Zab "Super" Judah (42-7-0, 29 KO) is back home tonight, and ready to take on power-punching, up-and-coming light welterweight champion Danny "Swift" Garcia (25-0-0, 16 KO) at the Barclays Center.
The lead up to this fight has been filled to the brim with acrimony, so much so that the promoters decided against having the two fighters separate for the final promotional press conference on Thursday. Oscar De La Hoya, founder of Golden Boy Promotions which is promoting the bout, said, "We thought it was the right thing to do. We want to see a fight Saturday night. We just didn't want to risk anything."
A fight broke out after a promotional event Tuesday, when Judah made an unexpected and clearly unwelcome appearance at a Garcia meet-and-greet at a sporting goods store, according to reports. The scuffle spilled out into the parking lot, and prompted their separation until tonight.
Garcia said it was a letdown that he would not be present with Judah Thursday. "I'm a little disappointed because I couldn't wait to look in his eyes and snatch his soul out of his body. I just couldn't wait to look in his eyes."
Garcia, the younger and more popular of the two combatants was given preferential treatment in this arrangement, according to Judah, and he made it clear he won't forget that when he steps into the ring. Judah claims he was kept in the basement during Garcia's portion of the conference without any food or water. "You might see some frustration up here because of how I was treated," Judah said, "but Saturday night I'll remember all of this. I'm gonna bring it to the table."
There is bad blood between Judah and Garcia's father/trainer Angel, who tends to get under the skin of Garcia's opponents with his trash talking. The bout was originally scheduled for February 9th, but Garcia pulled out because of a rib injury. Judah insulted Garcia by insinuating he faked it.
On Thursday, Angel ran his mouth yet again saying, "Zab's still gonna be a loser, [which is] what he is. Zab can talk all he wants. He's trying to threaten us, like he's supposed to take our heart. He's underestimating Danny. Danny is still gonna be the champion for a long time. It's the new era of champions. ... They could have had Danny here with Zab. It puts no fear in us."
Judah responded with, "Angel Garcia, excuse my French, is a dope-head. Look at the man; he's always going crazy. He must be a drug addict or an ex-drug addict or something, and he can't control himself. He reacts in a crazy, frantic way."
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