Replies

[Nay_Sayer]

Why did this fight never happen?

[salvador]

I actually just watched the fight again and I will concede that Tszyu wasn't quite as hurt as I had remembered, but he was definitely hurt and he was definitely hanging on for defensive purposes because Judah was coming on strong. I will stand by my comment that the punch made a lasting impression and was an important factor in Tszyu's decision not to give Judah a rematch.

[True-Boxing-Fan]

I actually just watched the fight again and I will concede that Tszyu wasn't quite as hurt as I had remembered, but he was definitely hurt and he was definitely hanging on for defensive purposes because Judah was coming on strong. I will stand by my comment that the punch made a lasting impression and was an important factor in Tszyu's decision not to give Judah a rematch.

You have got to be kidding me about that last sentence. Tszyu utterly destroyed Judah by devastating 2nd round KO. IMO Judah was never the same after that fight, his confidence was totally shot. That 1st round was just a feel out round for Tszyu and he was just getting warmed up. Once Tszyu warmed up and had a feel for Judah, game was over. To say a rematch never happened because Tszyu was scared of the punches that Judah landed in the 1st is complete nonsense. Tszyu would have stretched Judah out again in a rematch without a doubt.

[salvador]

You have got to be kidding me about that last sentence. Tszyu utterly destroyed Judah by devastating 2nd round KO. IMO Judah was never the same after that fight, his confidence was totally shot. That 1st round was just a feel out round for Tszyu and he was just getting warmed up. Once Tszyu warmed up and had a feel for Judah, game was over. To say a rematch never happened because Tszyu was scared of the punches that Judah landed in the 1st is complete nonsense. Tszyu would have stretched Judah out again in a rematch without a doubt.

Judah was calling for a rematch every time he got in front of a microphone for a while and Tszyu could have made more money fighting Judah again than he made fighting Tackie, Lieja or Mitchell. If Tszyu thought the fight would have been easy, he would have taken the rematch. I think it's reasonable to look at that first huge punch Judah landed and Tszyu's reaction to that punch and assume that it made some kind of impact on his decision making process when he passed on the rematch.

Kostya's ko was spectacular and changed Judah's career because his confidence was broken. But it wasn't like Tszyu gave Judah a beating; he landed one punch directly on the button like Tito did with Vargas and Ali did with Liston. The ko was significant because of how it altered Judah's career, but it would be silly to say that round 2 of that fight was decisive enough for anyone to believe that Tszyu would have stretched Judah in the rematch. Judah dominated round one and Tszyu won a tactical round two and just happened to land one perfect punch with 10 seconds to go. If he hadn't landed that punch, I think most people watching that fight would have assumed that Judah was the smart money bet after 2 rounds.

Judah was easily the best win of Tszyu's career. Judah was faster than Tszyu, a southpaw, and probably landed the single biggest punch that Tszyu ever took. I believe Tszyu was relieved to have gotten past Judah and wasn't willing to risk tainting his biggest win - even though he could made a nice pile of cash in a rematch. And when it comes down to it, there has to be a reason Tszyu chose not to fight Judah again. He couldn't have believed Tackie was a better legacy fight or a bigger money fight. And if he really hated Judah so much, they you would think that he'd have loved the opportunity to ko him again for a big paycheck. Doesn't that make sense? What other reason could there be other than Tszyu didn't like the risk/reward of the fight?

[STEVENSKI]

Judah was calling for a rematch every time he got in front of a microphone for a while and Tszyu could have made more money fighting Judah again than he made fighting Tackie, Lieja or Mitchell. If Tszyu thought the fight would have been easy, he would have taken the rematch. I think it's reasonable to look at that first huge punch Judah landed and Tszyu's reaction to that punch and assume that it made some kind of impact on his decision making process when he passed on the rematch.

You obviously don't get that Tszyu is a man of his word & principle. In his eyes & any real boxing fans eyes Judah had done nothing to deserve a rematch & so he did not get one.

Judah dominated round one and Tszyu won a tactical round two and just happened to land one perfect punch with 10 seconds to go. If he hadn't landed that punch, I think most people watching that fight would have assumed that Judah was the smart money bet after 2 rounds.

Not anyone who knew boxing & both fighters histories. Judah was always there for the timed shot always. Tszyu watched his fights with guys like Bergmann & saw the flaws to exploit. Idiots like to base this all off round one's scoring. Guess what there were 12 rounds in the fight & Judah lost. It would be like putting a sprinter in a 1200 metre race & them saying afterwards "well I won the first 100" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Judah was easily the best win of Tszyu's career. Judah was faster than Tszyu, a southpaw, and probably landed the single biggest punch that Tszyu ever took. I believe Tszyu was relieved to have gotten past Judah and wasn't willing to risk tainting his biggest win - even though he could made a nice pile of cash in a rematch. And when it comes down to it, there has to be a reason Tszyu chose not to fight Judah again. He couldn't have believed Tackie was a better legacy fight or a bigger money fight. And if he really hated Judah so much, they you would think that he'd have loved the opportunity to ko him again for a big paycheck. Doesn't that make sense? What other reason could there be other than Tszyu didn't like the risk/reward of the fight?

Dunno where people get the idea that Tszyu hated Judah? He did not think that Judah deserved a shot at him after his behaviour. Tszyu may not have respected Judah as a man after his behaviour post fight but hated? Get a grip Sal.

[salvador]

Get a grip Sal.

