The Buzz: Amir Khan vs. Zab Judah - Press Conference (HBO)

The next big fight on the horizon is Amir Khan vs. Zab Judah. This fight will either excite fans or dissapoint them depending on the frame of mind Zab Judah enters the ring.

Zab has won 5 world titles between the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. However, he has had notable mental lapses during his professional boxing career. After Zab was knocked senseless in the second round of a contest with Kostya Tszuy on November 3, 2001, his actions after the bout landed him a $75,000 fine and a 6 month suspension for throwing a stool across the ring and shoving his gloved fist into the neck of the referee that evening. On April 6, 2006, Zab hit Floyd Mayweather Jr. below the belt in round 10 of their match. Both fighters' entourages entered the ring and a near riot ensued. The contest concluded with a unanimous decision in favor of Mayweather Jr., and Zab was fined $350,000 and his boxing license was revoked for 1 year. Dramatic incidences aside, Zab also has a reputation of coming out strong in the early rounds of fights, and then losing fortitude and focus in the later rounds. All of which makes one question Zab's ability to stay mentally and emotionally connected to his performance inside the ring.

Despite the controversy, Zab is on the comeback trail, after winning the IBF junior welter weight title. A decision over Amir Khan would return Zab to his former glory as the best in the division. Physically neither Zab or Amir holds an advantage over the other. Their strength and speed is about equal. Amir is a bit taller and lankier, but that should not pose too much of a problem for the more experienced Zab. In my opinion the winner of this fight is the one who settles into their fight plan first, makes the best adjustments between rounds and stays mentally focused.

My prediction is that Amir Khan gets a brutal education on what it takes to be the best of the best, but he gets the win by a 12 round decision. Zab has not proven to me that he adjust well to adversity in the ring, and he is prone to losing his concentration when he is not winning a match. But Zab will compose himself well enough to give Amir Khan all he can handle.