Main Events confirms Judah-Santa Cruz, Adamek-Grant

Main Events confirms Judah-Santa Cruz, Adamek-Grant

Zab Judah returns in July against Jose Armando Santa Cruz. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Main Events will be putting on two shows at the Prudential Center in Newark, one in July and one in August.

On July 16, former welterweight champ Zab Judah returns against Jose Armando Santa Cruz. Judah recently signed with Main Events, though everyone dutifully pretends that it's a co-promotion with "Super Judah Promotions." Judah (38-6, 26 KO) hasn't won a meaningful fight in years now, and though he should win in July, this won't be one either.

Santa Cruz (28-4, 17 KO) is best-known for being disgracefully robbed against Joel Casamayor in 2007, when he challenged for Casamayor's lineal lightweight crown. Since then, he's gone 3-1, with none of the wins being notable and the loss a sixth-round knockout at the powerful but limited hands of Antonio Pitalua.

Main Events also confirmed that Tomasz Adamek (41-1, 27 KO) will indeed be fighting washed-up, never-was Michael Grant (46-3, 34 KO). I like Adamek a lot, but this is one of those fights where I want to root for "the other guy" simply because everyone involved with making the fight deserves to have their plans foiled. Grant is 37 years old and has been carefully feasting on mediocrities and tomato cans for the last seven years, since a loss to Dominick Guinn. Grant isn't just not a contender, he's not even relevant anymore. The fact that he's big and could punch some in his prime will be used to shield Adamek from criticism. Grant's frame (6'7", 86" reach) will allow Main Events and Adamek's team to say that they are using the veteran to prepare for the Klitschkos. It's even possible that they won't be lying. But nobody in their right mind thinks Grant is a viable substitute for a Klitschko, and there are similarly qualified opponents out there who aren't functionally out of the sport.

I don't expect either of these fights will stir up a ton of interest, though you can already pencil in a couple of things, I'd say. First, the Judah card will disappoint at the gate. Second, the Adamek-Grant show will do very well.