It was like a Holcombe Rucker League game. Harlem against Brooklyn and New York versus Philadelphia at 127th Street and Seventh Avenue. Among the great rivalries in street ball hoops.
So when it was announced that Danny Garcia would be defending his WBA (World Boxing Association) and WBO (World Boxing Association) Jr. welterweight titles against Zab Judah, I immediately thought, “Brooklyn against Philadelphia,” as well as “extra security necessary.”
But the only one who needed security was Judah, Brooklyn’s legendary welterweight who took a minor whipping, losing a match that was never close. The scorecards read 115-112, 114-112 and 116-111. It wasn’t even close as the kid from Philadelphia (25-0) out-pointed the kid from Brooklyn, now 42-7. Judah never quit, but neither did Garcia, who wisely didn’t let up.
A great crowd of over 17,000 filled Barclays Center. Listening to the cheers, there more voices yelling for Garcia than for the kid from Brooklyn. It was an interesting fight as we watched Judah trying to figure out Garcia, who, as it turned out, figured out Judah from the opening bell.