By Jason Kim: Former undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah (38-6, 26 KO’s) will return to the action in mid July against a still to be determined opponent. Judah, now 32, plans on fighting at light welterweight instead of welterweight to see if he can try to revive his floundering boxing career. Judah has done previous little in the past three years, averaging one fight a year against mostly 2nd tier opposition. In August 2008, Judah was stopped in the 9th round by Joshua Clottey in a failed attempt to capture the vacant IBF welterweight title. That loss wasn’t that surprising given that Judah had been regularly getting beaten in the past four years when facing quality welterweight opposition.

The problem for Judah is that at 5’7”, he didn’t have the size to really compete against the really good welterweights. Although Judah did have luck initially after he moved up to the welterweight division in 2003, beating Cory Spinks to capture the IBF, WBA abs WBC welterweight titles. However, Judah’s success was short lived, as he was soon beaten by Carlos Baldomir to lose his titles, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto and finally Clottey.

Now it’s been two years since Judah fought a really quality fighter and he’s basically wasted those years. Judah should have gotten a clue long ago and moved back down in weight to the light welterweight division where he would have a much better chance at finding success again. At 32, it’s highly doubtful that Judah will have any more luck at light welterweight than he’s been having at welterweight nowadays. The problem at light welterweight will be Judah’s questionable stamina. He seems to tire out late in his fights and he’ll likely suffer the same problems at light welterweight that he did at welterweight.

Also, the fighters are stronger and faster than when Judah was fighting in that division. With guys like Devon Alexander, Marcos Maidana, Timothy Bradley and Amir Khan, Judah will be lucky if he can beat any of them. I seriously doubt that Judah could even go 12 rounds with them. No way do I see Judah beating those guys. They’re too young and too good for Judah at this point in his career. I think he wasted too much time at welterweight in the past five years and should have moved back down long ago.

Judah has mostly been nothing more than an opponent since losing his titles in 2006. He just didn’t have the size to compete against the bigger welterweights. I think it’s too late for Judah to move back down at this point and do much in the division. I think it’s smart if he wants to save himself from getting beaten up by more of the welterweights, but I don’t see him doing anything at light welterweight.