Mayweather's perfect record put to the test

Mayweather is unbeaten and nearly unrivaled as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.

He's favored to win a championship belt in his fourth weight class when the two meet today for Judah's IBF welterweight title.

Mayweather (35-0, 24 KOs) is rich, charismatic and an emerging spokesman for all boxers in a keenly image-conscious sport. In short, Mayweather is everything Judah (34-3, 25 KOs) could have been, and Mayweather thinks it just kills the underachieving Brooklynite.

"This fighter's been jealous," Mayweather said. "He's been so jealous of me, and I can't help it. All I've done was really dedicate myself. … I've been here before, so many times, and I know what it takes."

Judah also is a three-time champ with enviable skills, but his unrealized potential is exemplified by three embarrassing defeats — including a loss in January against unheralded Argentine Carlos Baldomir, costing Judah millions of dollars in this matchup.

But the jealousy Mayweather perceives might be something else: Desperation for a fighter who must do something unprecedented to rescue his reputation. Unless Judah beats Mayweather, or at least seriously challenges the unbeaten star, his career will be in shambles.

"This isn't a fight for money for Zab Judah," said Don King, Judah's promoter. "This is a fight for livelihood, for survival. He knows it, and Floyd Mayweather better know it, too."

"Zab has to put on a tremendous performance," said Mayweather promoter Bob Arum, who teamed up with longtime rival King for just the fourth time since 1975. "A loss will be a major career setback for him."

The fight carries the slogan "Sworn Enemies," but even boxing clichés can be somewhat accurate. The fighters exchanged words at Thursday's news conference and again at Friday's weigh-in outdoors at Caesars Palace, where their entourages stepped in when Judah began yapping at Mayweather, who simply smiled before finally joining into the argument.

But Judah isn't saying much to anybody else before the unbeaten Mayweather tries to usurp his fourth championship in four classes. Judah skipped a pre-fight teleconference with reporters, and he had little to say at the main news event Thursday.

"This is something I've prepared my whole life for — not particularly against Floyd Mayweather, but he just happens to be in this position," Judah said. "Come (Saturday) night, I got a trick for you."

Today

● What: Floyd Mayweather (35-0, 24 KOs) vs. Zab Judah (34-3, 25 KOs)

● Where: Las Vegas

● When: 5:30 p.m.

● TV: Pay-per-view