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!