Zab Judah suspended for one year

[SirFozzie]

Former welterweight champion Zab Judah and his father and trainer, Yoel Judah, were fined and had their licenses revoked by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday for their roles in an April 8 melee that erupted during Zab Judah's fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The commission came down the hardest on Zab Judah, who was fined $250,000 -- his entire cut of the $1 million paid by Top Rank to promoter Don King to deliver Judah for the fight -- and had his boxing license in Nevada revoked for one year.

Yoel Judah was fined $100,000 and also had his license revoked for a year. He and Zab can reapply for licenses April 8, 2007.

"I'm happy it's over but I thought it was very unfair," Yoel Judah told ESPN.com. "We stated our case and they gave us the hardest penalties. They came down hard on us. It was bad. They said they were trying to make a statement."

Zab Judah told ESPN.com that he was shocked at how harshly he was punished.

"I thought it was crazy," he said. "I don't think it was fair. A lot of BS was involved. I thought I'd get $100,000 fine and maybe a four-month suspension. I was very surprised at how harsh they were. They gave me the maximum out of everyone and Roger [Mayweather] started the whole thing."

In addition, Leonard Ellerbe, a Mayweather adviser and one of his cornermen, was fined $50,000 and had license suspended for four months. His license will be re-instated Aug. 19.

All three were involved in the 10th-round brawl that came close to igniting a full-scale riot inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The incident happened with five seconds remaining in the 10th round when Roger Mayweather, Floyd's uncle and trainer, entered the ring because he was upset at Zab Judah, who had hit his nephew with a blatant low blow followed by a right hand to the back of the head, both dangerous and illegal punches.

As referee Richard Steele called timeout to give Mayweather a chance to recover, Roger Mayweather stormed toward Judah, which prompted Yoel Judah to also enter the ring. He went straight for Roger Mayweather and threw a punch at him.

Seconds later, the ring was filled with members of the fighter camps, including Ellerbe, and security forces in a scary free-for-all that came close to sparking a riot among the 15,170 fans in the arena.

During the melee, Zab Judah hit Ellerbe behind head and charged through two Nevada inspectors.

After several minutes, order was restored and the fight continued. Floyd Mayweather eventually won a unanimous 12-round decision.

"I was really shocked, especially for Zab, at how bad the penalties were," Yoel Judah said. "Zab thought I was being attacked [by Roger Mayweather] and he came to my rescue."

A few days later, Roger Mayweather was fined his entire paycheck, $200,000, and had his license revoked for a year.

At Monday's regular commission meeting, the final one in the tenure of longtime executive director Marc Ratner, the rest of the punishments were doled out.

"They all apologized, and I think it was sincere. It was tough day," said Ratner, who is leaving his post May 13 for an executive position with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. "Everyone handled it very professionally. None of the licensees left smiling. The commission felt that it wanted to send a very strong message. This incident was so close to a full-scale riot that innocent people could have gotten hurt or maimed. The commission felt very, very strongly that this cannot happen again."

The commission didn't punish Ellerbe as harshly as the others because he didn't throw any punches during the altercation, Ratner said.

Zab Judah's previous history in Nevada worked against him, Ratner said. Judah was suspended for six months and fined $75,000 following a 2001 TKO loss to Kostya Tszyu. After that loss, Judah was so enraged by referee Jay Nady's stoppage that he threw a ring stool at Nady and shoved a gloved hand under Nady's chin.

"It all comes into play," Ratner said.

Also at Monday's meeting, Roger Mayweather's appeal of his punishment was denied.

"We heard Roger's appeal and nothing was changed," Ratner said.

The suspensions extend throughout the United States because states generally honor suspensions in other states. However, because none are medical suspensions, but rather for disciplinary reasons, Ratner said that it would be up to each state to decide whether it would license any of those punished.

Yoel Judah said he hadn't made up his mind about appealing the ruling.

Zab Judah said he didn't plan to appeal.

"Nah, what's done is done," he said. "Can't cry over spilled milk. I'll just move on and pray for better things."

[bosshogg23]

He misses 1 fight basically with this. He can still go overseas and fight if he wants. The other 49 states almost always uphold the Nevada Athletic Commission rulings. He fought in April, chances are he wouldnt fight again until at least September/October and he would fight a chump anyways after two losses in a row. Too bad that he never figured things out, has a ton of talent.

[Franklinnoble]

Should I feel bad if I've never heard of this guy?

[JonInMiddleGA]

I remember seeing clips of this after it happened & I'm somewhat amazed that the Judah's got basically the same punishment as the elder Mayweather.

[SirFozzie]

Agreed, if Mayweather got a year, then the Judah's should get 6-9 months each

[SegRat]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Should I feel bad if I've never heard of this guy?

Judah has some of the quickest hands in boxing. The problem with him is he has a very short fuse. The fight with Mayweather was supposed to be Mayweathers biggest challenge, but Mayweather easily proved why right now he is the best pound for pound fighter.

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by SegRat

but Mayweather easily proved why right now he is the best pound for pound fighter.

i dont agree that he is, but hes good...there are other fighters i think are better, and their record show it as well

[bosshogg23]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

i dont agree that he is, but hes good...there are other fighters i think are better, and their record show it as well

Which fighters?

[tucker342]

Seriously can we get the names of these other boxers who are better than Mayweather? cause I sure as hell can not come up with any. To be honest, no one else is even close to Mayweather right now.

Also, how could their individual record show that they're better when Mayweather is undefeated? They could possibly have a similar record but first I need some names

[stevew]

Oh, I had no idea who this guy was until I read the post. I saw some of that fight, and that whole altercation was out of this world. The elder Maywhether was the one who brought it to brawl status, I'm surpised they didn't DQ Ray.

