Zab Judah To Face Michael Clark October 2nd

Former welterweight champion Zab Judah (39-6, 27 KOs) will make another appearance in the ring this October when he faces Michael Clark.

Clark (40-5-1, 18 KOs), ranked #82 in the world by BoxRec, last competed in May when he scored a nine round decision win over Jason Pires to pick up the vacant and fringe NABO junior welterweight title.

Judah’s fought last month, scoring a 3rd round TKO over Jose Armando Santa Cruz in the Brooklynites’ first bout of 2010. Zab has expressed interest in facing the champions of his division (Khan, Bradley, Alexander), but each of those fighters are currently negotiating other  bouts: Khan vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, Victor Ortiz or Carlos Maidana, and Alexander vs. Bradley.

According to Judah, the Clark fight will take place at the site of his last fight, Newark’s Prudential Center.

“October 2 Michael Clark vs. Zab Judah at the Prudential Center [in] Newark, New Jersey,” Judah wrote on his Twitter last night. “47 days and a WAKE UP.”

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The best thing for any fighter (and his fans) is to stay active. For that reason alone, Zab Judah jumping back in the ring just three months after his last bout is a great idea.

The competition isn’t much of a step up but it’s possible that it’s the best he can do on short notice. As stated earlier all the champs are tied up until mid 2011. What Judah’s team should focus on is a name, Top 20 opponent following this bout like a Nate Campbell or Kendall Holt. Junior Witter is back in the mix but their 2000 bout was horrid and likely wouldn’t be an improvement in 2010 with both fighters now in their 30s.

Can Zab Judah beat Devon Alexander, Timothy Bradley or Amir Khan? I would personally make him the underdog, but he’s definitely dangerous against every one of them. Out of the young trio, the most vulnerable per Zab’s style would be Amir Khan, which is ironic considering Khan has been the only one who’s public expressed a willingness to fight him. Khan will take chances with exchanges and that could give Judah the opportunity to land something big. Bradley does too, but his high-workrate and inside work (Zab’s weakness) would likely see him through.

If Zab Judah follows my suggestions, he should be right in line to face one of the champs by this time next year.