Zabdiel Judah (born October 27, 1977) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2019. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed championship at welterweight in 2005, and the lineal championship from 2005 to 2006. He also held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight titles between 2000 and 2004, and the IBF title again in 2011. Judah's career ended in 2019 when he was hospitalized after suffering a brain bleed in a stoppage loss to Cletus Seldin. Judah has emergency brain surgery six weeks after the match in July 2019.
Judah began boxing at the age of six and compiled an amateur record of 110–5. He was a two-time US national champion and three-time New York Golden Gloves Champion. He also won the 1996 PAL National Championship. Judah beat Ishe Smith and Hector Camacho Jr., but lost to David Díaz in the finals of the Olympic trials, thus failing to qualify for the Olympic boxing team (he still went to those Olympic Games as an alternate, however).
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Zabdiel Judah
- Born: October 27, 1977 — New York City, New York, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
- Reach: 72 in (183 cm)
- Stance: Southpaw
- Pro debut: Sep 20, 1996 (Win by TKO vs Michael Johnson)
- Last bout: Jun 7, 2019 (Loss by TKO vs Cletus Seldin)
- Total rounds boxed: 342 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Light welterweight, Welterweight, Light middleweight
- KO percentage: 68.2% (30 KO wins in 44 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): IBF light welterweight title February 12, 2000 – November 3, 2001 (won the vacant title from Jan Piet Bergman; five defenses; lost to Kostya Tszyu); WBO light welterweight title July 12, 2003 – 2004 (won from DeMarcus Corley; defended against Jaime Rangel; the reign closed with the move up to welterweight); WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF and The Ring welterweight titles February 5, 2005 – January 7, 2006 / April 8, 2006 (won from Cory Spinks; defended against Cosme Rivera; lost the WBC and Ring titles to Carlos Baldomir on January 7, 2006 and the IBF title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on April 8, 2006); IBF light welterweight title (second reign) March 5, 2011 – July 23, 2011 (won the vacant title from Kaizer Mabuza; lost to Amir Khan) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 56
- Wins: 44
- Wins by KO: 30
- Losses: 10
- Losses by KO: 4
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 2
- Born: October 27, 1977 — New York City, New York, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
- Reach: 72 in (183 cm)
- Stance: Southpaw
- Divisions: Light welterweight, Welterweight, Light middleweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 20, 1996 | Michael Johnson | Win | TKO | 2 (4), 0:36 | James L. Knight Center, Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| 2 | Oct 4, 1996 | Pablo Tejada | Win | TKO | 4 (4) | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 3 | Dec 14, 1996 | Jose Luis Torres | Win | TKO | 1 (4) | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 4 | Jan 24, 1997 | John Scalzi | Win | TKO | 1 (4) | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 5 | Feb 22, 1997 | Chris Slaughter | Win | KO | 1 (10) | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 6 | Apr 5, 1997 | Paul Denard | Win | TKO | 4 (6), 1:28 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 7 | May 4, 1997 | Troy Cain | Win | UD | 6 | Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 8 | Jun 10, 1997 | Omar Vasquez | Win | UD | 4 | Travis County Expo Center, Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| 9 | Aug 24, 1997 | Cesar Castro | Win | KO | 1 (6) | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 10 | Oct 3, 1997 | James Salava | Win | TKO | 1 (6) | Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 11 | Oct 17, 1997 | Rick Edson | Win | UD | 6 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 12 | Nov 7, 1997 | Ricardo Vazquez | Win | TKO | 1 (8), 1:35 | Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 13 | Dec 13, 1997 | Anthony Johnson | Win | UD | 8 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 14 | Jan 17, 1998 | Steve Valdez | Win | TKO | 1 (8), 3:00 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 15 | Mar 10, 1998 | Esteban Flores | NC | NC | 3 (8), 1:24 | Armory, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S. — Originally TD after Flores was cut from an accidental head clash, later ruled NC |
| 16 | Apr 14, 1998 | Angel Beltre | Win | KO | 2 (8), 2:08 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 17 | Jun 7, 1998 | Micky Ward | Win | UD | 12 | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant USBA interim light welterweight title |
