Main Events confirms Judah-Santa Cruz, Adamek-Grant
by Scott Christ on Jun 1, 2010 9:45 AM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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Main Events will be putting on two shows at the Prudential Center in Newark, one in July and one in August.
On July 16, former welterweight champ Zab Judah returns against Jose Armando Santa Cruz. Judah recently signed with Main Events, though everyone dutifully pretends that it's a co-promotion with "Super Judah Promotions." Judah (38-6, 26 KO) hasn't won a meaningful fight in years now, and though he should win in July, this won't be one either.
Santa Cruz (28-4, 17 KO) is best-known for being disgracefully robbed against Joel Casamayor in 2007, when he challenged for Casamayor's lineal lightweight crown. Since then, he's gone 3-1, with none of the wins being notable and the loss a sixth-round knockout at the powerful but limited hands of Antonio Pitalua.
Main Events also confirmed that Tomasz Adamek (41-1, 27 KO) will indeed be fighting washed-up, never-was Michael Grant (46-3, 34 KO). I like Adamek a lot, but this is one of those fights where I want to root for "the other guy" simply because everyone involved with making the fight deserves to have their plans foiled. Grant is 37 years old and has been carefully feasting on mediocrities and tomato cans for the last seven years, since a loss to Dominick Guinn. Grant isn't just not a contender, he's not even relevant anymore. The fact that he's big and could punch some in his prime will be used to shield Adamek from criticism. Grant's frame (6'7", 86" reach) will allow Main Events and Adamek's team to say that they are using the veteran to prepare for the Klitschkos. It's even possible that they won't be lying. But nobody in their right mind thinks Grant is a viable substitute for a Klitschko, and there are similarly qualified opponents out there who aren't functionally out of the sport.
I don't expect either of these fights will stir up a ton of interest, though you can already pencil in a couple of things, I'd say. First, the Judah card will disappoint at the gate. Second, the Adamek-Grant show will do very well.
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At what weight is Judah fighting? If it is 140, and I pray that it is, the Santa Cruz fight will serve as a sort of measuring stick to see how much Judah actually wants to get near the top of the sport again, and challenge Alexander, Bradley and Khan…
Santa Cruz’s last couple have been a bit over 140 each. This fight’s probably at welterweight. Zab says he wants to fight at 140 like he says he wants to fight top opponents, but instead he fights Ernest Johnson, Ubaldo Hernandez and Jose Armando Santa Cruz.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
the fights at 143 so zab is definitely looking to regain a title at 140, this should be a great match to see where zab is at his career, personally i think he has a lot left in his tank and this should be a good action packed fight
the fights at 143 so zab is definitely looking to regain a title at 140
“Definitely” is a bit strong. Zab says lots of things he doesn’t follow through on. Like “I want to fight Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley.” And then here’s Jose Armando Santa Cruz. And that last fight he took was disgusting.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
i mean there’s no doubt he wants to win a title before he retires and his best shot is at 140 (where he’s much bigger and stronger), he wanted to fight Alexander but not if that meant signing with don king which is what he was gonna be forced to do, now that hes back with main events he should have 1 or 2 set up fights then a huge match with one of those guys you mentioned
Hopefully Friday Night Fights
I know Judah is well past his prime, but it would be nice to get a decent fighter on a FNF card.
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?"
-Vince Lombardi
I think ESPN have picked it up...
Judah is well past his prime
I would disagree… We don’t really know how far gone Judah is until he steps in the ring against someone with a pulse… I would definitely say he’s post-prime, but “well past his prime” for me means shot, and I don’t think Zab is shot just yet…
I don’t know if I agree… I think shot is when someone can’t take a punch anymore, when their reflexes are completely slowed; thus, in that respect, I’d agree that Judah isn’t shot. However, his best really was a while ago – before the Baldomir fight – so I can’t find anyway to say that he’s not well past his prime.
"The terror of the unforeseen is what the science of history hides, turning a disaster into an epic"
by Oli Goldstein on Jun 1, 2010 3:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I agree with this. For example, De La Hoya after Mosley II and before Pacquiao wasn’t shot, but he was past his prime.
Yep – Roy Jones is a shot fighter, that’s probably the best and most poignant example.
"The terror of the unforeseen is what the science of history hides, turning a disaster into an epic"
by Oli Goldstein on Jun 1, 2010 4:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It is scary how Adamek is so good but gets no love from the Networks…. don’t they know he is the highlander.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
Tickets for the Judah show are priced at $203, $103, $78, and $53.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=129424330417025
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
a bit too high for my blood
Don't pick a fight with an old man, If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.
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