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by tucker342

Seriously can we get the names of these other boxers who are better than Mayweather? cause I sure as hell can not come up with any. To be honest, no one else is even close to Mayweather right now.

Also, how could their individual record show that they're better when Mayweather is undefeated? They could possibly have a similar record but first I need some names

In my mind, pound for pound the best boxer in the world is Ricky Hatton, the unified champ at junior welterweight(the weight class immediately below mayweather), the espn fighter of the year last year, owner of a 40-0 record, and luckily for this debate deciding to move up to welterweight supposedly with a showdown with mayweather in mind.

Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon, fighting in the lowest weight group possible(JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS AND STRAWWEIGHTS (108 AND 105 POUNDS)) is the best pure boxer ive seen in years...on boxing talent, hes amazing...oh yah, hes owns all belts there too...25-0 record

One of my personal favorites, who with time could join these two is flywieght Vic Darchinyan...like the others, undefeated, and recently against a top competitor went out and one punch knock out won...thats impressive no matter what weight class your at.

Super middleweight Lucian Bute is another up-and comer i love that i think will be holding some titles in little while...again, undefeated, and has easily beaten quite a few quality opponents

Mayweather doesnt even own all of belts at his own division yet, lets not go out assuming he is the best boxer in the world. Now, granted, id only rank those top two above mayweather, who i think is a great fighter...but i dont think he is the best pound for pound...the second 2 are guys i think have the talent to rise to the top of that list for me someday.

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon

ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

In my mind, pound for pound the best boxer in the world is Ricky Hatton, the unified champ at junior welterweight(the weight class immediately below mayweather), the espn fighter of the year last year, owner of a 40-0 record, and luckily for this debate deciding to move up to welterweight supposedly with a showdown with mayweather in mind.

I love Hatton Blade, but I don't think he is ready for Mayweather yet, Floyd has the hand Speed and movement to frustrate Hatton and slice him up....Poor Ricky, like all us Limey's bleeds and I am afraid he would be a victim of a late stoppage via Cuts or swelling. His only chance would be catch Mayweather early, which is a feat in itself as Mayweather is tough to catch clean. It could be an exciting fight and definitely Hatton has the tools to test him if he can get him flat footed.

They mentioned Hatton as a possible opponent for De La Hoya Saturday after Oscar blew out Mayorga. That might make sense for Hatton before Mayweather as I think he definitely is better than Oscar at this point.

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

I love Hatton Blade, but I don't think he is ready for Mayweather yet, Floyd has the hand Speed and movement to frustrate Hatton and slice him up....Poor Ricky, like all us Limey's bleeds and I am afraid he would be a victim of a late stoppage via Cuts or swelling. His only chance would be catch Mayweather early, which is a feat in itself as Mayweather is tough to catch clean. It could be an exciting fight and definitely Hatton has the tools to test him if he can get him flat footed.

They mentioned Hatton as a possible opponent for De La Hoya Saturday after Oscar blew out Mayorga. That might make sense for Hatton before Mayweather as I think he definitely is better than Oscar at this point.

Interesting...i hadnt heard that...i just know that his next fight is against a nobody in the welterweight division, and the assumption was he was going to cream one or two before he proved himself ready to take on mayweather or the current welterweight champ(i forgot his name)

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I remember seeing clips of this after it happened & I'm somewhat amazed that the Judah's got basically the same punishment as the elder Mayweather.

I think Ratner wanted to send a message here that Judah needs to chill, since he has a history of these types of blowups. (Through a Chair at the Referee after he was stopped by Kostya Tszyu)

Hopefully Judah lightens up on his antics and focuses on fighting, which he is quite capable of when the mood strikes him.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Interesting...i hadnt heard that...i just know that his next fight is against a nobody in the welterweight division, and the assumption was he was going to cream one or two before he proved himself ready to take on mayweather or the current welterweight champ(i forgot his name)

Yeah he is fighting Luis Collazo this Saturday on HBO...Collazo is the WBA Welterweight Champ and is 26-1, but his only big win was his title victory over Jose Antonio Rivera, who is a serviceable fighter. His two oponnents before his Title shot though had records of 1-1-0 and 7-41-1.

Collazo has some skills, but Hatton should walk right through him and will probably be even stronger fighting at Welterweight.

[BYU 14]

Dola

Another factor to look for is that this will be Ricky's first fight outside of England in 6 years (Only his 4th total)

Should have no effect, but you never know. He might try to press too much with this being his first foray to the US since he has blown up.

[TazFTW]

Having just watched the Collazo fight, Hatton is NOT pound for pound.

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by TazFTW

Having just watched the Collazo fight, Hatton is NOT pound for pound.

He's not?

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by TazFTW

Having just watched the Collazo fight, Hatton is NOT pound for pound.

Son of a bitch, I forgot....(not that I was dying to see the fight anyway)

I take it his performance was very underwhelming?

EDIT: Early impressions over on the TB forum is that it was a close fight and a Welterweight with some power will give Hatton problems.

[TazFTW]

Originally Posted by sabotai

EDIT: Early impressions over on the TB forum is that it was a close fight and a Welterweight with some power will give Hatton problems.

I'll agree with that.

Collazo is not known for his power and yet he was able to cause bruising below both eyes and was close to closing Hatton's left eye. Collazo is a southpaw, so Hatton's eye was being closed by Collazo's weaker right hand. Collazo also landed a sweet left in the 12th that had Hatton stunned.

[Blade6119]

well then, outside Calderon ill agree with you guys...hatton did not fight well tonight in my mind