From the Newark, NJ, Prudential Center, Cerveza Tecate presented “Friday Night Fights.” In the 10-round jr. welterweight main event, Brooklyn, NY, native and former welterweight champion Zab “Super” Judah (39-6, 27KO), made a triumphant return to the 140lb division knocking out Jose Armando Santa Cruz (28-5, 17KO), in front of a cheering crowd.
Trying to re-ignite his career after many ups-and-downs the last six years, thirty-two year old Judah dropped back down to
140lbs where he saw much success, and brought in trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad to share training duties with his father Yoel Judah. Before the fight Zab said now that he is back at jr. welterweight we are going to see the old “Super” Judah and he did not disappoint.
Zab came out landing jabs while moving and connecting with left-hands and right-hooks to the mid-section of Santa Cruz. The fighters were sharing control of the ring alternating between who was coming forward. Judah’s body looked in great shape back at jr. welterweight, and his hands were quick as he was throwing four and five punch combinations to start the contest.
The difference in talent was evident right off the bat in favor off Judah who was playing the game of hit and don’t get hit well. With forty-five seconds to go in round three “Super” Judah landed a spectacular left upper-cut that put Santa Cruz on the canvas badly hurt. Santa Cruz got up on queer-street then Zab landed a hard left-hand up top that sent Santa Cruz falling against the ropes causing the third man in the ring to stop the fight at twenty-eight seconds of round three. Giving Zab Judah a very impressive TKO victory in his return to “Friday Night Fights”, improving to (39-6, 27KO).
In the post fight interview Judah stated that he is shooting for the big dogs WBO jr. welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (25-0, 11KO), WBA jr. welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan (23-1, 17KO), and IBF/WBC jr. welterweight champion Devon “Alexander The Great” (20-0, 13KO). In which order and time he does not know, but that is what he is aiming for.
In an 8-round welterweight battle, taking a step up in competition hometown prospect Alex Perez (12-0, 7KO) defeated tough Brazilian Edvan Barros (10-10-1, 7KO), by unanimous decision.
Perez landed some nice right-hooks in the early rounds, while using his height to stay on the outside as he was the agressor coming forward. Barros started finding success in the third against his 6’1″ opponent with good body work as they began fighting on the inside.
They really began to exchange in the fourth with Perez getting the better of it as he stayed in Barros’ region of attack, where he remained for the duration of the fight. Barros had his moments in the fight because Perez stayed in close instead of using his height advantage like he did in round one, which kept Barros in the fight.
Though losing most of the rounds, Barros gave Perez a good test hitting him often in a competitive fight. Making it evident that Perez needs to work on using his height and reach advantage in the gym.
Alex Perez won the unanimous decision with scores of 77-75, 78-74, and 80-72, improving his record to (12-0, 7KO).
In a 6-round welterweight match-up Brooklyn, NY prospect Sadam Ali (8-0, 4KO) knocked out Julias Edmonds (7-8, 0KO), in three rounds.
The shorter Edmonds came out fast pressing the action trying to get to Ali, who was moving around the ring looking to counter. At 1:14 of the opening round Ali dropped Edmonds with a big right-hand. After getting up Edmond’s was rocked again with a left upper-cut and was on wobbly legs while Ali attacked full force with punches in bunches, but could not finish him off.
Ali would switch back and forth from boxing and moving on the outside to fighting well on the inside with good combinations. Ali was landing nicely with a wide range of punches using both hands, and hurt Edmonds again when he floored him with a right-hand with a minute to go in the second round.
Ali staggered Edmonds at 1:52 of the third, then flurried on him against the ropes prompting the referee to wave off the fight at 1:47 of round three. Giving the young uprise Sadam Ali an impressive one-sided TKO victory while improving to (8-0, 4KO).
In a moment of note during the telecast, former light-heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion and current WBO NABO heavyweight champion Tomas Adamek (41-1, 27KO), who is scheduled to face Michael Grant (46-3, 34KO), on August 21, 2010, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, was being interviewed by trainer/commentator Teddy Atlas and commentator Joe Tessitore. Teddy Atlas stated to Adamek during the interview, “I heard the possibility, a little bird told me something, and you tell me if there is truth to it. That maybe Michael Grant is out?” With a grin on his face that lead me to believe Teddy is correct, Adamek said, “I don’t know.” Then Atlas turned to Adamek putting his hand on Tomas’ chin to turn his head towads himself in a kind manner and said, “Let me look at your face, are you telling me the truth?” Once again with a smile on his face Adamek replied, “We will know August 21st.”