Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Zab Judah

Background

After Judah lost to Baldomir, the Mayweather fight seemed off, but promoters Don King and Bob Arum renegotiated. Mayweather’s minimum dropped from $6 million to $5 million, while Judah’s guarantee fell from $3 million to $1 million plus a share of profits over $7 million.

The fight

Judah started strongly and at times matched Mayweather's speed and precision. In round two, Mayweather's glove touched the canvas, but referee Richard Steele ruled it a slip. In round four, Judah landed a left hand that forced Mayweather to retreat to the ropes. The momentum shifted in the fifth when Mayweather hurt Judah with a combination and then landed a right hand on the bridge of Judah's nose, drawing blood.

The seventh round was Mayweather's most dominant; he again drew blood from Judah's nose and backed him into a corner, with Judah's foot movement slowing. With about 10 seconds left in the tenth round, Judah hit Mayweather with a low blow followed by a right hand to the back of the head. Steele called time. Mayweather's trainer Roger Mayweather climbed into the ring and approached Judah.

Yoel Judah entered the ring and threw a punch at Roger, triggering a melee involving both camps. Security and police officers rushed in and controlled the situation. HBO's Jim Lampley compared the riot to the Bowe–Golota riot. Roger Mayweather was ejected.

Mayweather cruised through the last two rounds to a unanimous decision victory with scores of 116–112, 117–111, and 119–109.

Aftermath

Purses for both fighters were withheld until video review. Don King argued Mayweather should have been disqualified because his uncle entered the ring first. At an April 13 hearing, the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Roger Mayweather $200,000 and revoked his license for one year. At a May 8 hearing, the Commission fined Yoel Judah $100,000 and revoked his license for one year, fined Mayweather cornerman Leonard Ellerbe $50,000 and suspended his license for four months, and fined Zab Judah $350,000 and revoked his license for one year.