Brooklyn, NY – Prize-winning Jewish American boxer Dmitriy Salita arrived in Israel for his first visit in the country.
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27 year old Salita is also known as “The Star of David” because of the Israeli flag he waves at tournaments and the star of David that appears on his sports uniform.
Dmitriy is an Orthodox Jew born in Odessa, Ukraine, and currently living in Brooklyn, New York. He is in Israel as a guest of the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization.
Dmitriy spoke about the combination between his religious-observant life as a Jew and the competitive-physical field of boxing. The Jewish boxer explained that boxing was Jewish field of sport since the 1920’s and that his dream is to box in Israel.
Salita’s arrival in Israel follows by just a few days his losing bid for a world championship, in a matchup with Muslim boxer and world champion Amir Khan, (as was reported here on VIN News).
Asked if he felt the Jew-versus-Muslim aspect during the match Dmitriy says that he and Amir Khan thought only of sport during the match, but that the atmosphere in terms of the audience was very tense.
Amir khan vs Dmitriy Salita – knock out after 10 sec.
Nebach so krum. G-d gave us all the ability to do lots of things but that doesn’t mean G-d WANTS us to use those talents in that manner.
Sounds to me like he & his rabbis are bei
moreh heter here so he could box instead of saying this isn’t a yiddishe thing to be doing. Der Aybishter zul helfin that he should come to this conclusion soon as he continues his trek into Shomer Torah U’mitzvos.
Poor guy, he got knocked out so fast. He got knocked down iwithin 3 seconds of the fight on the first jab, and the fight was over shortly thereafter. But it was cool seeing him in a suit and yarmalka during the staredown presser with Amir Khan.
Dmitry is a really nice guy, but as an boxer just an average, it was a mistake for him and his managers to let him fight for the title. He is just lucky he did not get hurt and it was over in 76 seconds
It was better for his own safety that he didn’t win. Khan was literally playing on home turf, had he won there would have been quite a bit of violence, to say the least. As it is they were shouting, “kill the Jew”
Hey #1 - get a life. At least he is akollel guy attempting to make an honest living rather than relying on me and my friends to fund their borsalinos.
I just love how people assume what god wants. God wants you to stop guessing what he wants and just follow the torah and mitzvas.
I wondor if any of the people leaving negitive comments relize what background Dimitry originaly came from and how much he has grown in terms of his Yidiskeit -boxing or not boxing – winning or not – Dimitry and his Rabbi deserve a lot of credit – Im sure G-d is proud
He might be a nice guy, but he ain’t no champ. Bummy Davis was a Jewish boxing champion.
He is a champ. He won the NABA. His record prior to his fight was 30-0. Why doesnt VIN show some clips of his prior fights? He is an amazing boxer, and has done more in Kiruv than an entire Kollel combined.
To number 14: Dmitry is a role model for being a baal tshuva, not for his boxing. Nobody is denigrating the guy for his mesiras nefesh for Torah and mitzvos. Boxing is a goyisha sport. Now, PULEEZE don’t leave the frum community.
I happen to be very Chasidish and I follow all sports including boxing , for a Frum Yid to take on boxing and making a Parnassa out of it is the greatest Kiddush Hashem , no longer are Yidden classified as wimps , Yidden are now prominent in all sports and to Mr. Salita “” Chazak Vemutz “” you will be champion one day !!!!
The torah says “yudayim yiday Eisav.” I would submit that makes it pretty clear that boxing is not something a nice Jewish boy should be engaged in. Perhaps he should go speak to a gadol while he is in Eretz Yisrael and get an opinion as to whether he should continue to box.
I think Dimitry is a nice wholesome person, I just wish he was in baseball or golf where the sport itself is not about injuries. Boxing is a sport I really don’t understand how a Rabbi can o.k..You’re popped in the head so many times & the object of the game is to knock your lights out, literally!!! Look at any of the great boxers today, Ali, Hollyfield, Forman, Tyson..(I had to throw him in there!!) none of them can speak coherently anymore-to many blows to the brain! I saw Dimitry’s last fight, the shock and disoriented look on his face every time he went down (3X) was down right unnerving when you think about the damage later. Just remember a concussion is AN INJURY TO THE BRAIN think about that for a moment. Then tell me if Ushemartem Meod L’Nafshosaychem should be considered here in this sport!
Go Salita! Some posters seem to have head injuries without the boxing!! As a caring Jew and as a parent of a teen fan, I hope you leave this dangerous sport and stay healthy! Remain the Star of David, not c”v the patient of Magen David Adom (israeli ambulance service)
Hey ,
It is so pretty – but Dimitri is a boxer for the Baker & not for the Pro – Yes indeed he can box – Not in London – Not with Amir Khan –
I think he should go find a job somewhere may be in a gas station or in a Factory ,
He has a Wife – Soon a Child – They need some bread –
Sorry for you – but you do not belong here ..