Zab Judah, the former two-division world champion, has picked Micky Ward as his toughest opponent. The Brooklyn-born fighter made this surprising choice in a recent interview, picking Ward over other big names he faced like Floyd Mayweather.
Judah started his pro career in 1996, quickly making a name for himself as a southpaw with fast hands and great movement. He first grabbed gold in 2000, winning the IBF super-lightweight title and defending it several times. A setback came in 2001 when Kostya Tszyu knocked him out in a unification bout.
But Judah bounced back. In 2005, he became the undisputed welterweight champion by beating Cory Spinks in a rematch. His reign didn't last long, though. He lost the belt to Carlos Baldomir in a surprise upset in 2006.
That same year, Judah faced Floyd Mayweather in a fight that got wild. Mayweather won on points, but the match is remembered for a brawl between both teams in the ring. Judah and others still think Mayweather's glove touched the canvas in round two and should've been called a knockdown.
Judah fought other big names like Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, and Danny GarcÃa. He was known for his speed and early-round power but sometimes struggled with consistency later in his career. He ended up with a pro record of 44 wins (30 by knockout), 10 losses, and 2 no contests before retiring in 2019 after a brain injury.
But it's Micky Ward who Judah names as his toughest opponent. In an interview with OLBG, Judah explained why:
"Micky Ward was my toughest opponent because I was 15-0, fighting a legend, and he had a body punch that would stop a donkey. He was no joke. And I never had to use my mind capacity the way I had to use it in the Ward fight."
Judah beat Ward by unanimous decision back in 1998. At the time, Judah was undefeated and Ward was nearing the end of his career. Ward never won a major world title but is remembered as one of boxing's toughest fighters, famous for his thrilling trilogy with Arturo Gatti.
Judah's choice of Ward shows it's not always the biggest names that leave the strongest impression. Sometimes it's the fights that push you mentally and physically that stick with you the most.
