LiveWorld Transcripts

Showtime presents

Zab Judah
Junior Welterweight Champion

January 29, 2000

Junior Welterweight champion Zab Judah chats about the sport of boxing and his view of the action from the Tyson vs. Francis fight.

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Showtime: Welcome to our chat with Zab Judah who is the undefeated IBF interim Junior Welterweight champion. Judah flattened Wilfedo Negron in four rounds to win the IBF interim title on Jan. 16, 1999, as part the Tyson-Botha undercard. He is scheduled to fight contender Jan Bergman on February 12th. Zab will be discussing his view of the action from the Tyson vs. Francis fight. And now, here's Zab Judah.

Zab: Hello!

Kinkaid: Your brothers are boxers, your dad is a world champ kickboxer. Who's the best fighter in the family?

Zab: The best fighter in the family is my father. We had a rough time growing up. We grew up in Brooklyn. It was an experience and made me what I am today. Without that background I wouldn't be the person that I am today.

EZGuest192: Is Mike Tyson able to focus enough to really fight like a champion again?

Zab: Yes. I think Mike Tyson right now has been through a lot of things in his life and right now as a person he's got to do what he has to do. He's a lot more focused than he was in the past. The heavyweight division has a problem. Mike is great. He's one of my good friends I'm not only speaking from an experience point of view, but as a fighter looking to another fighter.

Bigcarl: Who has made all your matches? Do you sometimes tell that person who you want to fight?

Zab: No I never tell people who I want to fight. I just let it come automatically. I never pick my fights, and I never know who I'm fighting. I leave it up to the matchmaker. I go to the gym and fight whoever is there. One more note - my brother Danny Judah will also be fighting on my card on February 12th.

Mystery Girl: How do you think the sport has changed since the days of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and the Kim fight?

Zab: I think the game hasn't changed that much but there are a lot of fighters passing away now, so you have a new crop of people coming around now.

EZGuest960: Who do you believe to be the best boxer of all time?

Zab: Sugar Ray Robinson!

Boxingjunkie: Who will be your first opponent after you win the title?

Zab: Hopefully we're looking at Terronn Millet.

Mrko735: What made (motivated) you to become a prize fighter?

Zab: Being on the game and watching my father, and being around Pernell Whitaker and those guys. It was in my blood. As a kid I came home fighting all the time. Everyone thought I was a natural boxer.

Johnny: How is training going for February 12th?

Zab: Training is going great! Feb 12th - it'll be the best pound for pound fight in the world.

Igypop: You're a first round fighter -- any predictions for February 12th?

Zab: (laughing) I don't know. I don't make predictions. I'm training very hard and pray to God and do my best. God willing it will come out in the first round.

Veri Happy: I predict you'll win the vacant title on February 12th against Bergman. How important are titles/belts to you?

Zab: Titles and belts mean a lot. They put you in a position to win. I'm a people fighter and as long as my people out there know that, I'm satisfied with that. As long as they know who the best fighter in the world is. The fans make you. There are a lot of fighters who win titles. Look at all the names De La Hoya gets called.

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