Undisputed Boxing World Championships at The Garden on Jan. 7

NEW YORK—Don King returns to the Theater at Madison Square Garden to promote a blockbuster card with three world title fights—two of which are for undisputed world championships—on Jan. 7. 

One of the finest boxers in the world, and New York’s own, undisputed world welterweight champion Zab “Super” Judah will headline the event making a mandatory defense against World Boxing Council No. 1-ranked contender Carlos “Tata” Baldomir while World Boxing Association and WBC cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeck and International Boxing Federation champion O’Neil “Supernova” Bell will meet to determine the undisputed champion at the 200-pound weight limit. These co-featured main events will be televised on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

The remaining world title fight showcases IBF junior flyweight champion Will “Steel” Grigsby defending his crown against IBF No. 1-ranked contender Ulises “Archie” Solis.  There will also be an IBF bantamweight elimination bout featuring Gernaro “Poblanito” Garcia facing Ricardo “Chapo” Vargas for the No. 1 ranking.

“Zab Judah is the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world no matter what anyone else may want you to believe,” King said, “and he will prove it to any non-believers when he knocks out Carlos Baldomir and then Floyd Mayweather.

“It just makes this event that much more super-sensational to also have the two world champions Mormeck and Bell fighting to determine the undisputed cruiserweight world champion as well.”

Judah feels as though his prayers have been answered to be fighting in New York.

“It means so much to me to again be fighting in my hometown and at The Garden,” Judah said.  “I want to celebrate a successful defense of my undisputed world welterweight championship with all my fans in Brooklyn and all of New York. I’m not overlooking or disrespecting my opponent but I have to score a knockout when I’m fighting at home.”

Judah (34-2, 1 NC, 25 KOs), a Brooklyn native, is a three-time world champion who is one of the few gifted boxers possessing the dangerous combination of both speed and power.  A two-time world champion at 140 pounds, he became the undisputed 147-pound champion by avenging a 2004 decision loss at the hands of Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks—Judah’s first fight at welterweight—by scoring a ninth-round technical knockout in their rematch on SHOWTIME earlier this year.

Baldomir (41-9-6, 12 KOs), from Santa Fe, Argentina, has fought all over the world but this will mark both his first appearance in New York and his first world championship contest.  He hails from the same hometown as the most famous Argentinean boxer in history, International Boxing Hall of Fame middleweight world champion Carlos Monzon.  He not only shares the same birthplace with Monzon, but he also uses the same trainer, Amilcar Brusa.

“This is the biggest opportunity of my career,” said Baldomir, who has won five in a row and is unbeaten in his last 19 starts (17-0-2).  “I know I’m the challenger and I know I’m fighting the best welterweight in the world but I’m coming to win.  That’s why I am training harder and better than I ever have in my life because I know this may be my first, last and only chance to become world champion.

“I will be very determined.  I have the heart and the will to defeat Judah.”

The chiseled Mormeck (30-2, 21 KOs), from France, won the WBA cruiserweight crown by stopping Virgil Hill in Marseille, France, on Feb. 23, 2002.  He became unified champion by defeating longtime WBC champion Wayne Braithwaite in a showdown in Worcester, Mass., on SHOWTIME April 2 in a dominating 12-round performance.  He became the first Frenchman to become unified world champion.

The hard-punching Bell (25-1-1, 23 KOs), born in Jamaica and a longtime resident of Atlanta, has not lost a fight since 1998.  He became the No. 1-ranked IBF contender in 2004 and stopped No. 2-ranked contender Ezra Sellers in just two rounds on Sept. 4 of that year, making him the mandatory challenger to then-IBF cruiserweight champion Kelvin “Konkrete” Davis.

Unfortunately for Bell, Davis cancelled their scheduled meeting at the Savvis Center in St. Louis on Feb. 5 and was subsequently stripped of his title.  Bell then fought Dale Brown for the vacant IBF title, winning a unanimous decision on May 20, 2005, at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

“I spoke to Jean-Marc in France by phone and told him he can bid adieu to his titles,” Bell said.  “Mormeck needs to be ready to face the most devastating fighter in the sport.”

Mormeck was unfazed by Bell’s challenge.

“Bell was mistaken,” the clever Mormeck said.  “He must have meant I am the most devastating puncher in boxing. I proved to the world that I am a very special boxer when I defeated Braithwaite. I am very excited for the opportunity to become the undisputed cruiserweight world champion.

Mormeck added special thanks to King for matching him “with his latest victim,” and has said that if he wins the match he would like to discuss with his promoter the possibility of moving up to heavyweight.

The Frenchman also noted with great pleasure that he received many e-mails from American boxing fans after he became unified champion, many of which suggested he should adopt an intimidating nickname.  He said he will bring the list to America and decide a moniker before the fight with Bell.

The winner of this bout will be the first undisputed cruiserweight champion since Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield held that distinction in 1988 after he defeated Carlos “Sugar” De Leon.

Both Mormeck and Judah have also been awarded The RING belt signifying the magazine’s belief they are the best boxers in the cruiserweight and welterweight divisions, respectively.

Don King Productions has promoted more than 500 world championship fights and holds the distinction of having promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.95 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995; and Bruno vs. Tyson, 1.4 million buys, March 1996.