When Boxing Becomes a Jewish Sport - Yuri Foreman vs. Miguel Cotto

At one time, boxing was a Jewish sport. From 1910-1940 there were 26 Jewish world champions, and by 1928 Jews were the dominant ethnic group in the sport. One hardly recognizes these facts from the makeup of today's boxing cards. But a new generation of Jew, Orthodox and in rabbinical school, no less, has emerged to remind the world of the great Jewish pugilists of the past.

Last Saturday night in Yankee Stadium, Yuri Foreman, the Jewish rabbinical student champion, fought challenger Miguel Cotto for the WBA super welterweight championship title. In the middle of round 7, Foreman slipped and injured an already weakened knee. In pain and hobbled he continued on, looking for no excuse to quit. Again he slipped and wrenched his knee one more time. Instead of calling it quits he went toe to toe with the challenger until a body blow in the 9th round knocked him to the mat and the referee called a TKO. In the midst of the mayhem an unknown party "threw in the towel", bringing the fight to a mistaken halt until the referee restarted it again.

Do not be misled by the sports writers who proclaimed this a rout and said that Foreman was "clobbered". Foreman put up one of the greatest displays of sheer guts boxing the ring has ever seen.

Watch it here, starting in the 6th round when things start to get dicey for Foreman.

Mazel Tov to Israel's Own Yuri Foreman - WBA Light Middleweight Champion of the World

This has nothing to do with Mitzpe Ramon, but everything to do with Israel. Yuri Foreman, born in Russia, raised in Haifa, Israel, and now three years into a four year course of study in Brooklyn to become an Orthodox rabbi, has just taken the World Boxing Association Light Middleweight Campionship of the World title from Puerto Rican Daniel Santos. In a 12 round fight in Las Vegas, Foreman won a unanimous decision against Santos, easily eclipsing the veteran Puerto Rican champio. Foreman was light on his feet, danced every round, and clearly controlled the fight from the second round onward. Watch Foreman's tremendous victory here, and raise a glass of L'chaim to the new Star of David wearing champion of the world, Yuri Foreman!

Click the red arrow, close any windows that may be opened, return here and click the green arrow. This video is free. You don't have to sign-up for or pay anything to see it. Best viewed in full-screen mode. The entire fight is here!