Judah clears hurdle to fight Mosley

Zab Judah has been warned. One more strike and he's out in Nevada. Permanently.

The 30-year-old welterweight, who has had two disciplinary actions taken against him by the Nevada Athletic Commission in a five-year span, was reinstated Monday, paving the way for a May 17 fight against Shane Mosley at Mandalay Bay. But not before the commissioners gave Judah a verbal working over during a hearing at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building.

Judah assured the commission there would be no repeat episodes of his 2001 incident when he lost to Kostya Tszyu and physically threatened referee Jay Nady after suffering a second-round technical knockout. He also said there would be no repeat behavior similar to his 2006 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., which resulted in a melee in the ring following the 10th round.

"I embarrassed myself, I embarrassed my family and I embarrassed boxing, and for that I am truly sorry," Judah told the commission after he produced a check to pay the $100,000 fine incurred by his father and trainer, Yoel, from the 2006 riot. "I promise that it will not happen again."

The commission said it will hold him to that promise.

"Your behavior affects more than you," commissioner Bill Brady told Judah. "People who attend your fights need to be protected against any potential incidents."

Commissioner Pat Lundvall wanted to tack on interest to Yoel Judah's fine since it had been nearly two years since it had been imposed. Judah claimed he was led to believe that Don King, his promoter at the time of the incident, had taken care of his father's fine. It wasn't until two weeks ago that he was informed that the fine was still unpaid.

"I want to make things right," Judah told the commission, which opted not to add any interest.

Judah (36-5, 25 knockouts) still has to apply for a license to fight in Nevada. But Monday's decision to reinstate him was the big hurdle.

"I was nervous because I had two prior fines," Judah said of the $75,000 he was docked for the 2001 incident with Nady and the $250,000 for the 2006 Mayweather fracas. "(The commissioners) were tough with me, but they were fair.

"This was a tougher fight than the Mosley fight's going to be."

Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) also had to clear an obstacle Monday. At 36, he is obligated to undergo a comprehensive physical to compete in Nevada. He was granted a conditional license pending the results of an eye exam.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.