| 18 | Jul 12, 1998 | Otilio Villarreal | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 3:00 | Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 19 | Oct 15, 1998 | Darryl Tyson | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 2:39 | Hilton, Washington, D.C., U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained USBA interim light welterweight title |
| 20 | Jan 16, 1999 | Wilfredo Negron | Win | KO | 4 (12), 1:44 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won IBF interim light welterweight title |
| 21 | Apr 16, 1999 | Juan Torres | Win | KO | 1 (10), 1:26 | Grand Casino, Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 22 | Jul 9, 1999 | David Sample | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 2:27 | Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 23 | Feb 12, 2000 | Jan Piet Bergman | Win | KO | 4 (12), 2:50 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBF light welterweight title |
| 24 | Jun 24, 2000 | Junior Witter | Win | UD | 12 | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light welterweight title |
| 25 | Aug 5, 2000 | Terron Millett | Win | TKO | 4 (12), 2:47 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light welterweight title |
| 26 | Oct 20, 2000 | Hector Quiroz | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 1:56 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light welterweight title |
| 27 | Jan 13, 2001 | Reggie Green | Win | TKO | 10 (12), 1:29 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light welterweight title |
| 28 | Jun 23, 2001 | Allan Vester | Win | KO | 3 (12), 2:58 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light welterweight title |
| 29 | Nov 3, 2001 | Kostya Tszyu | Loss | TKO | 2 (12), 2:59 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost IBF light welterweight title; For WBA (Super) and WBC light welterweight titles |
| 30 | Jul 13, 2002 | Omar Gabriel Weis | Win | UD | 10 | Sam's Town Gambling Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| 31 | Jul 12, 2003 | DeMarcus Corley | Win | SD | 12 | The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBO light welterweight title |
| 32 | Dec 13, 2003 | Jaime Rangel | Win | KO | 1 (12), 1:12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light welterweight title |
| 33 | Apr 10, 2004 | Cory Spinks | Loss | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 34 | May 15, 2004 | Rafael Pineda | Win | SD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title |
| 35 | Oct 2, 2004 | Wayne Martell | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 2:08 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title |
| 36 | Feb 5, 2005 | Cory Spinks | Win | TKO | 9 (12), 2:49 | Savvis Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 37 | May 14, 2005 | Cosme Rivera | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 2:11 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 38 | Jan 7, 2006 | Carlos Baldomir | Loss | UD | 12 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 39 | Apr 8, 2006 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Loss | UD | 12 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost IBF welterweight title; For vacant IBO welterweight title |
| 40 | Apr 13, 2007 | Rubén Galván | NC | NC | 1 (10), 1:11 | Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel, Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, U.S. — Galván cut from an accidental elbow |
| 41 | Jun 9, 2007 | Miguel Cotto | Loss | TKO | 11 (12), 0:49 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA welterweight title |
| 42 | Sep 7, 2007 | Edwin Vasquez | Win | UD | 10 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 43 | Nov 17, 2007 | Ryan Davis | Win | UD | 12 | Casablanca Casino, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBC light middleweight title |
| 44 | Aug 2, 2008 | Joshua Clottey | Loss | TD | 9 (12), 1:12 | Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For vacant IBF welterweight title; Unanimous TD: Judah cut from an accidental head clash |
| 45 | Nov 8, 2008 | Ernest Johnson | Win | UD | 10 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 46 | Nov 6, 2009 | Ubaldo Hernandez | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 0:35 | Palms Casino Resort, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 47 | Jul 16, 2010 | José Santa Cruz | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 2:33 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 48 | Nov 6, 2010 | Lucas Matthysse | Win | SD | 12 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant NABO light welterweight title |
