Judah welcomes sage advice in training for bout with Khan

Zab Judah was at the other end of the line. He was going to try to win the junior welterweight title again and wondered if Whitaker would be willing to train him for his fight with IBF champion Kaizer Mabuza.

"I had no plans on being a (full-time) trainer," said Whitaker, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, one of the greatest defensive fighters of his generation who compiled a 40-4 record with 17 knockouts from 1984 to 2001. "I had worked with a few guys before.

"But I’ve known Zab since he was 15. I knew what kind of fighter he was. I knew he would listen to me."

So the 47-year-old Whitaker, a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, found himself back in the sport. With Whitaker in his corner, Judah stopped Mabuza in the seventh round March 5 in Newark, N.J., to win the IBF belt, the same belt he had won in 1999.

On Saturday, with Whitaker back in his corner, the 33-year-old Judah will try to win the WBA title when he faces Amir Khan at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

"I didn’t plan to do this," Whitaker said. "But Zab called me and said he needed my help. If someone calls me and asks me to help them, I’m going to help them."

Judah, who has been trained throughout his career by his father, Yoel, said it took someone with Whitaker’s ability and stature for Judah to go in a different direction for what is one of the biggest fights of his career.

"I humbled myself and allowed a teacher to dictate to me how I should fight," said Judah (41-6, 28 knockouts). "Pernell Whitaker is a person I mimicked my style after. I got to share the ring with him in my pro debut. I trust him completely."

For Whitaker, being the teacher is something with which he is comfortable — provided the pupil is willing to pay attention.

"It’s two different worlds," Whitaker said of being a fighter and training one. "I come in and do what I got to do to get (Judah) ready, then I get out of the way.

"He listens to everything. He’s great to work with. I’m not teaching him how to box. All I’m doing is sharpening him up, showing him some things that I think can help him and have him hit the other guy more than he gets hit."

Judah said he has seen benefits from working with Whitaker beyond regaining a world title.

"He tweaked my whole situation," Judah said. "He revived my defense. He sharpened up my offense. I’m a smarter, more complete fighter now."

And as for Yoel Judah?

"I love his father," Whitaker said. "We’re like brothers. There’s no problem. One thing I don’t want is no confrontation with nobody’s father."

In the 24-year-old Khan (25-1, 17 KOs), Whitaker sees a good young fighter but one with flaws that an experienced fighter such as Judah can exploit.

"I’m not taking this kid for granted," Whitaker said. "But I’ve seen enough of him to see he’s doing the same old thing. If we drag this guy into the eighth, ninth round, he’ll drown."

While he appreciates the accolades he has received for helping Judah become a world champion again, Whitaker said the focus needs to be on his fighter, not himself.

"This ain’t about me," Whitaker said. "This is Zab Judah’s fight. I’m here to do everything I can to help him win this fight."

Judah said he picked the right guy.

"This fight, it’s gonna be a bank robbery, a get-in-and-get-out job," Judah said. "I’ve got one of the best thieves in Pernell Whitaker."

■ NOTES — Khan remains a heavy betting favorite at the MGM properties’ sports books at minus-480. The takeback at Judah is plus-360. The over-under that it will go eight full rounds is minus-220, with the won’t go at plus-180. … Friday’s weigh-in at Mandalay Bay Events Center will be open to the public, with the main event fighters to be on the scales at 2:30 p.m. … Judah ended his brief boycott of the British press Wednesday, granting interviews with members of the U.K. electronic media after his public workout at Mandalay Bay.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.