Zab Judah Returns to New Jersey on November 6 against Lucas Matthysse

Added on Sep 11, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

Contrary to many reports that Zab Judah would be taking on veteran fighter Michael Clark in his next bout, Judah’s promoter, Main Events, released a statement earlier today stating that he would actually be taking on hard hitting Argentian, Lucas Matthysse, on November 6. Just as was the case in his last bout, where Judah stopped Jose Armando Santa Cruz in the third round, the fight will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The fight will serve as the headlining bout in an event to be televised on HBO’s Boxing After Dark series.

Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing HBO to Prudential Center for the first time. When the opportunity arose, everyone involved worked very hard to reschedule Zab’s next appearance in Newark to Nov. 6th to coincide with HBO’s schedule. Judah-Matthysse will be a spectacular event, and as always, the Prudential Center fans will be treated to another great night of boxing.”

Judah (39-6, 27 KOs) looks to extend his current three fight winning streak dating back to August of 2008 when he dropped a ninth round technical decision to Joshua Clottey for the vacant IBF Welterweight strap. Since then he earned a unanimous decision over Ernest Johnson and then scored back to back TKO’s against Ubaldo Hernandez and, as previously mentioned, Jose Armando Santa Cruz.

While this fight doesn’t carry any direct title implications, Judah is ranked 11th and sixth by the WBC and IBF, respectively. Matthysse, on the other hand, holds the WBC’s 12th slot as well as the IBF’s eighth position. A win for either fighter would certainly place the victor in the mix for a crack at the WBC and IBF titles held by Devon Alexander. Even if a title opportunity doesn’t present itself right away, as Alexander appears to be close to finalizing a deal to take on WBO champ Timothy Bradley, a win would open up various other possibilities in the talent rich 140 lb junior welterweight division.

While Alexander and Bradley appear to lock horns, negotiations between British superstar Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana seem to have hit a snag as Khan and his camp are accusing Maidana for pricing himself out of a fight. Khan is considered by the WBA to be their ‘Super’ Champion while Maidana holds the organizations ‘regular’ belt. That being said, the winner of Judah and Matthysse could certainly make an argument that they deserve to challenge either one of those fighters for their crown.

Judah won his first world title back in 1999 as he knocked out Wilfredo Negron in the fourth round thus picking up the IBF’s interim junior welterweight title. After the title became vacant, he would go on to reclaim the crown with another fourth round knockout, this time against Jan Piet Bergman. Judah successfully defended his title five times over the next year and a half before falling victim to the heavy handed Kostya Tszyu in which Judah suffered a knockout that has since become a YouTube classic.

Judah would eventually move up to the welterweight division where he met then champion, Cory Spinks on two different occasions. After losing in his initial attempt, Judah would become the world’s undisputed welterweight champion when he stopped Spinks in their 2005 rematch.

Fast forward to present day, Judah is back in the junior welterweight division in which he begun his impressive career and looking to make Lucas Matthysse his latest victim.

Matthysse (27-0 25 KOs), on the other hand, is unbeaten as a professional prize fighter and looks to keep it that way. The hard hitting Argentine turned pro just over six years ago and has knocked all but two of his opponents out in the time since. He captured the WBO Latino junior welterweight title in just his 12th fight as he steamrolled over Victor Rios in just two rounds. His most recent defense of the regional title took place just a couple of weeks ago when he needed only a single round to dispose of Rogelio Castaneda, Jr. While Matthysse has yet to contend for a major world title, a win over the likes of Zab Judah would be a huge step in making his championship aspirations a reality.

I won’t go as far as saying that this is a do or die bout for either man, but it is, without a doubt, a bout in which both fighters would benefit greatly from. From a fans perspective, not only do we get to see Zab Judah in a meaningful fight again, but with the amount of fire power both of these guys possess, its sure to be can’t miss in terms of excitement.

Zab Judah spoke of his match against Matthysse, “Matthysse is a good young fighter with good speed and power. I look forward to making this an exciting fight for all my fans. GOD SPEED. Here we go…”

Bill Halkias, Super Judah Promotions VP, added, “Matthysse will make for an exciting fight. He is a young fighter that possesses decent hand speed and plenty of power. He has never faced an opponent like Zab who has the fastest hands in boxing, crushing power and a level of experience that only comes from fighting the cream of the crop. This is the type of matchup that boxing needs. We have great fans and only want to give them the best possible fights we can offer.”