Judah plotting comeback from year off

Zab Judah pulled a Floyd Mayweather Jr. and decided to take a break from boxing.

But Judah didn’t stay away for 21 months as Mayweather did; his hiatus has been a year. And when Judah fights Ramon Montano in a 10-round welterweight bout Nov. 6 at the Palms, he’ll make peanuts compared with the $10 million Mayweather got for using Juan Manuel Marquez as a punching bag last month at the MGM Grand Garden.

But Judah, 31, isn’t distracted by side issues. He said he’s mentally prepared to re-enter the ring and that he is going to be around for a while.

“I got the hunger back,” he said. “I was frustrated with the politics of boxing, and I felt like I needed some time off.”

Judah (37-6, 25 knockouts) could have fought Antonio Diaz on the Mayweather-Marquez undercard Sept. 19, but said the timing was wrong.

“There were a lot of things going on, and it wasn’t the right time,” he said.

Judah, who lives and trains in Las Vegas, said his camp for the Montano fight is going well.

“I feel good,” he said. “I love being in Vegas. The people who come to the Palms will see Zab Judah at his best.”

Judah last fought Nov. 8, 2008, in New York, gaining a 10-round unanimous decision over Ernest Johnson. Before that, he lost to Joshua Clottey on Aug. 2, 2008, at the Palms, and his career was hanging in the balance. But Judah thinks his partnership with promoter Ron Johnson will help resurrect his career and lead him to another big-money fight.

“I’m 31. I’ve got plenty of fights left in me,” Judah said. “Look at Bernard Hopkins. He’s what, 44? And he’s still going strong. I’m not done yet. You’ll see.”

• CROWN CARD — Boxing returns to the Mardi Gras Ballroom at The Orleans on Oct. 23, with former world heavyweight champion Oliver McCall headlining a Crown Boxing card. McCall, the IBA champion, will fight Lance Whitaker in the main event.

Also on the card are cruiserweight Victor Barragan, who will defend his USNBC belt against Arthur Williams; and McCall’s son, Elijah, who will fight heavyweight Andrea Carthron.

Tickets ($50 and $25) are on sale at the Orleans box office.

• KO DOGFIGHTING — Super middleweight Andre Ward is speaking out against dogfighting and has aligned himself with “For Pit’s Sake,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the illegal activity.

Ward, who will fight Mikkel Kessler for the WBA title Nov. 21 in Oakland, Calif., said in a statement: “I love dogs and believe in treating them the way I would want to be treated. To fight and abuse dogs is wrong, and I look forward to helping in stopping this growing problem.”

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