinks in Spinks' hometown. Judah was very aggressive throughout the fight. He knocked Spinks down in the seventh round, though it was not officially counted. In the ninth round, Judah scored another knockdown. After Spinks was knocked down a second time, the referee stopped the fight. Judah became the new Undisputed Welterweight Champion!

As Undisputed Welterweight Champion

First Defense: Judah vs. Rivera

In his first fight as the undisputed welterweight champion, Judah fought Cosme Rivera on May 14, 2005. Judah knocked Rivera down twice in the first minute of the fight. In the third round, Judah landed a powerful punch that made Rivera fall again. The referee stopped the fight because Rivera was too hurt to continue.

Judah vs. Baldomir

His next fight was on January 7, 2006, against Carlos Baldomir. Many people thought this would be an easy fight for Judah. Before the fight, Judah even punched Baldomir on the leg instead of touching gloves, which is a sign of disrespect in boxing.

The fight was close at first, but Baldomir kept putting pressure on Judah. In the seventh round, Judah was hurt by a punch. Baldomir won the fight by unanimous decision. This was a big surprise in the boxing world and was named the "upset of the year" for 2006 by The Ring magazine.

Judah vs. Mayweather

Even after losing to Baldomir, Judah's big fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. still happened on April 8, 2006. Judah started strong, matching Mayweather's speed. In the second round, it looked like Judah knocked Mayweather down, but the referee said it was a slip.

In the tenth round, Judah hit Mayweather with a low blow and then a punch to the back of his head. This caused a big argument in the ring, with people from both teams getting involved. Security and police had to step in to stop the fight. After things calmed down, Mayweather won the fight by unanimous decision.

After the fight, both boxers' earnings were held back while the boxing commission reviewed what happened. Judah was fined $350,000 and suspended for one year because of the incident.

Returning to the Ring

On April 13, 2007, Judah returned to boxing against Ruben Galvan. The fight was stopped in the first round because Galvan got a bad cut from an accidental elbow. Since the fight did not go past four rounds, it was ruled a "no contest."

Judah vs. Cotto

On June 9, 2007, Judah fought Miguel Cotto for the WBA Welterweight title. Cotto hit Judah with two low blows early in the fight, and Cotto even lost a point for one of them. The fight was exciting, but Cotto took control as it went on. In the eleventh round, Cotto knocked Judah down. Judah got up, but Cotto continued to attack, and the referee stopped the fight. Judah said the low blows had weakened him.

Later in 2007, Judah fought Edwin Vazquez and won by unanimous decision.

Trying a New Weight Class: Light Middleweight

On November 17, 2007, Judah won the vacant IBC Light Middleweight title by defeating Ryan Davis. This fight was unusual because it started raining during the third round, and both boxers continued to fight in the rain! Judah knocked Davis down in that round and won the fight easily.

Judah was supposed to fight Shane Mosley in May 2008, but the fight was postponed. Judah had an accident at home and needed stitches in his arm.

Back to Welterweight

Judah vs. Clottey

On August 2, 2008, Judah lost to Joshua Clottey in a fight for the vacant IBF Welterweight title. Judah started well, but Clottey began to land more punches. In the ninth round, Judah got a cut over his right eye and said he could not see. The fight was stopped, and since the cut was from an accidental head clash, the judges scored the fight based on the rounds completed. Clottey won by technical decision.

On the Comeback Trail

After the loss to Clottey, Judah continued to fight. He won against Ernest Johnson in November 2008 and Ubaldo Hernandez in November 2009. In 2010, Judah won another fight against Jose Armando Santa Cruz by technical knockout in the third round.

Back to Light Welterweight

Judah vs. Matthysse

On November 6, 2010, Judah fought Lucas Matthysse for the vacant NABO Light Welterweight title. This was Judah's first fight in the light welterweight division in almost seven years. Judah won the fight by a split decision, meaning two judges scored it for him, and one for Matthysse.

Winning the IBF Title Again

After beating Matthysse, Judah fought Kaizer Mabuza on March 5, 2011, for the vacant IBF Light Welterweight title. Judah won the fight by technical knockout in the seventh round, claiming the IBF title again after almost ten years!

Judah vs. Khan

Judah then had a unification fight against Amir Khan on July 23, 2011. Khan was the WBA (Super) champion. Khan knocked out Judah in the fifth round with a body shot. Judah was unable to get up, and the referee counted him out. Judah believed the punch was a low blow, but the referee did not agree.

Later Career Fights

Judah vs. Paris

After losing to Amir Khan, Zab Judah fought Vernon Paris, an undefeated boxer, on March 24, 2012. Judah started strong and hurt Paris early in the fight. He continued to dominate with his fast hands. In the ninth round, Judah landed a perfect left hand that hurt Paris, and the referee stopped the fight.

Judah vs. García

Judah's next big fight was against undefeated champion Danny García on April 27, 2013. The fight was very exciting. García took the lead in the early rounds and even knocked Judah down in the eighth round. However, Judah showed great determination and fought back strongly in the last three rounds. Even though Judah won the final rounds, it wasn't enough to overcome García's early lead. García won the fight by unanimous decision.

Back to Welterweight Again

Judah vs. Malignaggi

On December 7, 2013, Judah fought Paulie Malignaggi for the vacant NABF welterweight title. Judah started well, winning the first three rounds and even knocking Malignaggi down in the second. However, Malignaggi used his quick jabs to outscore Judah for the rest of the fight. Malignaggi won by unanimous decision.

Return from a Break

After a break of over three years, Judah returned to the ring on January 21, 2017. He fought Jorge Luis Munguia and won by technical knockout in the second round. A year later, on January 27, 2018, Judah fought Noel Mejia Rincon and won by unanimous decision.

Final Fights at Light Welterweight

Judah vs. Seldin

After another long break, Zab Judah, at 41 years old, fought Cletus Seldin on June 7, 2019. Judah was stopped in the eleventh round. After the fight, Judah felt unwell and had to go to the hospital for a health issue. This fight marked the end of his long boxing career.

Zab Judah's Life Outside the Ring

Zab Judah comes from a big family with ten brothers and four sisters. Five of his brothers also box, and three of them are professional boxers. His father and trainer, Yoel Judah, is a six-time kickboxing world champion. Zab Judah is a born-again Christian.

He also spends his time helping others. He volunteers teaching a nursing assistant class and helps at a care facility for older adults.

Images for kids

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  Judah in 2010

Titles Zab Judah Won

Major World Titles

• IBF Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs) (2 times)
• WBO Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs)
• WBA (Undisputed) Welterweight Champion (147 lbs)
• WBC Welterweight Champion (147 lbs)
• IBF Welterweight Champion (147 lbs)

The Ring Magazine Titles

• The Ring Welterweight Champion (147 lbs)

Major Interim World Titles

• IBF Interim Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs)

Minor World Titles

• IBC Light Middleweight Champion (154 lbs)

Regional/International Titles

• NABO Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs)
• WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Champion (147 lbs)

Regional Interim Titles

• USBA Interim Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs)

Undisputed Titles

• Undisputed Welterweight Champion

Pay-Per-View Fights

See also

• Notable boxing families
• List of WBA world champions
• List of WBC world champions
• List of IBF world champions
• List of WBO world champions
• List of The Ring world champions
• List of undisputed boxing champions