CHANCES ARE I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME

By Jeff Mayweather


 

 

-Photo Credit: Jose Hernandez/BRC--
 


 

 

 

Saturday night in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center a fight for the IBF World Title took place between former undisputed welterweight Champion Zab "Super" Judah and current Pound for Pound King "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Two young fighters still in the prime of their careers put on a great display of talent. Two-time World Champion Zab Judah, got an early start out of the blocks against Mayweather, wining at least two of the three first rounds. Soon there would be no doubt why Mayweather is considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world today as he made adjustments and systematically broke Judah down round by round.  A prime and ready Judah, the one that brought his A-game, not the one  who  found a hundred and one excuses as to why he lost to Carlos Baldomir.

From the fourth round on Mayweather imposed his will on Judah and started to land punishing blows. Judah had no answer whatsoever; as he went back to his corner his trainer who also is his dad pleaded with Zab as to what he needed to do to emerge victorious. He gave him some great advice but, unlike his son, he wasn't on the end of the punches that made Judah go into survival mode and even got to the point of sheer desperation. As each round passed, it became more and more evident that he had zero chance of winning. Round after round it got worse; swollen eye, busted nose, and busted lip. Judah couldn't take the beating like a man or a true warrior and this is where the real problem arises.

Zab Judah who claims he isn't a dirty fighter did the same exact thing against his last opponent when he found himself hurt and about to lose his belt. This has become Judah's way of dealing with defeat. Judah deliberately threw a low blow to Mayweather's groin, crippling him in devastating pain; Judah even took it a step further as he intentionally again hit Mayweather in the back of his head with his best punch of the night and followed that one by a hook that just missed. 

Roger Mayweather, Floyd’s trainer and uncle, did what anyone else would have done if what was taking place in the ring happened to someone they loved and cared about. What Judah did would have brought me out of my seat as well. That blatant rabbit punch could have very well caused Floyd his career; you can paralyze someone throwing a punch like that while they are unable to protect themselves.

I was once asked by a casual fan why do these guys make so much money when they fight. I said to him because every time a fighter steps in that ring he is risking his life; not to mention that only 1% of all boxers ever see anything close to a million dollar payday.

The only time a casual fan understands what I just said is when a tragedy happens in the ring; when the fighter is carried off on a stretcher and his family and loved ones are left to deal with happened on that night. With some luck he comes back, half the person he was, but so many times when they leave on a stretcher there isn't any coming back. Their life is lost, and what Zab Judah did very well could have killed Floyd Mayweather in the ring that night. Would Roger have looked like the bad guy for his actions then? No he would have been looked at in a very different light. What he did was react to someone doing something wrong and dirty to someone he loves. It's that simple and should he be fined for his actions? Yes, but if Roger is fined, Zab Judah should be fined three times as much, since he caused the melee because he wasn't man enough to take the beating he was getting.

The fine handed out to Roger is ridiculous. How can you fine someone almost 50% of their earnings even before they have paid taxes on their money? It's an injustice in my eyes and I'm sure many more people as well. With that being said there are very few people that would not have done the same exact thing if it was their loved one in that situation. To me that is what you are supposed to do when there is foul play involved. 

I know there are rules and regulations, but if that punch would have ended Floyd Mayweather’s career, what would have been his compensation, other than his life as a fighter is over and Judah continues on with his life. To me that would be a bigger injustice.

Chances are had I been in the corner that night I would have done the same thing.
          
Comments can be emailed to Jeff Mayweather

4-16-2006



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