Yoel Judah (born July 23, 1956) 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.
Boxing and kickboxing career
Johnny Saxton, who twice won the world
welterweight championship, was Judah's uncle.[1] Judah had a brief boxing career in the 1980s, going 1–1 in two fights. He is also a 9th-degree
black belt and former three-time world
kickboxing champion,[2][3] trained at one point by Billy Slinker.[4][5][6][7]
He received national attention for his involvement in the melee in round 10 of the
Floyd Mayweather Jr. 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.[11] On May 8, 2006, the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Yoel $100,000 and revoked his training license for one year.[12]
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."[13]