Staying Focused: David Malul Discusses His Third Fight

David Malul showed some more of his skills in his third fight, a unanimous decision victory over Shaquille Rushing last Saturday. His jab and his dedication to the body were two key factors in his win.

"I believe in my jab," Malul told The Jewish Boxing Blog. "It was the gameplan to use the jab and I saw openings for it." The importance of the jab is espoused by his coach Mike Stellate at the Main Street Gym. "Everything is based off the jab," Malul said.

Bodywork is also stressed. "Body in Hebrew is behtan (בטן). Everybody in the gym knows the word behtan, because I say it so much." David understands just how essential body punches are. He's learning how to use them to break down opponents. "When you see it work, you believe it. Going to the body wasn't just the gameplan for this fight. It's the gameplan for every fight."

In November, Malul scored a devastating knockout of Zachary Davis. In the second round of that fight, he loaded up on head shots. "If I see an opening, I'm going to take it," the 22 year old explained. "He had an awkward frame that wasn't sturdy. I knew his punches wouldn't hurt me even if he caught me, so it was low risk," he said of his second pro fight. "If I can take you out early, I'll put you to sleep. I don't get paid overtime." In the third round, he set up the vicious knockout blow with a couple of shots to the ole behtan.

Malul was originally scheduled to fight Rushing on February 13, but the fight was delayed five weeks because of an illness to a main event fighter. David himself suffered from the flu in early February, having to cut weight and spar while sick. He was initially disappointed with the postponement because he had pushed himself so hard to get ready. But Coach Stellate helped him reorient his mentality. "My coach said, 'Now you have more time to train and have a better performance.'"

Curiously, Rushing is listed as a southpaw on BoxRec. Malul had seen his first fight and was prepared for him to fight from an orthodox stance, but he was ready for anything. He brought in "Lefty Gunz" Matthew Gonzalez to spar in case Rushing fought as a southpaw.

At the weigh-in, a fighter in another matchup refused to show up, which delayed the proceedings for over an hour. Coach Stellate kept Malul focused and reframed the situation. "Just imagine how hungry your opponent is," the coach told his charge.

Once the fight started, David trusted his skills more. "Slowly, the ring is becoming a home to me," he said. One skill he's had to learn is tuning out the crowd. His fans are boisterous and it affected him in his debut, a fight in which he was knocked down twice in the first before winning by knockout that same round. "When I say I didn't have much experience, it's not just the ten amateur fights. I didn't have experience with the crowd. Now I'm zoned in. I had to learn to dial out the crowd."

For the Rushing fight, David wore "Bibas" on his orange trunks to honor Shiri, Ariel and Kfir. The mother and her two sons were kidnapped and murder by Hamas in 2023. Yarden Bibas, who was released after 484 days in captivity, wrote a note of appreciation to David for the gesture. "I wanted to win to honor them," David said.

While his commemoration of the Bibas family has gained some publicity, flying under the radar is the fact that David flew out wounded Israeli soldiers and bought them front row seats to show his gratitude for their sacrifice.

David's heart is in the right place, but so is his head. When asked what he can improve in the ring, he was adamant, "My whole game entirely," he said. "My jab, my right hand, everything. I'll be working on it in the gym. I truly believe my best skill hasn't come out yet."

When it does, the crowd will surely be rocking and the opponent will soon be sleeping.

David Malul Sweeps the Cards

"King" David Malul defeated Shaquille "Gold Rush" Rushing by unanimous decision at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York, USA. The fight was the main event of Star Boxing's Rockin' Fights 50.

Malul came out with an improved jab that he threw accurately and with purpose throughout the fight. The 22 year old from Jamaica, Queens, New York went to the body early and often. He varied his power downstairs and landed with both hands, but mostly with left hooks. The body shots didn't quite set up the knockout blow upstairs as they did against Zachary Davis last fight, though.

Rushing - a 29 year old from Lakeland, Florida - threw punches, but very few were effective. His best punch of the fight was a counter left hook in the third after Malul had thrown one of his many left hooks to the body.. Rushing's best qualities were toughness and a tremendous heart.

Malul threw right uppercuts, left hooks, overhand rights, straight rights, and chopping rights, but Rushing was able to stand upright throughout. He wobbled just before the bell to end the first round, but he managed to use the minute rest period to recover.

All three judges and The Jewish Boxing Blog scored the fight 40-36 for Malul. David wore orange trunks and had "Bibas" across his trunks to honor Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023 and eventually murdered. He also dedicated the fight to his late grandfather who died recently. "I felt his presence," David said.

