TAKE FIVE: MAYWEATHER VS. JUDAH

Friday, April 7, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

1. Love that Bob

Judah, a former undisputed world welterweight champ, is coming off a loss in January to mandatory challenger Carlos Baldomir, who won a unanimous decision as a 15-1 underdog at Madison Square Garden. In a textbook example of convoluted boxing logic, Mayweather's promoter, Bob Arum, insisted that the loss enhances - rather than diminishes - the appeal of Saturday's showdown. The truly frightening thing is that if you listen long enough, Arum's argument starts making sense. "(Judah) will probably put up a much better fight because he's fighting for his life, in effect, than if he had just won a victory over Baldomir," Arum said.

2. Disappearing act

Zab has been Judah the Obscure throughout the prefight promotional activities. In a brief public appearance this week, he vowed to be the aggressor Saturday and force the action early against Mayweather. But Judah remained holed up in his room at Caesars Palace on Wednesday instead of showing up for a scheduled workout. He also was a no-show on a recent conference call for the boxing media. Mayweather didn't waste any time in pouncing. "I told everybody I will shut Zab Judah up," he said. "I'm just surprised it happened this early."

3. Bad blood

The enmity between Mayweather and Judah can be traced to a sparring session two years ago in which Mayweather got the best of Judah at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, a skirmish witnessed by current heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman, among others. Yoel Judah, Zab's father and trainer, had to call a halt to the session, according to Mayweather. "He said, 'Man, get out of that ring before that man kills you,' " Mayweather said.

4. (Late) night moves

Widely considered the most talented fighter in boxing, pound for pound, Mayweather of Las Vegas by way of Grand Rapids, Mich., also has a lesser-known reputation as the hardest working man in the sport. Strength and conditioning coach Leonard Ellerbe said Mayweather routinely trains three times a day, including workouts in the middle of the night. "Do you know what most people are doing at 2, 3, 4 in the morning?" Ellerbe said. "It gives Floyd a psychological advantage."

Mayweather, 29, claims Judah, 28, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is dissatisfied with his promoter, Don King, and envious of Mayweather's relationship with HBO Sports. "He wants to be in my shoes," Mayweather said. "He wants to be with HBO. I'm undefeated - I'm what they call their 'fo sho' money ... But it's not about the money. It's so 50 years from now they're still playing my (fight) tapes. It's about being a legend."

5. Just a jealous guy?

Fight facts

Principals: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (35-0, 24 KOs) vs. Zab Judah (34-3, 25 KOs) At stake: World welterweight championship Time/site: Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. Undercard begins, 3:30 p.m; pay-per-view begins at 6 p.m. Tickets: $50 to $500, unlvtickets.com or (702) 739-FANS TV: HBO Pay-Per-View ($44.95) Undercard: Jorge Arce (43-3-1, 33 KOs) vs. Rosendo Alvarez (37-2-2, 24 KOs), 12 rounds, WBC interim flyweight championship; Juan Diaz (28-0, 14 KOs) vs. Jose Miguel Cotto (27-0, 19 KOs), 12 rounds, WBA lightweight championship; Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (24-0-1, 18 KOs) vs. Rodrigo Juarez (12-3, 9 KOs), 6 rounds, super lightweights; plus five other bouts. Betting line: Mayweather minus-430; Judah plus-330. Over/under 10 full rounds of the scheduled 12: won't go, minus-120; will go, even money