Zab Judah meets Lucas Matthysse Nov. 6 at Pru

Zab Judah's scheduled October date at the Prudential Center in Newark has been pushed back to Nov. 6 for a very good reason. Main Events announced that Judah's return to the lightwelterweight division will take another big step when he faces undefeated Argentine Lucas Matthysse in a bout televised on HBO's "Boxing After Dark."

Fans who previously purchased tickets for the Oct. 2 date may exchange them at the Pru box office or receive a full refund after tickets for the Nov. 6 show go on sale later this month.

Matthysse (27-0, 25 KOs) has fought outside of Argentina only three times, including twice in the U.S., but earlier this year, he ventured to Mexico, where he stopped respected Brooklyn-based 140-pounder Vivian Harris in four rounds. Judah (39-6, 27 KOs) scored an impressive third-round TKO against Jose Armando Santa Cruz in his last bout in July.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing HBO to Prudential Center for the first time," Main Events promoter Kathy Duva said in a release. "When the opportunity arose, everyone involved worked very hard to reschedule Zab's next appearance in Newark to Nov. 6th to coincide with HBO's schedule. Judah-Matthysse will be a spectacular event, and as always, the Prudential Center fans will be treated to another great night of boxing."

Bill Halkias, vice-president of Super Judah Promotions, which is partnering with Main Events, added, "Matthysse will make for an exciting fight. He is a young fighter that possesses decent hand speed and plenty of power. He has never faced an opponent like Zab who has the fastest hands in boxing, crushing power and a level of experience that only comes from fighting the cream of the crop. This is the type of matchup that boxing needs."

It sounds like the kind of fight Judah needs to move him closer to a title shot at 140 at a time when HBO already has matched WBC and IBF champion Devon Alexander against WBO king Timothy Bradley on Jan. 29. An impressive showing by Judah against the 27-year-old Matthysse might position him perfectly to fight the winner.