Now 3-0 with two KOs, Malul is motivated to continue to succeed. "If they want to beat me," he said, "they'll have to kill me." Rushing is now 0-2.

photo courtesy of Star Boxing

Malul and Rushing Make Weight

"King" David Malul and Shaquille "Gold Rush" Rushing weighed in ahead of their 148-pound clash tomorrow at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York, USA. They are scheduled to fight on Star Boxing's Rockin' Fights 50.

Malul (2-0, 2 KOs), a 22 year old New Yorker, weighed 147.4 pounds for the second straight fight. He was 146.6 for his debut. This bout was announced at a catchweight, a pound above the welterweight limit. In preparation for this fight, he sparred with several of his Main Street Gym stablemates. Some fighters he sparred with were Ronnie Reyes, Joe Elzey, and Yeuri Andujar. "All sharp guys who pushed me every session and made sure I was ready for anything on fight night," Malul told The Jewish Boxing Blog.

Rushing (0-1), a 29 year old from Florida, came in at 144.6. He was 141.5 pounds for his debut. BoxRec lists Rushing as a southpaw, but he fought his debut in the orthodox stance.

There was a delay before the fighters could weigh in, which Malul called "a little bit of a drag." Fighters often have to cut weight, and any wait can add more strain to the body. "I stayed focused, kept my energy right, and made sure I was ready when it was time to step on the scale," Malul explained.

Malul-Rushing is scheduled for four rounds. The fight can be stream at StarBoxing.tv.

Lev Jackson Returning in April

Lightweight Lev Jackson is scheduled to return to the ring on April 5 in Jalisco, Mexico on a show promoted by Teofista Boxing. Jackson last fought on July 20, 2023.

A 32 year old from Vancouver, Jackson is an all-action fighter. He defeated the bigger Luis Prieto by majority decision in his last fight to move to 3-1-1 with one KO. Then, he experienced an unexpected 20-month layoff. Jackson was scheduled to fight that December, but the commission pulled the opponent and a replacement couldn't be found in time. Lev was then scheduled to fight last April, but that fight fell through.

Since his last fight, Jackson has had better luck out of the ring. A butcher by trade, he got engaged and his first child in on the way. Lev has reunited with coach Junior Moar for this fight, his first outside of Canada.

Seldin Wins Tough Fight by MD

Junior welterweight Cletus Seldin defeated Yeis Solano by majority decision in a tough fight at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA on 360 Promotions St. Patrick’s Day card this evening. Seldin’s constant pressure and activity carried the contest.

The 38 year old Seldin, wearing purple sequin trunks, came out to Rick Derringer’s “Real American” as a portion of the crowd chanted “Hamma, “Hamma!” Solano, a 32 year old Colombian, marched to the ring to “Lejos de Casa” by Dandy Bway.

Seldin came out of the gate like a bull. Solano, a southpaw who is naturally right handed, immediately fought off the backfoot. In the pocket, the “Hebrew Hammer” dipped to his right. Solano soon caught on and started landing straight lefts.

Seldin had Solano against the ropes throughout the fight, beginning in the second round. Seldin ravaged the body to take the round and even the score. But Cletus’s left eye started to swell.

The third started with some heated exchanges that didn’t do much damage. Solano boxed well, connecting with right hooks. “El Tigre” maintained the momentum into the fourth. He walked Seldin onto his hooks and straight lefts. After four, Seldin appeared to be down three-to-one and searching for answers. Someone from press row joked, “Looks like he left his hammer at home tonight.”

Cletus possesses superior stamina compared to most fighters and it served him well in this fight. He never relented, never stopped throwing his hands. Conversely, Solano wore down. He got on his bike in the fifth as Cletus kept after his midsection.

To start the sixth, referee David Fields called the doctor over to look at Seldin’s eye. Once allowed to continue, he launched a big right. Solano alternated between holding and running. To his credit, the Colombian came back in the seventh and was responsible for the eye-catching shots. Cletus though never stopped bullying Solano against the ropes.

Seldin needed a convincing eighth and final round and he delivered. Solano mostly tried to survive, perhaps thinking he was ahead, or perhaps he was gassed. Seldin exhibited a great motor right through the final bell.

One judge had it a draw; the same score as The Jewish Boxing Blog. But two judges scored the bout for Seldin, 78-74, 77-75. After the fight, Cletus and his wife announced that they have a baby on the way. Daddy Hammer is now 29-1 with 23 KOs. Solano falls to 16-5 with 10 KOs. Mazel tov to the Seldins!

Seldin and Solano Make Weight

Cletus Seldin and Yeis Solano both made weight ahead of their clash tomorrow at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA. Seldin came out with a leprechaun hat and tossed it into the crowd before the ceremonial weigh-in.

Seldin (28-1, 23 KOs) came in at 139.2 pounds. This is the lightest the 38 year old Seldin has been since the William Silva fight in 2021, three bouts ago. His lightest was 138.25 pounds against Zab Judah in 2019. His heaviest was 148 pounds early in his career.

Solano (15-4, 10 KOs) weighed 139.4 pounds. This is the lightest the southpaw has weighed since 2019, which was his first fight in the United States. The 32 year old Colombian's lightest weight was 130 pounds ten years ago. His heaviest was 143.75 pounds in 2021.

At the press conference, Cletus Seldin said he belongs on the 360 Promotions' St. Patrick Day card because he's 3% Irish. The Hebrew Hammer is about as Irish as a potato latke, but Cletus showed appreciation to promoter Tom Loeffler for including him on this show. Seldin told Inside The Ropes that he has tried to get on cards up and down the East Coast this past year, but the free agent hasn't much luck. Seldin's last fight was on 360 Promotions' St. Patrick's card last year.

The weigh-in can be viewed at Fight Hub's YouTube page. The Jewish Boxing Blog's preview of the fight can be viewed here.

Seldin-Solano is scheduled for eight rounds and will be streamed on UFC  Fight Pass's YouTube page. The event is scheduled to start at 4pm New York time, and Seldin's fight in the third bout.

Review of The Knockout

The Knockout: Sport's Most Decisive Moment
By Andy Clarke

Aurum, 2024

In The Knockout, Sky Sports commentator Andy Clarke examines the moment a fight is stopped through the perspectives of the victor, the vanquished, the coach, and the referee. The views of Carl Froch, Tony Bellew, David Haye, and Matthew Macklin make up the majority of the book and are its strength.

The fighters share their mentality heading into battle. Most acknowledge that they can- and at some point will- get knocked out, an illuminating revelation. They discuss their fear, their nerves, and their focus. They provide a fascinating window behind the scenes.

Knockouts are broken up into two categories: the one-punch shot and the type that involves breaking down the opponent. Clarke explains everything thoroughly so that someone new to the sport can follow along. However, the insight from the boxers will satisfy a hardcore fan and resonate with current and former fighters.

The Knockout comes up short in some ways, however. It's organized thematically, but the best portions are when the focus is simply on one person for an extended portion. Those parts made Clarke's journalistic introductions, describing where he met the interviewee, more relevant. The chapter on "Fear" left the most to be desired in terms of organization.

The book could've used better editing. Long-winded sentences and inconsistent comma usage probably don't matter to most readers, but those who care will struggle with some parts of the book. The numerous clauses in a sentence can muddle Clarke's points, "Despite my reservations above, I do believe, having discussed it with numerous parties, that 'everything happens for a reason' can be a helpful navigational tool (especially in a career as unpredictable as that of a professional boxer), if employed as a philosophical overview, as an ongoing course of treatment, if you will, rather than as a cure for a specific ailment (pg. 196)." Many of Clarke's sentences are pithy and enlightening, but there are too many tedious ones like this example.

British English and American English disagree on some forms of comma usage. Personally, I favor commas after introductory phrases, the oxford comma, and the consistent employment of commas. It helps make things clearer. For fear of going to deep into a lesson of commas, suffice it to say, this book had its issues regardless of which system is used.

The Knockout had the potential to be mentioned alongside Mike Silver's important Arc of Boxing, but the above issues hold it back. The final fight covered at length, between Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker, didn't even end in a knockout. But there are plenty of interesting anecdotes to make it worth a read, especially for those interested in the British boxing scene.

The Desire to Improve: Doron Zinman Discusses the Phungula Fight

Doron Zinman's dominant first round TKO victory on February 21 signified an improvement over his pro debut. "I worked hard to perform better this fight and will continue to do as such," Zinman told The Jewish Boxing Blog.

In his debut last November, Zinman showed a noteworthy ability to adjust mid-fight and take control of the contest after a slow start. In his second fight, the "Buzzsaw" spent a few seconds assessing the situation before attacking his opponent, Nhlakanipho Phungula.

"I realized quickly that my best attack would be on the inside where I can land my hard shots while he would struggle with no room," Zinman explained.

While Phungula was on the ropes in the Philly Shell style of defense, Zinman saw openings for his right to the head and threw accordingly.  "I tried to go to his body, but his hands were tied to his midsection, leaving his chin open for my punch." Zinman dissected. "The angle which I was standing made it ideal to land the right hand at will. That caused both the knockdown and the stoppage when he shelled up."

While chopping away at Phungula with rights up top, Zinman slipped in a right uppercut that initiated the knockdown. It was a beautiful adjustment that showed Zinman is a fast learner. The 20 year old from Cape Town didn't have much of an amateur career, but he was able to quickly develop a winning strategy against a tricky defensive style. While Phungula is not exactly George Benton or Floyd Mayweather, Zinman's ability to pressure his man, eat some punches along the way, and still process information rapidly bodes well for his future in the ring.

But Zinman knows he's not a finished product yet. "There is a lot to learn from this fight," he said. "It was far from what I am capable of doing. My footwork, range management, and head movement definitely need my attention and continuous improvement."

In addition to his other qualities, the desire to improve means Doron "Buzzsaw" Zinman is one to keep an eye on.

Preview of Cletus Seldin vs. Yeis Solano

Cletus Seldin is now scheduled to fight Yeis Gabriel Solano on March 16 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA. His original opponent on the 360 Promotions card was Issouf Kinda, who was replaced a couple of weeks ago.

Seldin, a 38 year old New Yorker with a record of 28-1 (23 KOs), last fought a year ago at the same venue in an event run by the same promotor. The "Hebrew Hammer" started strong against Jose Angulo, scoring a knockdown in both of the first two rounds before winning by majority decision. In the meantime, Cletus, who proposed to his long time girlfriend immediately after the Angulo fight, got married.

Solano (15-4,10 KOs) is no pushover for Seldin. The 32 year old southpaw from Colombia doesn't have the prettiest record, but the man called "El Tigre" has been in tough in recent years. After winning his first twelve fights in his native land and two in Mexico, he relocated to Las Vegas. His last five fights have all been in the United States against good fighters.

On ShoBox, Solano effectively fought off the ropes against an aggressive Argentine named Elias Araujo in 2019. Though Araujo controlled the tenor of the fight, Solano scored a knockdown in the fourth and countered enough to earn a split decision victory.

A year and a half later, Solano returned to ShoBox where he lost his undefeated record to Mykquan Williams, who outboxed the Colombian. After a split decision defeat to Alberto Palmetta, another Argentine, Solano was dominated by Gabriel Gollaz nearly two years later. Gollaz won by sixth round KO.

Last November, Solano retreated to the ropes against fellow southpaw Kelvin Davis in an attempt to draw the taller man to him. Davis wisely kept his range and convinced Solano to leave his hands at home. Davis scored a late knockdown and a wide unanimous decision victory.

An experienced amateur, Solano is a natural righty with a good right hook. He can fight in different styles, but recently prefers to stay on the perimeter and counter. Seldin will want to bully Solano, keeping him on the ropes because it will neutralize Solano's southpaw advantage if the Colombian is squared up with his back to the ropes. However, Solano is the rare fighter who seems to enjoy fighting off the ropes.

When Seldin fought Zab Judah, a southpaw, he spent some of that fight as a lefty which is another route he could go if he needs it. Seldin switched to southpaw against William Silva when he was being outboxed. Solano can box, but not like Judah or Silva. Seldin should use his strength advantage and muscle Solano, but be mindful of counters.

Seldin-Solano is scheduled for eight rounds and can be streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

Brooklyn Barwick Wins Debut with First Round TKO

Brooklyn "The Big Deal" Barwick won her pro debut by first round TKO tonight at Salon CTM in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico. She stopped Alejandra Marruffo fifty-four seconds into the opening stanza.

Wearing all pink, Barwick raced out of the corner and started throwing punches immediately. She showed an improved jab and changed levels effectively. Touching Marruffo's body created openings up top, which Barwick took advantage of. Marruffo tried to throw back, but her ill-conceived punches couldn't stop Barwick's constant attack. Referee Daniel Alberto Duarte jumped in after Marruffo ate several shots while her back was to the ropes.

While Barwick fought much better than she had in her previous exhibitions, Marruffo was not a capable opponent. This bout was announced as a lightweight contest in contrast to Marruffo's first fight in November, which was scheduled for twenty pounds lighter, a difference of six weight divisions. The 32 year old from Mexico is now 0-2 with two first round stoppage losses.

Barwick would be wise to stay active this year against lower level competition and then step up only after gaining more pro experience. The 25 year old is now 1-0- with 1 KO.