LAS VEGAS (AP) - Moments after Sugar Shane Mosley formally announced his upcoming fight with Zab Judah, he was already looking past it to bigger bouts.
The former welterweight champions will meet May 31 at Mandalay Bay, Golden Boy Promotions confirmed Saturday. While the matchup is a coup for Judah, a former undisputed champ in the midst of a career comeback, Mosley acknowledges the bout is just a stepping stone to the fights he really wants.
Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs), the 36-year-old former three-division champion, lost a competitive unanimous decision to Miguel Cotto in his last fight on Nov. 10. When he couldn't nail down a rematch with WBA champion Cotto, Mosley settled for Judah.
"I'm not taking (Judah) for granted, but I'm on a mission," Mosley said. "I can't have nobody stand in my way at this point. I'm too old. ... I really wanted a rematch with Cotto, and thought it might happen, but Judah is trying to make a name for himself and get back. He was down at Golden Boy's offices pleading for a fight, so we did it."
Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes Cotto, has shown little interest in a rematch, but Mosley hopes he'll get a chance to fight Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. after beating Judah.
"We all know what happens when a guy overlooks another person," Judah said. "I've been there before, so I know what happens."
Judah (36-5, 25 KOs), who has won two bouts since Cotto knocked him out last June in another entertaining bout, will fight in Nevada for the first time since his low blows on Mayweather precipitated a melee in the ring on April 8, 2006. Judah was fined $250,000, while Yoel Judah, his father and trainer who traded punches with Mayweather's uncle and trainer, Roger, was fined $100,000.
After behaving well in his last four bouts in other locations, Judah reapplied for a Nevada license last month. Floyd Mayweather Sr., the respected trainer who's estranged from his son and brother, will work before the fight with Judah, who also hopes to have him in the corner against Mosley.
"Situations in life change people," Judah said. "At this point in time of my career, I'm comfortable. I don't have to worry about anything but boxing."
In 2001, Judah was involved in an altercation with referee Jay Nady after Nady stopped an IBF junior welterweight title bout between Judah and Kostya Tszyu in the second round and awarded Tszyu a technical knockout. Judah, who put his glove on Nady's throat and threw a stool at Nady, was suspended six months and fined $75,000.
"He's treading a thin line right now," Mosley said of Judah. "He can't take another year or two years off and expect to be back at the top of his game."
Mosley also has skirted recent trouble. Last year, he acknowledged using steroids before a bout against business partner Oscar De La Hoya in 2003, saying he did so inadvertently.
"He's going to try to be at his best, but eating the flaxseed oil can't help him this time," Judah said. "I chased that boy for years. He's never wanted to fight me. I'm going to show him why he avoided me." |