EARLIER this week Undisputed Fight Magazine gave you the inside scoop with notes from inside Zab Judah’s 41-7 (28) training camp as he prepares for a March 24 date with undefeated Detroit native Vernon Paris 26-0 (15). Zab took time out of his busy training schedule to speak with the media during a Q&A. Here are a few more points from that session.
On Paris…
I expect him to do what he’s done his last 26 fights. I haven’t seen anything to get excited about. I fell asleep during his last fight.
On training thus far…
Training is going great. There are a lot of young undefeated fighters that I’m sparring with, tough guys, good boxers. I’m preparing myself as if I’m facing one of the greatest boxers ever.
What went wrong in the Khan fight, and how to avoid it against Vernon Paris…
It was a couple things, but I don’t care to look backwards. I’m moving forward always in life and try to surround myself with positivity. It was a couple things, we’ve sharpened up and I’m ready to go, that’s it. My team is strong and we just ready to go.
Difference between the Khan fight and this one with respect to both fighters looking to make a name for themselves with a Judah victory…
Everybody that know me know I put a lot into the Khan fight, and I was looking forward to doing my thing. Unfortunately the fight was cut short. What can I say? I understand that these younger guys would rather beat a fighter like Zab Judah than win a world title. To them, that solidifies them as a world champion. For me the opportunity at hand is for Zab Judah to step in there and be the best Zab Judah I can be and I’m excited again. I feel like when I was 22 again and I promise you I’ma come in there and give y’all the excitement that I did when I was 22 years old.
What he can do to take the younger Paris to where he’s never been in a fight…
A lot. Look at the great Bernard Hopkins, he does it time after time. George Foreman showed the world, he came in there and done it. I’m not comparing myself to those guys age wise, ’cause there about a decade above me. It’s funny how they would call you old at age 34, but everybody that’s old in boxing is doing great. You got the fighters, look at the promoters. Bob Arum is an old promoter, he’s doing great. Don King is an old promoter, he’s still on top. Main Events is an old company, they’ve been around for a long time, they’re doing great. With that being said, what’s old? Old is experience, experience is great. Experience is one of the keys to winning a fight. I think come March 24, Vernon Paris is gonna see, he’s gonna get in a depth of water he’s never been in. He’s gonna find out there’s no bottom.
On taking such a high risk/low reward fight at this stage of his career…
Well you know it’s an eliminator, so this fight is for the number spot in the IBF. At this stage in my career, no this is not a “pick” fight. I didn’t pick this fight. Anybody else may have had that opportunity to do so, but hey.. Vernon Paris and his promoter got themselves in a position, and we’re gonna take full advantage of it. People ask me all the time “who is Vernon Paris?”, and I tell ’em that’s the same thing I’m asking. We had a little mishap in the Amir Khan fight, but I put that behind me. Just watch! The cameras are still rolling and I’m having a lotta fun. You look at my career, somebody like me, the cameras should’ve been cut off, but they still rolling. You look at that 96 team (US Olympic boxing team) myself, Mayweather, and Antonio Tarver, we probably the only ones that’s still rolling stong. With that, I feel blessed in a sense. After March 24th, we will once again be number 1 in the world and some time in 2012 I’ll be back fighting for the IBF championship.
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