Joshua Clottey and Zab Judah have a lot to prove.

Clottey is fighting to gain the respect he feels he deserves and Judah is looking to regain the respect he has lost over the years. The two will put their respective boxing futures on the line in a clash between welterweights on August 2nd at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

This is a bout that could have serious implications—on not only the division but both Judah and Clottey’s careers–especially considering how Antonio Margarito has recently shaken up the boxing world with his astounding 11th round TKO over Miguel Cotto. The two combatants held a press conference at The Palms’ lounge to begin the hype for their Saturday fight.

“The welterweight division is the hottest in boxing right now,” Top Rank Promotions founder Bob Arum stated to being the media event.

Clottey (34-2, 24 KOs) has proven to be a bruiser by going blow for blow with Margarito before hurting his left hand and costing him a victory against the Mexican.

“I don’t want to talk about that fight because it makes me feel bad,” is all Clottey wants to say about that fight.

Clottey’s only other loss came by disqualification due to headbutts against Carlos Baldomir. He also been dominant in his victories, most notably the roughing up of the late Diego Corrales to win a ten round unanimous decision as well as the majority decision he earned against previously unbeaten Richard Guitierrez back in 2006.

“This is my time for me to be a champion,” Clottey says. “I’m not going to lose this fight. No way!”

Former two division champion Zab Judah (36-5, 25 KOs) certainly has been in his fair share of wars. The fight with Clottey is no different but Judah expects the big fight environment to swallow his opponent whole and leave Judah to pick him apart.

“I’ve been in this type of environment before,” states Judah. “I know what it takes before and I know what happens after and it’s my time to take it. I kind of miss (the spotlight) and on August 2nd I’m going to get it back.”

Judah interestingly alluded to sparring with Clottey years ago when speaking with media following the press conference. But when Fightnews.com asked Clottey about the sessions, Clottey vehemently denied that he has ever been in the ring with Judah.

“I never sparred with him before,” explains Cottey. “I challenged him to a fight in the gym before but he wanted to fight me in the streets and I told him ‘No, because if I fight you in the streets I will beat you.’ Because of that I left the gym but I have never been in the ring with him before. Never!”

Regardless, with Clottey fighting now out of the Bronx and Judah – who now resides in Las Vegas – calling Brooklyn his home, he referred to an old Hip Hop expression to summarize what will happen Saturday night.

"I have known Joshua Clottey for a long time and I respect him. But as the old saying goes: 'The Bronx keeps on making it and Brooklyn keeps on taking it!' I am taking it August 2nd!"