FORMER lineage welterweight champion Zab Judah escaped with a close points decision over Argentinian Lucas Matthysse for the IBF junior welterweight No 2 eliminator in the US at the weekend.
By winning this fight, the former undisputed junior welterweight and welterweight champion qualified to meet No 1 contender Kaizer Mabuza for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title.
The title remained vacant after the IBF stripped Devon Alexander, who failed to honour the purse bid that was won by Mabuza's promoter Branco Milenkovic last month.
Alexander, who is promoted by boxing impresario Don King, refused to sign the contract to defend against Mabuza in South Africa next year.
The IBF has ordered Judah's promoter Cathy Duva and Milenkovic to negotiate the terms of the fight. Should they fail to reach an agreement, the fight will be opened to purse bids.
Judah is aware that he is unlikely to win another close decision if his clash with Mabuza is held in South Africa.
"Besides such a long flight to South Africa, things would not go favourably for me there," Judah was quoted as saying.
Milenkovic insisted that he wanted to stage the fight in South Africa to strengthen his charge's chances of victory.
"I have noted Judah's reluctance to come here but I am afraid that this is what he will have to do if I win the purse bids, which I intend to win," he said.
Should Milenkovic manage to bring Judah to South Africa it will be a coup t as the Brooklyn-born fighter is one the most recognisable faces in boxing.
Judah set to face Mabuza
FORMER lineage welterweight champion Zab Judah escaped with a close points decision over Argentinian Lucas Matthysse for the IBF junior welterweight No 2 eliminator in the US at the weekend.
By winning this fight, the former undisputed junior welterweight and welterweight champion qualified to meet No 1 contender Kaizer Mabuza for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title.
The title remained vacant after the IBF stripped Devon Alexander, who failed to honour the purse bid that was won by Mabuza's promoter Branco Milenkovic last month.
Alexander, who is promoted by boxing impresario Don King, refused to sign the contract to defend against Mabuza in South Africa next year.
The IBF has ordered Judah's promoter Cathy Duva and Milenkovic to negotiate the terms of the fight. Should they fail to reach an agreement, the fight will be opened to purse bids.
Judah is aware that he is unlikely to win another close decision if his clash with Mabuza is held in South Africa.
"Besides such a long flight to South Africa, things would not go favourably for me there," Judah was quoted as saying.
Milenkovic insisted that he wanted to stage the fight in South Africa to strengthen his charge's chances of victory.
"I have noted Judah's reluctance to come here but I am afraid that this is what he will have to do if I win the purse bids, which I intend to win," he said.
Should Milenkovic manage to bring Judah to South Africa it will be a coup t as the Brooklyn-born fighter is one the most recognisable faces in boxing.
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