On Saturday, March 5, at the AmeriHealth Pavillion at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Brooklyn’s Zab Judah will clash with South Africa’s Kaizer Mabuza for Mabuza’s IBF junior welterweight title.
A final press conference was held midday Wednesday at the Brick City Bar & Grill in Newark, New Jersey, where Judah and Mabuza spoke their final thoughts before heading into this weekend’s bout.
“I appreciate everything this man has done,” Judah said, acknowledging Mabuza’s gritty road to a title. “But now is not his time, not on Saturday night.”
Over the years, whether it is deserved or not, Judah has gained a reputation of fading late in fights. This time, however, with legendary boxer Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker in his corner, Judah says stamina won’t be an issue.
“I prepared myself for twelve rounds — I prepared myself 100%,” he said.
While Whitaker refused to comment on Team Judah’s game-plan for Saturday night, he did comment on his experience working with “Super” Judah.
“Everything I ask him to do, [he does it and] he does a little more,” Whitaker said. “[On fight night] If he does everything I ask him to do, he’ll win the fight.”
He went on, “Whatever Zab used to do in the past is in the past and now he has a new direction, a great direction. He’s one of boxing’s best so [on Saturday] I expect to see that.”
To that point, Judah agrees; “We prepared ourselves well for this opportunity. On Saturday night, you will see a 5-time champion of the world once again.”
While Team Judah is confident that Zab’s hand will be the one raised at the conclusion of the bout, Mabuza didn’t travel across the Atlantic to fork over his hard-earned gold to Judah.
In fact, the last time he made the trek overseas to New Jersey he demolished heavy-favorite, Kendall Holt, inside six rounds.
“I’m glad to be back in America,” Mabuza said. “It’s an honor for me to fight a person like Zab Judah.”
He continued, “I think he had his time, he’s a former world champion. I think it is my time because I’m still hungry for success. I promise him, when I take the ring I change — I become a new man. I’m hungry for success so you have to expect that there will be fireworks.”
The tough South African will be looking to extend his eight fight win streak and retain his titles on Saturday night, while Judah looks to re-claim the IBF junior welterweight title.
As they say, styles make fights, and all indications with regards to these two fighter’s is that Mabuza is right when he says that on Saturday night, “there will be fireworks.”
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The fight is being distributed by Integrated Sports PPV for a price of $29.95. It can also be purchased on UStream.tv for the same price.
The fight promoted by Main Events and Super Judah Promotions will take place on March 5th at Prudential Center’s AmeriHealth Pavillion in Newark, New Jersey. Doors open at 7:30pm. The first fight is at 8:00pm. Tickets are priced at $253, Ringside, $103 Reserved floor seating, $88 general admission in bleachers, and $53 general admission standing room only. Tickets are available at the Prudential Center Box Office by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or you can purchase them at www.PruCenter.com.
