Boxer Zab Judah wasn’t supposed to be an inspiration. Early in his career, he wore the part of the flashy Brooklyn, N.Y.-born-and-raised fighter. He wore gold teeth and his Yankees fitted cap backward. He was quick of both fist and tongue.
Despite becoming a four-time world champion in two weight classes and giving Floyd Mayweather the toughest four rounds he’s ever faced, Judah’s career has been marred by out-of-the-ring problems. He was arrested twice this year: once in July for domestic battery, to which he pleaded no contest and received a 90-day jail sentence; and in September, when Judah was given a three-month jail sentence for failure to pay child support.
Plus, it would take the will of Zeus to scrub the infamous 2001 knockout of Judah, aptly dubbed “the chicken leg dance,” in which Judah suffered a devastating loss to Kosta Tszyu and subsequently tried to stand before his legs were under him. He wobbled, and during the embarrassment of the knockout, he put his glove under the referee’s chin.
In that moment, had Judah’s life come to an end, he would’ve been the wet dream of the alt-whites who love to paint black men as thugs. He would have been labeled and boxed and put away forever as someone who would never get it.
Today Judah is doing his part to scrub the memories of the person he used to be and replace them with the one he’s becoming. Despite earning ungodly amounts of money over his career, which, at 40, Judah continues to pursue, he’s become a registered nurse’s assistant working with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
Teberah Alexander, the director at Excelling Nursing Academy, told TMZ Sports that Judah recently graduated from the program, where he was CPR-certified and trained in first aid, and she added that he helps teach classes.
But Judah didn’t just get certified; he’s actually working at an adult facility during the day and helping teachers with nurses’ classes in the evenings.
Alexander added that Judah does everything from checking vitals to removing catheters.
Judah posted this letter from one of his students on his Instagram page:
He added, “To touch another’s life brings out the true Champ in me! I have grown to humble myself and in return it’s appreciated by our students. Congrats students you all are my Champs!”
Read more at TMZ Sports.