First of all, I sincerely believe (and I could be wrong) that Judah was a semi-heavy favorite in that fight because of his speed, power, and pure athleticism. I point that out to put the one punch ko into perspective. Until that moment of that single punch, I believe that most who were watching that fight believed that the fight would come down to Kostya's ability to control the moment to moment action in between being interrupted by a hard straight left hand from Judah that could end/change the fight at any moment. And neither side was relaxed 15 seconds before the end of the first round. It came down to one perfect punch (that came after a pretty scary moment just 4 minutes earlier).

Second, Tszyu made a decision to take less money to fight lesser fighters rather than get back in the ring with Judah. Why? The fans would have preferred it to Tackie or Mitchell. How often do fighters fight guys of less stature for less money when they know they can beat a guy that would draw more viewers and more money? How many times has that happened in the history of boxing? The man of principle/Rod Laver Australian sports icon bullshit about Tszyu is almost funny.

Wouldn't you rather have seen Judah-Tszyu 2 than Tszyu-Tackie? And do you really think that that first punch of Judah's in the first round wasn't the most stunned Tszyu has ever been? That that was the first time that he'd ever seen such speed and power in one single punch? That round had to have made an impression on him. And afterward he fought lesser guys for lesser money than he could have gotten fighting Judah.

That doesn't seem so far fetched.

[STEVENSKI]

First of all, I sincerely believe (and I could be wrong) that Judah was a semi-heavy favorite in that fight because of his speed, power, and pure athleticism. I point that out to put the one punch ko into perspective. Until that moment of that single punch, I believe that most who were watching that fight believed that the fight would come down to Kostya's ability to control the moment to moment action in between being interrupted by a hard straight left hand from Judah that could end/change the fight at any moment. And neither side was relaxed 15 seconds before the end of the first round. It came down to one perfect punch (that came after a pretty scary moment just 4 minutes earlier).

Second, Tszyu made a decision to take less money to fight lesser fighters rather than get back in the ring with Judah. Why? The fans would have preferred it to Tackie or Mitchell. How often do fighters fight guys of less stature for less money when they know they can beat a guy that would draw more viewers and more money? How many times has that happened in the history of boxing? The man of principle/Rod Laver Australian sports icon bullshit about Tszyu is almost funny.

Wouldn't you rather have seen Judah-Tszyu 2 than Tszyu-Tackie? And do you really think that that first punch of Judah's in the first round wasn't the most stunned Tszyu has ever been? That that was the first time that he'd ever seen such speed and power in one single punch? That round had to have made an impression on him. And afterward he fought lesser guys for lesser money than he could have gotten fighting Judah.

That doesn't seem so far fetched.

Judah was the betting favourite for some unknown reason in that fight. Plenty of people made money exploiting that mistake. Tszty chose to fight his mandatories so he could remain undisputed & Tackie had earnt his shot & unlike Judah actually lasted the duration of the fight. As for him being a man of principal, humility & dignity you act like there is something wrong with that. Would it be better if he was a outright cheat like Margarito?

As for that being the most stunned Tszyu has ever been I strongly suggest you do a little research on the subject before you come across lokking like a bigger dick than you already do. Try watching the Phillips fight for a start......

[EpTXCHAMP]

Judah was the betting favourite for some unknown reason in that fight. Plenty of people made money exploiting that mistake. Tszty chose to fight his mandatories so he could remain undisputed & Tackie had earnt his shot & unlike Judah actually lasted the duration of the fight. As for him being a man of principal, humility & dignity you act like there is something wrong with that. Would it be better if he was a outright cheat like Margarito?

As for that being the most stunned Tszyu has ever been I strongly suggest you do a little research on the subject before you come across lokking like a bigger dick than you already do. Try watching the Phillips fight for a start......

Vegas and all betting sites etc usually will favorite the younger, faster fighter especially if he has plenty of buzz behind him as someone mentioned we all heard the "pernell with power talk" that's why he was favorite IMO. I'm sure more people bet on zab but hey like you said if you beat on Kostya you probably made some good money.

I had no problem with him making his manditories because back then being undisputed meant alot more than it does today. However he didnt always fight for the undisputed his rematch with mitchell was not for all the titles secondly I think that rematch was unecessary due to the fact that he handled him easisly the first time and did the same in the rematch. It had a Dawson/Tarver II feeling

I think phillips "hurt" Kostya more, however he didnt stun Kostya like zab did with a single shot ( the uppercut in the 1st). Maybe overall volume of punches but that' a difference of opinions so depends how you look at it. I dont consider a fighter stunned if he gets ko'd with a volume of punches. plus that was kostya with legs that have gone through 10 rds. zab made kostya legs shake when they were fresh in the first. However not as bad as kostya made zabs shake the next round lol (IMG:style_emoticons/default/haha.gif)

This post has been edited by EpTXCHAMP: Nov 22 2009, 11:44 PM

[STEVENSKI]

I had no problem with him making his manditories because back then being undisputed meant alot more than it does today. However he didnt always fight for the undisputed his rematch with mitchell was not for all the titles secondly I think that rematch was unecessary due to the fact that he handled him easisly the first time and did the same in the rematch. It had a Dawson/Tarver II feeling

The reason his fight with Mitchell was not for all the titles was because Tszyu had been stripped due to his time out with injury & from memory Mitchell was the #1 contender at the time. Many people picked Mitchell to win that fight & win it easy.