Zab Judah is back in the mix after picking up the IBF Light-Welterweight Championship with a seventh round stoppage of Kaizer Mabuza.
Picking up another belt at 140 pounds after previously going up to welterweight, and having similar success, is an impressive feat.
Of course he's not the number one at light-welterweight - although perhaps he could contend for the title of most dangerous with his lightening-quick hands and hard punch. Most would put Timothy Bradley and Amir Khan ahead of him, while you could make a claim for Devon Alexander and Marcos Maidana also being better placed.
According to reports this week, Judah has his eyes set on Juan Manuel Marquez: "I like the Marquez fight. I like what he is. I like what he’s going to bring to the table. That’s the kind of fight I’m looking for.”
A mistake if you ask me.
For all Judah's natural skills - speed, reflexes, shots from unorthodox angles, power and confidence - he has one major flaw which is crucial to the make-up of any elite boxer.
That's his attention span.
Take his second round defeat to Kostya Tszyu, where this deficiency was highlighted. During the first round Judah showcased his flashy skills, peppering Tszyu with fast flurries. He looked a level above his more patient, stalking - but slower - opponent.
Any observer might have thought the first round would indicate how the rest of the fight would be dictated. How wrong they would be. Judah foolishly switched off, Tszyu stepped in and...bang! It was all over.
In 2006 Judah still hadn't learned his lesson when he took on the previously unheralded Carlos Baldomir. Looking ahead to a lucrative clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr he lost his focus and came up short against a fighter with lesser skills.
Three months later the problem again was focus (along with the tremendous skills of Mayweather). After a bright start where Judah's speed troubled Mayweather, he again lost focus. His attention drifted and he looked to be heading for a stoppage loss until some low blows bought him a reprieve.
In 2007 Judah took on Miguel Cotto and once again had his moments, rocking his gritty opponent with dazzling shorts. Again he came up short under the constant attention and drive of his opponent. After a brave showing he eventually succumbed.
Juan Manuel Marquez. He's someone that doesn't suffer in the attention span stakes. In fact, it could be one of his best assets.
Where Judah is all bravado (often talking to the crowd and/or his opponent, poking his tongue out, wasting time with Super Judah t-shirts chucked to the crowd and flashing his diamoned-encrusted teeth), Marquez is all focus. He treats the spot like chess, looking for a tactical, counter-punching masterclass.
Marquez would relish the chance to show up his opponent. With a steely glare akin to Tsyzu focused on his opponent, I could see him taking control of the fight - should the 37-year-old's legs continue to defy his age.
I believe Marquez would be able to answer all the questions posed by Judah's speed and power. Judah, on the other hand, does not appear to like questions being asked of him. His focus drifts as the fight wears on. He prefers to dictate proceedings and against second level fighters often gets his way.
If the fight did go ahead, Marquez would have the perfect opponent to put on another boxing masterclass.
Picking up another belt at 140 pounds after previously going up to welterweight, and having similar success, is an impressive feat.
Of course he's not the number one at light-welterweight - although perhaps he could contend for the title of most dangerous with his lightening-quick hands and hard punch. Most would put Timothy Bradley and Amir Khan ahead of him, while you could make a claim for Devon Alexander and Marcos Maidana also being better placed.
According to reports this week, Judah has his eyes set on Juan Manuel Marquez: "I like the Marquez fight. I like what he is. I like what he’s going to bring to the table. That’s the kind of fight I’m looking for.”
A mistake if you ask me.
For all Judah's natural skills - speed, reflexes, shots from unorthodox angles, power and confidence - he has one major flaw which is crucial to the make-up of any elite boxer.
That's his attention span.
Take his second round defeat to Kostya Tszyu, where this deficiency was highlighted. During the first round Judah showcased his flashy skills, peppering Tszyu with fast flurries. He looked a level above his more patient, stalking - but slower - opponent.
Any observer might have thought the first round would indicate how the rest of the fight would be dictated. How wrong they would be. Judah foolishly switched off, Tszyu stepped in and...bang! It was all over.
In 2006 Judah still hadn't learned his lesson when he took on the previously unheralded Carlos Baldomir. Looking ahead to a lucrative clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr he lost his focus and came up short against a fighter with lesser skills.
Three months later the problem again was focus (along with the tremendous skills of Mayweather). After a bright start where Judah's speed troubled Mayweather, he again lost focus. His attention drifted and he looked to be heading for a stoppage loss until some low blows bought him a reprieve.
In 2007 Judah took on Miguel Cotto and once again had his moments, rocking his gritty opponent with dazzling shorts. Again he came up short under the constant attention and drive of his opponent. After a brave showing he eventually succumbed.
Juan Manuel Marquez. He's someone that doesn't suffer in the attention span stakes. In fact, it could be one of his best assets.
Where Judah is all bravado (often talking to the crowd and/or his opponent, poking his tongue out, wasting time with Super Judah t-shirts chucked to the crowd and flashing his diamoned-encrusted teeth), Marquez is all focus. He treats the spot like chess, looking for a tactical, counter-punching masterclass.
Marquez would relish the chance to show up his opponent. With a steely glare akin to Tsyzu focused on his opponent, I could see him taking control of the fight - should the 37-year-old's legs continue to defy his age.
I believe Marquez would be able to answer all the questions posed by Judah's speed and power. Judah, on the other hand, does not appear to like questions being asked of him. His focus drifts as the fight wears on. He prefers to dictate proceedings and against second level fighters often gets his way.
If the fight did go ahead, Marquez would have the perfect opponent to put on another boxing masterclass.
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