| 49 | Mar 5, 2011 | Kaizer Mabuza | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 0:59 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBF light welterweight title |
| 50 | Jul 23, 2011 | Amir Khan | Loss | KO | 5 (12), 2:47 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost IBF light welterweight title; For WBA (Super) light welterweight title |
| 51 | Mar 24, 2012 | Vernon Paris | Win | TKO | 9 (12), 2:07 | Aviator Sports & Events Center, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 52 | Apr 27, 2013 | Danny Garcia | Loss | UD | 12 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring light welterweight titles |
| 53 | Dec 7, 2013 | Paulie Malignaggi | Loss | UD | 12 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For vacant NABF welterweight title |
| 54 | Jan 21, 2017 | Jorge Luis Munguia | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 1:27 | Sun National Bank Center, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 55 | Jan 27, 2018 | Noel Mejia Rincon | Win | UD | 10 | Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| 56 | Jun 7, 2019 | Cletus Seldin | Loss | TKO | 11 (12), 1:40 | Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For vacant NABA light welterweight title |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): IBF light welterweight title February 12, 2000 – November 3, 2001 (won the vacant title from Jan Piet Bergman; five defenses; lost to Kostya Tszyu); WBO light welterweight title July 12, 2003 – 2004 (won from DeMarcus Corley; defended against Jaime Rangel; the reign closed with the move up to welterweight); WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF and The Ring welterweight titles February 5, 2005 – January 7, 2006 / April 8, 2006 (won from Cory Spinks; defended against Cosme Rivera; lost the WBC and Ring titles to Carlos Baldomir on January 7, 2006 and the IBF title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on April 8, 2006); IBF light welterweight title (second reign) March 5, 2011 – July 23, 2011 (won the vacant title from Kaizer Mabuza; lost to Amir Khan) — all dates per the bout table
- Jun 7, 1998 vs Micky Ward: Won vacant USBA interim light welterweight title
- Oct 15, 1998 vs Darryl Tyson: Retained USBA interim light welterweight title
- Jan 16, 1999 vs Wilfredo Negron: Won IBF interim light welterweight title
- Feb 12, 2000 vs Jan Piet Bergman: Won vacant IBF light welterweight title
- Jun 24, 2000 vs Junior Witter: Retained IBF light welterweight title
- Aug 5, 2000 vs Terron Millett: Retained IBF light welterweight title
- Oct 20, 2000 vs Hector Quiroz: Retained IBF light welterweight title
- Jan 13, 2001 vs Reggie Green: Retained IBF light welterweight title
- Jun 23, 2001 vs Allan Vester: Retained IBF light welterweight title
- Nov 3, 2001 vs Kostya Tszyu: Lost IBF light welterweight title; For WBA (Super) and WBC light welterweight titles
- Jul 12, 2003 vs DeMarcus Corley: Won WBO light welterweight title
- Dec 13, 2003 vs Jaime Rangel: Retained WBO light welterweight title
- Apr 10, 2004 vs Cory Spinks: For WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring welterweight titles
- May 15, 2004 vs Rafael Pineda: Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
- Oct 2, 2004 vs Wayne Martell: Retained WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
- Feb 5, 2005 vs Cory Spinks: Won WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring welterweight titles
- May 14, 2005 vs Cosme Rivera: Retained WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring welterweight titles
- Jan 7, 2006 vs Carlos Baldomir: Lost WBC and The Ring welterweight titles
- Apr 8, 2006 vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Lost IBF welterweight title; For vacant IBO welterweight title
- Jun 9, 2007 vs Miguel Cotto: For WBA welterweight title
- Nov 17, 2007 vs Ryan Davis: Won vacant IBC light middleweight title
- Aug 2, 2008 vs Joshua Clottey: For vacant IBF welterweight title; Unanimous TD: Judah cut from an accidental head clash
- Nov 6, 2010 vs Lucas Matthysse: Won vacant NABO light welterweight title
- Mar 5, 2011 vs Kaizer Mabuza: Won vacant IBF light welterweight title
- Jul 23, 2011 vs Amir Khan: Lost IBF light welterweight title; For WBA (Super) light welterweight title
- Apr 27, 2013 vs Danny Garcia: For WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring light welterweight titles
- Dec 7, 2013 vs Paulie Malignaggi: For vacant NABF welterweight title
- Jun 7, 2019 vs Cletus Seldin: For vacant NABA light welterweight title
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Zab_Judah.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=api&utm_content=original
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-01.
