ZAB AND BROOKLYN: HOW SWEET IT IS!
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Mar 2012
Brooklyn, NY - There is a sign at the Belt Parkway by the Verrazano bridge as you enter Brooklyn from Staten Island or New Jersey that reads, ?Welcome to Brooklyn: How Sweet It Is! It is a sign that I am sure Zab Judah has seen numerous times in the past when he used to call this place home. And on his first fight in New York in more than three years, Judah made sure this homecoming will be a sweet one.
Judah put on a show in front of adoring fans at the Aviator Sports and Recreation Arena against previously unbeaten Vernon Paris of Detroit, MI. Judah started fast and furious outclassing and out punching the younger Paris right from the get go. After a lull in the action due to Judah?s mouthpiece getting dislodged, Judah landed a straight left in the initial round that hurt Paris and Judah pounced on him as the round came to a close. Another left from Judah stunned his opponent in the next round, this one courtesy of a short hook which set the tone for the night.
He then showed Paris, his hometown fans and the people watching at home via the NBC Sports Network why he is the former undisputed welterweight champ of the world. His fast combinations were too fast for the Detroit fighter. They left Paris confused and stunned after being in the receiving end of it for majority of the fight. Judah would jab two, three times then follow it up with a hard straight left. Paris would be pushed back numerous times because of it.
Judah admitted that he knew he felt he has the fight under control after landing those hard lefts in the first two rounds. ?In the first or second round, I cracked him with a good hard shot. A real hard shot. And from there, he was just staying away and ducking.? He then went to execute his game plan that is to dictate and control the whole fight. Judah used accurate jabbing, crisp combinations and effective ring management to compile points in his cards.
Judah bloodied Paris in the 8th after landing those combinations again. That added to the swelling on the right side of his face which was caused by Judah?s vicious left hand. The sight of blood on his prey might have woken up Judah as he merged from his stool on the 9th with a fierce look in his face. Another straight landed for him and Paris? knees folded from it. He then unleashed a flurry of punches, landing most of them squarely on his opponent?s head. Referee Steve Willis had to step in to save Paris from taking in more punishment with only 33 seconds spent from the round. Judah then raised his arms in victory and celebrated amidst a loud and appreciative hometown crowd.
Judah ? felt great ? fighting in his old stamping ground. He intends to come back again to the city he still calls home for future fights. ? With the new arena opening up downtown Brooklyn , I am pretty sure you will be seeing more of Zab Judah.?
That future might be against the winner of the Lamont Peterson - Amir Khan rematch which Judah will be watching intently in Las Vegas in May. Promoter Kathy Duva also mentioned Philadelphia?s Danny Garcia who just won the WBC welterweight belt by beating Erik Morales earlier in the evening in Texas. But that is not something that Zab Judah will be concerned of at this time. He will savor this victory at hand and ? let nature takes it course? he states.
How sweet it is indeed for Zab Judah and Brooklyn to be finally working together.
For reactions to this piece. You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com.
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