Zab Judah & Pernell Whitaker: Taking Training To The Next Level

Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker has joined Zab Judah's training camp to help Zab prepare for his upcoming title fight against Kaizer Mabuza.

Judah was frequently compared to fellow southpaw, Whitaker, who was also promoted by Main Events. Whitaker had this to say: "It's the beginning stages, but I am very impressed. I'm impressed with his work ethic. We're working twice a day. I see the change in Zab, he's changed a lot. I remember how his camps used to be, a lot of people around making noise, hollering and screaming. That doesn't happen anymore. He's much more focused."

"I'm putting Zab in school again and he's learning it all over again. I'm here to teach and I'm not playing around with him. Zab's got all the skills in the world, we just got to bring them out, get rid of all the bad habits."

"We've got a lot of similarities and that's the good part about it. There's always been a lot of me in the kid from the beginning. I'm just here to bring it out. I'm here to bring out the things they said I've done so well and that I know he can do well also."

One southpaw working with another southpaw: "That's a big thing. I don't have to be switching it around. It's natural. It' a match made in heaven for me. It's a blessing to be given the opportunity to work with Zab, to put him back on top, put him back in the position that I think he belongs in and to hold on to it. Almost anybody can get a world title, but can you hold it?"

"To beat Mabuza, Zab just needs to box. Be a boxer, not a fighter or a brawler. A lot of the African fighters are the same way, they just come to fight, and a fighter could never beat a good boxer. Zab's just gotta be smart that's all. He's got all the skills. You can't make that up."

Zab Judah talked about working with Whitaker, "When I was young I was privileged to work with such a great ring technician. Back then I sparred with him and I witnessed his skill. At this point in my career, Pernell isn't just going through the moves with me, he's explaining the techniques, the how and why. I'm listening, I'm learning. You know, it's like putting a hard drive into a computer; you're just downloading all that information, making it all work. Actually, Pernell and I started working together in about 1990. Now we're just polishing up!"

"Pernell is a very talented left-handed person period. It's a different thing working with someone who is 100% left-handed instead of working with someone who switches just for the moment. That person who is 100% left-handed, this is what they do 24 hours a day, so you get the experience from someone who lives it. Some of the moves and things he shows me I can tell that you got to be left handed to pull this off."

"We work out twice a day, morning is the boxing workout and then later in the day we do our conditioning. I'm learning the 'Pernell Whitaker secret' to strengthen my legs, its top secret. I feel great. God gave me speed and power, by learning new defensive and offensive techniques from Pernell we're creating an unstoppable force."

"I say to all my fans, stay tuned on March 5th to see the Zab Judah you love to watch, and to non-believers I say stay tuned and become believers. GODSPEED."

Judah (40-6, 27 KOs), will take on South Africa's Mabuza (23-6-3, 14 KOs) for the vacant Jr Welterweight crown on March 5^th at the Amerihealth Pavilion at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The fight is being offered on Integrated Sports PPV.

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Toks Owoh Vs. JJ Ojuederie Headline ‘Unleash The Fury’ At York Hall, March 5th

 TKO Box Office
Steve Goodwin for CLM Promotions
Presents
UNLEASH THE FURY
5th March 2011 @ York Hall, London

London - Thursday, 27th January 2011

Steve Goodwin celebrates his first year as a boxing promoter with two huge shows in March, the first, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 5th March 2011, is headlined by Toks Owoh versus JJ Ojuderie and is supported by no less than fourteen bouts featuring the cream of the Capital’s upcoming young fighters.

On announcing the ‘Unleash The Fury’ event Steve Goodwin said, “The York Hall show, ‘Unleash The Fury’, on March 5th is a showcase for our boxers that are on the way up.

Our main show is at Dagenham on March 19th but we’ve got a lot of people that want to fight on our shows. Basically we’ve created a second show where we’re going to see a lot of upcoming talent, as well as a couple of boxers that have the potential to go to British and European championship level.

Toks Owoh will be headlining the show, he’s desperate to box Southern Area champion Leon Williams. He’s so desperate to fight Leon he says he’d do it for free because he wants to hurt him badly. He says he doesn’t want money for that. He’ll enjoy it. Unfortunately Leon’s got other arrangements, he’s on a Frank Maloney show in February.

Toks is hoping to put on a real good show on March 5th against JJ Ojuederie because he wants to show he can do a better job on JJ than Leon did. But he desperately wants to get Leon in the ring. Toks is after the British title, just the same as Leon is. That could be an interesting match up for later in 2011.

Also on the show we have the World Kick Boxing Champion, Llir Canolli from Cosavo. He’s very, very exciting to see. He is very well regarded and has been tipped to become a Boxing World Champion. So we’re very privileged for him to be coming over to fight on the show. He’s a true Cruiserweight prospect so we’re very excited to be seeing him.

I’m personally excited to see the come back of Michael Devine. He’s a very, very exciting come forward fighter. He lost in his last fight, on his 21st birthday, against Mark Alexander last year.

He took some time out and got himself back together. He’s working like a demon in the gym and I think this is the year we see Michael Devine progress through the ranks. Hopefully by December we’ll have Mark Alexander back in the ring with him so he can set the record straight.

It’s a big card, there will be fifteen bouts on the night. It’s going to be a big card, anything I am associated with I want to be known as giving value for money by the public and make sure that there is always a fantastic atmosphere and packed arenas.

It’s going to be a lot of four round fights with up and coming prospects. It’s going to be an exciting night of boxing. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Steve Goodwin’s ‘Unleash The Fury’ event  at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London is headlined by a six round Cruiserweight contest between Toks Owoh versus JJ Ojuederie.

The huge fourteen bout undercard features some of London’s best upcoming talents and includes Ultrachem TKO’s ‘Dynamo’ Daryl Setterfield against Birmingham’s Andrew ‘Paddy’ Patterson.

Three Ultrachem TKO gym mates of Daryl Setterfield are also on the show, Light Heavyweight Joel ‘El Toro’ McIntyre, Light Middleweights Nathan Weise and Brett O’Callaghan, all against yet to be named opponents.

Also appearing on the show are Rainham Super Featherweight Richard Hines, Luton Lightweight Michael ‘Chunky’ Devine, unbeaten Biggleswade Light Middleweight Jamie Boness, Minster. Kent Light Heavyweight Dan ‘Woody’ Woodgate, Woolwich Super Middleweight Eder Kurti, Waltham Abbey Light Welterweight Phil Gill and unbeaten in twelve Hackney Middleweight Wayne Alwan-Arab.

Making his first outing as a professional is Highbury Super Featherweight Charlie Kelly who is set to face the highly experienced Birmingham battler Anthony ‘Spanner’ Hanna.

Also making their pro debuts at ‘Unleash The Fury’ are Harlesden Lightweight Met Sekiraqa and former World Kick Boxing Champion, Llir Canolli from Cosavo.

Tickets for Unleash The Fury at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday  5th March 2011 are on sale now - priced £35 (Unreserved) or £60 (Ringside).

For tickets call: 07960 850645, book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA.