Hebrew Hammer wins again
BOXING CLETUS SELDIN — The “Hebrew Hammer” — lived up to his name as he took his record to 21 straight victories in front of his adoring home-town fans in Long Island on Saturday night.
Seldin stopped rugged Mexican Roberto Ortiz in the third round at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and afterwards declared: “I’m a human wrecking machine”.
And he added: “I could’ve taken him out a little bit earlier, but I showed my determination. I kept coming, trying to land that big shot.
“I could do it with either hand. I was really trying to set him up. You could see how rough and tough and old school I fight. You’ve got to be in great shape to take me down.”
The 31-year-old, from Brooklyn, who is yet to fight outside the United States, had Ortiz on the canvas after just 14 seconds of round one when he landed a terrific right-hand.
And he floored Ortiz again in the same round with another right.
By now Ortiz, who had suffered only one previous defeat in his 10-year career, was cut on the bridge of the nose and over his right eye.
After an examination by the ringside doctor, the bout was allowed to continue.
But in the third, Seldin, wearing a Star of David on his purple and white shorts, caught Ortiz again and he went down on one knee complaining that he had been hit by Seldin’s elbow.
However, referee Shada Murdaugh waved away the Mexican’s protest and stopped the fight. It was Seldin’s 17th stoppage victory.
Seldin is a throwback to the days of New York Jewish fighters like Benny Leonard and Barney Ross, who were superstars in the 1930s.
He throws punches from wide angles and pursues his opponents relentlessly across the ring, never giving them time to regroup.
This win, broadcast in America by HBO and in this country by Sky, will have boosted his profile and his management team could soon move him into title contention.
HBO, who were featuring Seldin for the first time, will be sure to want their viewers to see more of Seldin’s all-action style.