Yoel Judah
Encyclopedia
Yoel Judah is the eldest member of the Brooklyn
-based Judah boxing family
. He has been a martial artist, three-time world champion kickboxer, and boxing trainer and manager.
, two-time welterweight
champion of the world. Judah had a brief boxing career in the 1980s, going 1–1 in two fights. He is also a 7th-degree black belt
and former three-time world kickboxing
champion, trained at one point by Billy Slinker.
, Daniel Judah
, and Josiah Judah
. While Gil Clancy
viewed father-son training generally as a failure, he said that Judah had done "a terrific job" with his sons. He has also trained heavyweight Shannon Briggs
.
vs. Zab Judah fight on April 8, 2006. After Zab hit Mayweather below the belt
and with a rabbit punch
, Roger Mayweather
(Mayweather Jr.'s trainer) stormed the ring and went after Zab. Referee Richard Steele
had Roger restrained until Yoel entered the ring and threw a right hand at Roger—an act that caused the ring to fill with Mayweather's camp members, security officers, and Las Vegas police. On May 8, 2006, the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Yoel $100,000 and revoked his training license for one year.
When Zab Judah was involved in a later controversy, this time the recipient of what his angry cornerman Tommy Smalls believed were flagrant low blows by WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto
in their June 9, 2007, fight before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden
, the father this time played a calming role, telling Smalls "What's done is done."
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-based Judah boxing family
Notable boxing families
This is a list of boxing families with two or more notable boxers. Many families have had multiple members become famous in the sport of boxing with some having had multiple world champions.-Argentina:The Corros:*Hugo, world Middleweight champion...
. He has been a martial artist, three-time world champion kickboxer, and boxing trainer and manager.
Boxing and kickboxing career
Judah's uncle was Johnny SaxtonJohnny Saxton
Johnny Saxton was an American professional boxer in the welterweight division. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, learned to box in a Brooklyn orphanage and had an amateur career winning 31 of 33 fights, twice becoming World Welterweight Champion.- Professional career :Saxton turned professional...
, two-time welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
champion of the world. Judah had a brief boxing career in the 1980s, going 1–1 in two fights. He is also a 7th-degree black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
and former three-time world kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
champion, trained at one point by Billy Slinker.
Training and managing career
He has been the trainer and manager of his sons Zab JudahZab Judah
Zabdiel Judah is an American professional boxer. Judah has won five world titles between the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions, and is a former undisputed welterweight champion....
, Daniel Judah
Daniel Judah
Daniel Harvey Judah is an American southpaw professional cruiserweight and light heavyweight boxer.His 33-fight record through 10/28/08 is 23-7-3, with 10 wins coming via knockout.He is the brother of Jr...
, and Josiah Judah
Josiah Judah
Josiah Judah is a professional boxer. His ring nickname is "Gorilla."A 6' 1" tall super middleweight, he is a brother of welterweight champion Zab Judah and former U.S. Boxing Association light heavyweight champion Daniel Judah....
. While Gil Clancy
Gil Clancy
Gilbert Thomas "Gil" Clancy was a Hall of Fame boxing trainer and one of the most noted boxing commentators of the 1980s and 1990s. He worked with such famous boxers as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman, as well as Gerry Cooney in his fight with Foreman. In the 1990s, he worked with...
viewed father-son training generally as a failure, he said that Judah had done "a terrific job" with his sons. He has also trained heavyweight Shannon Briggs
Shannon Briggs
Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs is an American heavyweight boxer and actor. He is the former Lineal and WBO heavyweight champion.-Early life:...
.
Melee, license revocation, fine, and aftermath
He received national attention for his involvement in the melee in round 10 of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Joy Mayweather, Jr. is an American professional boxer. He is a five-division world champion, where he has won seven world titles, as well as the lineal championship in three different weight classes...
vs. Zab Judah fight on April 8, 2006. After Zab hit Mayweather below the belt
Below the belt
Mainly used in combat sports such as boxing and kickboxing, below the belt refers to all the area of the body that lies below the line of the opponent's navel, including the genital area, legs, and crotch...
and with a rabbit punch
Rabbit punch
A rabbit punch is a blow to the neck or to the base of the skull. It is considered especially dangerous because it can damage the cervical vertebrae and subsequently the spinal cord, which may lead to serious spinal cord injury or even death.-Boxing:...
, Roger Mayweather
Roger Mayweather
Roger Mayweather is a retired professional boxer. He won two major world titles in two different weight classes. Throughout his career, Mayweather fought against many other boxing champions of the 1980s and 1990s. He is a part of the Mayweather boxing family; his brothers are former welterweight...
(Mayweather Jr.'s trainer) stormed the ring and went after Zab. Referee Richard Steele
Richard Steele (referee)
Richard Steele is a former member of the United States Marine Corps and famous boxing referee. Steele was a teammate of future world Heavyweight champion Ken Norton in the Marines. He began his career as an amateur boxer while with the Marines, compiling a record of 12 wins and 3 losses before...
had Roger restrained until Yoel entered the ring and threw a right hand at Roger—an act that caused the ring to fill with Mayweather's camp members, security officers, and Las Vegas police. On May 8, 2006, the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Yoel $100,000 and revoked his training license for one year.
When Zab Judah was involved in a later controversy, this time the recipient of what his angry cornerman Tommy Smalls believed were flagrant low blows by WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto
Miguel Cotto
Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional boxer and the reigning WBA light middleweight champion. He is the younger brother of contender Jose Miguel Cotto and cousin of Abner Cotto...
in their June 9, 2007, fight before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, the father this time played a calming role, telling Smalls "What's done is done."
Religion
The Judahs are Black Hebrews, and frequently attend services on the Jewish Sabbath. Judah is an avowed Black Jew, and Judah's family has declared themselves Jewish.See also
- List of male kickboxers
- Notable boxing familiesNotable boxing familiesThis is a list of boxing families with two or more notable boxers. Many families have had multiple members become famous in the sport of boxing with some having had multiple world champions.-Argentina:The Corros:*Hugo, world Middleweight champion...
- List of select Jewish boxers