By Ian S Palmer
Zab Judah vs Jorge Luis Munguia Preview January 21st
Former multiple-time world champion Zab Judah of Brooklyn, New York will return to the ring for the first time in over three years when he takes on Jorge Luis Munguia of Honduras at the Sun National Bank Center arena in Trenton, New Jersey. The 10-round bout is scheduled for this Saturday, January 21st in the welterweight division. Judah last fought back in December of 2013 when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Paulie Malignaggi. Munguia’s last bout was held last October when he lost a unanimous six-round decision to Gaybatulla Gadzhialiev.
The 39-year-old Judah will climb into the ring for just the third time in five years and the former two-division champ is hoping it will eventually pave a way to his sixth world title. Judah enters the contest with a record of 42-9 with 29 Kos under his belt. He’s lost three of his past last four outings. It’s entirely possible that Judah will get off to somewhat of a slow start against Munguia due to ring rust. But when he’s at his peak, Judah exhibits fine boxing skills, mobility, and hand speed, with decent, but not overbearing power.
Judah is a southpaw who stands is just over 5-feet-7-inches tall and has a 72-inch reach. He’s fought 319 rounds since turning pro in 1996 and has a current knockout ratio of 55 per cent. He’s a former three-time junior welterweight champion and at one time was the undisputed titleholder in the welterweight division. He’s taken on the best fighters out there for over a decade and a half now and is still an entertaining boxer. If he does have any weakness at this stage of his career it could be his questionable chin.
Judah has taken on some of the best fighters of his era such as Paulie Malignaggi, Danny Garcia, Vernon Paris, Amir Khan, Lucas Matthysse, Joshua Clottey, Miguel Cotto, Carlos Baldomir, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Cosme Rivera, Cory Spinks, Rafael Pineda, DeMarcus Corley, Kostya Tszyu, Junior Witter and Micky Ward. His losses were to Tszyu, Spinks, Mayweather, Baldomir, Cotto, Clottey, Khan, Garcia and Malignaggi with Tszyu, Khan and Cotto all stopping him.
The 28-year-old Munguia enters the bout with a record of 12-7 with four Kos and he’s lost his last four fights. He’s also fought most of his career between 130 and 138 lbs. You won’t recognize any of the opponents he’s faced and he’s managed to beat just one boxer who had a winning record. He’s also been stopped in two of his seven losses. Munguia has fought 96 rounds since turning pro in 2012 and lacks power with a current knockout ratio of 21 per cent. His height and reach are unlisted and will definitely be taking a step up in class against Judah.
Prediction…
Judah has lost nine fights, but he’s been in with the best and has proven that he belongs with them. He’s facing somebody who has everything stacked against him and has been brought in strictly as a beatable opponent. Anything can happen in a fight though, but in this case the biggest question is how will Judah win it, by stoppage or decision? Still, you can never take a fellow pro boxer too lightly and that includes Munguia.
