AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW  WITH YOEL JUDAH By Saratogamist

 

According to Jewish lineage, the story of the son always begins with the father; it is the father who defines and grounds the son. The principle seems to be alive and well in the Judah family. Yoel Judah, an avowed Israelite or Black Jew, is the undisputed ruler of his clan. He is loved and respected by his sons; a man who had to overcame great hardships to keep his family together.

Yoel, a seventh degree black belt, was a world champion kick boxer, with eleven successful title defenses. He had several pro fights as well, and if you were to ask Zab who is the best fighter in his family, he will give that title to his dad without any hesitation.

This is what we talked about...

BRC: I would like to address the issue of father/son in this business. Tito Trinidad's father has been accused of being very controlling, Jack Mosley is undergoing some criticism about the way he is handling Shane's career. You, on the other hand, have managed to stay very low key, and above criticism so far. Would you care to elaborate on this and also, how is your relationship with Zab?

YJ: As his father and as his trainer, I separate the two, when I'm in the gym I'm his trainer, when I'm outside I'm back to being his father; but really me and him are just like brothers. All my sons, we're real close, we're like brothers, all of them. They know I'm their father, I don't have to remind them or go through that, they know I'm their father. I can give them eye contact and they know what time it is...

What I got over Trinidad Sr. and Mosley Sr. is, I have seven sons; they got one. I'm a single parent, that's number two. I've raised them practically by myself with my mother. That's what I got over them. They had help raising just one, I have seven I've raised practically alone. All my sons are straight; when I say straight I mean they all have finished school, no police records, no guns, no drugs. At one time all of them were boxing, but you know as they get bigger they lose interest in it, but they're all working now. I got two working in construction, the other one is going to school and the rest of them are boxing.

My relationship with my kids is that I am their best friend. They don't look at me as their father, I am their best friend. They tell me EVERYTHING that happens, anything that happens with their relationships, out on the streets, with girls, with money, anything. They'll come back and tell me, that's how I lead them, I am their best friend, I am always there for them. It's not no discipline where I'm gonna whoop you or I'm your dad you better listen to me; I don't threaten them. I give them advice, the best that I can, I let them know. They never disrespect me, we just got a good relationship. I never push them or try to deal with them, as far as their money, I set up their accounts...Zab, Daniel, all of them have their accounts set in their names. All I do is control maybe the bulk of it, because by them being young, they're still "bling, blinging" and they want cars, and all this, so I make sure they don't run through their money. I set up an account where they have X amount of money in there and that's what they have to play with. The other money they can't touch, that's for their own benefit. Other than that, they love me. Like, when they wake up in the morning, all they want to do is see Abba, (Abba means father in Hebrew), all they wanna do is see me, that's it. When they see me, they're happy, they never ask for their mother, where she is at, what she did, and we've been like that for the last fifteen, twenty years.

I've been a single parent since Zab was about twelve or thirteen. The other one was about six, seven, that's how it's been since I've had them all by myself, with my mother helping me. I cook, I clean, I wash dishes, I mop the floor, I wash, I do laundry, I put the garbage out and they do the same thing. Zab is the IBF champion of the world, soon to be hopefully undisputed champion, when he comes to my house still, 'Zab go put the garbage out', 'Zab there is sink full of dishes, go wash them', and I ain't got no problems. 'Daniel, go walk the dog, go sweep the front', you know what I mean? And I have no problems from my sons. Whatever I ask them to do, I get it done right away, with no problems.

BRC: Do you have a problem with Zab, and Daniel as well, and their association with rappers, with hip-hop people?

YJ: No, I have no problems with the rappers, because, you see, the whole thing is you have to lay the law down to your sons. By Zab being an Israelite, I'm an Israelite, Hebrew, laws of God, laws of Moses, you keep the laws of God and in them laws, certain things you do, certain things you don't. You go in the rap game but so far, when they start going to drugs, marijuana, drinking, hanging out, all that, you don't get involved in that. You keep it clean cut; you see Zab in the videos, doing his thing, then he's out. All that other stuff they be doing, that's not your concern, and you don't get hooked up in it. And so far, he has been a good kid and he hasn't; he's been real good.

As for the fight, I've never had a problem with Zab in fights. Once I get him in shape, sharp, reflexes, timing, ability, movement, he is a monster. Whoever stands in front of him, they have a problem, I don't care who they are. I'm not taking nothing from Tszyu, he is a good fighter. He is going on his experience, he is going on he's fought better fighters, he is going on his power, but he's got to bring more to the table than he thinks; a good right hand or a hook, or he's gonna put pressure on us, the more pressure he puts on us, the more he is gonna get back. He's gonna get hit with some shots that he is not even gonna see. I say the fight is gonna be very interesting fight, I'm not a prophet so I can't predict the outcome but all I know is we're coming in tip top shape and we're gonna be ready.

BRC: Would you like to send a message to the boxing fans?

YJ: The message is what I always say to parents of all races, color, creed; just stick with your kids, and don't leave them out there to wonder on their own. When they come from school, don't let them tell you, 'oh, I'm going out to play', 'I'm gonna hang out'...no, no, no, point them in a direction, help them find what they're looking for, you'll be very happy that you did it that way. If you leave a child to be by himself, that's when they usually wind up in trouble, or with the wrong influence. So, my thing is, point them in the right direction.

BRC: Thank you very much, for having us over and for the good message you have shared with us.

YJ: No problem.