The phrase ‘unification’ is magic to a boxing fan’s ears. It conjures up the ghosts of yesteryear, from a time when every weight class had a single champion prepared to tackle all challengers, when world titles truly meant one thing.
The tremendous light-weight class is probably not one of many eight unique weight divisions however it does have a wealthy historical past. Corridor of Famers akin to Wilfred Benitez, Aaron Pryor, Nicolino Locche and Antonio Cervantes have all held world titles there, however because the inception of the most important alphabet organizations (WBC, WBA, IBF, and many others.) its championship had by no means been unified. In truth you need to return to 1967 to search out an undisputed titlist at 140 kilos.
That modified when two boxers of radically totally different backgrounds, types and tendencies clashed for the proper to be referred to as the one-and-only gentle welterweight champion of the world.
Kostya Tszyu was born in Serov, Russia however skilled and fought out of Sydney, Australia. He owned a 27-1 professional document, the WBC and WBA world titles, and a thunderous proper hand. Zab Judah, slick, brash and undefeated, held the IBF strap and was 27-0.
Previous to the match, the native of Brooklyn, New York displayed his regular propensity for trash speak, belittling his opponent at each likelihood and claiming Tszyu’s stand-up fashion would pose no difficulties. “Tszyu’s fashion is made for me. He’s robust, stands up straight and comes ahead. His fashion is like Swiss cheese: filled with holes.”
Not like Judah, Tszyu was a person of few phrases, however he was additionally a considering man’s fighter who meticulously studied his adversaries earlier than every bout. He was fast to level out that he had certainly discovered sufficient about his undefeated opponent to make sure a victory. “I’ve studied Judah and know what it takes to beat him. He needs to show he’s one of the best and so do I. All the pieces has been mentioned and now we’ve to show who the nice champion is.”
The day of the weigh-in, after weeks of taunts from his opponent, Tszyu confirmed he was additionally adept at enjoying thoughts video games when he put his arm round Judah and requested him about his new child daughter. In an interview, Tszyu later defined why: “Boxing’s not likely bodily, it’s psychological … I [asked] him about his daughter. And this was [a] shock for him. … Look, I like youngsters. And his daughter is Future; I did some homework. And [I asked] ‘How’s your daughter?’ He anticipated one thing totally different earlier than [the] struggle. And he misplaced himself in that query.”
Regardless of the awkward weigh-in second, the American was closely favoured to win with many pundits and writers anticipating the slick and speedy fashion of “Tremendous Judah” to beat the facility punching of Tszyu. However even the few who picked Tszyu might by no means have anticipated what was to come back.
Tszyu vs Judah started as most anticipated, with Zab, the faster man, darting out and in, touchdown his crisp jab and retaining his distance from the stalking energy puncher. A minute into the struggle, the flashy American landed an enormous left uppercut which despatched Kostya reeling into the ropes and Judah adopted up with a flurry of punches earlier than Tszyu clinched. Judah gained the primary spherical convincingly and his slick boxing fashion appeared an excessive amount of for Tszyu, however every part was about to alter.
Early within the second, Tszyu continued stalking to little impact. Zab stored his distance and pot-shotted however Kostya was discovering his rhythm and timing. With 4 seconds left within the spherical, his proper hand discovered its mark, touchdown flush on the purpose of Judah’s chin and sending him crashing to the canvas. Giving himself no time to get better from the blow, Zab jumped again up on unsteady legs and wobbled across the ring for just a few seconds earlier than falling closely as soon as once more. Referee Jay Nady instantly stopped the struggle.
The following scenes sparked controversy. An enraged Judah protested the stoppage vehemently and when the belief hit dwelling that his good document and world title belt have been gone, he threw a tantrum, placing his fist to Nady’s throat and later throwing a stool on the referee.
Historical past had been made that day however not by the person many predicted could be holding aloft all the belts. It was Kostya Tszyu, not the a lot vaunted Zab Judah, who unified the 140 pound weight class with a formidable, albeit controversial, stoppage victory.
Within the post-fight interview, a beaming Tszyu was requested whether or not he was open to a rematch and his reply solely additional cemented the struggle into boxing folklore: “Do you keep in mind on the press convention, when he was requested the identical query?” mentioned a smiling Tszyu. “’Winner take all.’ I reply the identical means.” — Daniel Attias
