Boxing: Judah may lose licence after attack on referee
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American Zab Judah lost his International Boxing Federation light-welterweight title, his unbeaten record, his senses and could lose his boxing licence after throwing a punch and then his corner stool at referee Jay Nady.
Judah was stopped on his feet as he staggered after a knockdown with one second remaining of round two of his unification fight against Kostya Tszyu, the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council champion, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, on Saturday.
"I was concerned he might get hurt," said Nady, who took the left hook on his neck and avoided the stool. "He was hurt from the knockdown and appeared to be momentarily unconscious when I stopped it."
New York's Judah, 24, entered the ring with his friend Mike Tyson at his side and left it 10 minutes later claiming the referee never allowed him time to recover. "He never give me a count, I could have continued," he claimed.
Marc Ratner, of the Nevada boxing commission, confirmed they would review tapes of the incident before acting. Tyson was fined $3m and had his licence revoked in 1997 after biting Evander Holyfield's ear in the same MGM ring.
Manchester's Ricky Hatton, the undefeated World Boxing Union light-welterweight champion, was ringside and said: "Tszyu's final shot was not that good and then Judah just went crazy and acted like a real bully."
In Britain during the last 15 years two boxers have been banned for life after attacks on officials. Bobby Frankham hit referee Richie Davies, after a quick stoppage, and Julian Monville mistakenly attacked the time keeper instead of the referee after receiving a harsh verdict.
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