Tristan Mizrahi to Fight Next Month

Tristan Mizrahi is 2-0 with 2 KOs. On October 18, three days after his 30th birthday, he'll face his third opponent named Garcia. This one, Andrew, signifies a real step-up for Mizrahi.

The Miami, Florida-based fighter has kickboxing and MMA experience as well as boxing. "I started kickboxing when I was 12," Mizrahi told The Jewish Boxing Blog. "Boxing was always a big part of my training. I've basically been around combat sports most of my life."

In 2021, he stopped Oscar Garcia in the second round. Tristan was a junior welterweight for that bout. Last year, he fought Oscar Garcia Silverio at super middleweight and stopped him in the first. Both fights took place in Sousa, Dominican Republic in miniscule rings. Mizrahi took control of center ring in both contests and dominated with a mixture of poise and straight punches.

"Over the years, boxing has become more of a focus for me," Mizrahi said. He has been coaching youth boxers for over ten years and also works with adults. "I really enjoy being able to take everything I've learned over the years and pass it on to other people."

The October fight against Andrew Garcia, a 30 year old from Hialeah with a 4-1 record, will be Tristan's U.S. debut. The middleweight contest is a chance for Mizrahi's pro career to build some momentum

Yan Zak KOs Peter Msyoka

Undefeated cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak battered Peter Msyoka on his way to a fourth round knockout victory at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates today. Despite being knocked down three times, Msyoka proved trickier than expected.

A 32 year old from Tanzania, Msyoka began the fight attempting to win. Zak, a 26 year old Israeli, remained patient, applying front-foot pressure. Msyoka used his jab effectively, but when he let go of a right to the body, he received a hard counter left for his trouble. it wouldn't be the last time for that particular sequence of events. As a result, Msyoka held, something he would do often throughout the fight.

Towards the end of the opening round, Msyoka fired a wild right on the break. It missed, but he was sternly admonished for the infraction. The rest of the round was a battle of feints.

Zak felt comfortable by the second round. He boxed with his hands down, feinting and probing the guard. A lightning right to the temple forced Msyoka to bend down and he took a punch to the back of the head while on his way down. That punch was legal because Msyoka fell into the path of the punch. For the rest of the round, the Tanzanian held Zak tighter than Julius Nyerere to the concept of Ujamaa. Zak zipped some popping counters, but he was a bit wild gunning for the knockout at times.

Yan was perhaps too anxious to land the perfect punch in the third. He tried to set up a pull counter but couldn't quite time it. Msyoka's hands were active, but Zak proved adept at catching his shots. Both men showed good upper body movement, which played a role in slowing down the amount of effective offense from the other.

In the fourth, Msyoka landed two punches to the body but took a hard right to the temple. Another right to the body resulted in another Zak counter right, which put Mysoka down. A bit later, a clubbing right forced Msyoka to stumble around the ring as the end crept closer. A stunning straight right-left combination flush to Msyoka's face, snapped back his head. He quickly took a knee, shook his head, and remained down for the count of ten with nine seconds remaining in the round. 

Zak improves to 9-0 with 7 KOs. Msyoka is now 15-3 (15 KOs). It was the third time he's been stopped. After the fight, the promotion ambushed Zak a little bit by bringing another 9-0 cruiserweight, Tamba Merlin, into the ring and goading them to fight in the near future. Zak didn't take the bait and handled to encounter with class.

Cruiserweights Yan Zak and Peter Msyoka Make Weight

Yan Zak and Peter Msyoka both made weight ahead of their clash tomorrow at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Zak came in at 199.8 pounds. His range has been between 190 and 202, but he has primarily straddled the cruiserweight limit by a pound of two. The 26 year old is 8-0 with 6 KOs. He arrived in Dubai yesterday for his fifth pro fight in the emirate.

Msyoka, a 32 year old from Tanzania, weighed 198.4 pounds. His range has been between 178.5 and 200. Peter must be commended for his professionalism in always making weight. With a record of 15-2 and 15 KOs, Msyoka is making his third appearance in a ring outside of his native country.

After the weigh-in, Zak refueled with electrolyte gels and a sports drink. He had rice cakes and water. He then enjoyed a meal of white rice and fish with a bottle of peach Vitamin Well Antioxidant.

Zak-Msyoka is scheduled for ten rounds and will be streamed on iFL TV. For The Jewish Boxing Blog's preview of the fight, click here.

Preview of Yan Zak vs. Peter Msyoka

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak faces Peter Msyoka this Saturday at the Meydan Hotel, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Though Msyoka, a 32 year old from Tanzania, is no pushover, Zak must be considered the favorite.

Zak is a 26 year who represents Ashdod, Israel. A member of the Tyson Mireli team, Zak has amassed a sterling record of 8-0 with 6 KOs. The Terminator is a classy boxer-puncher who has developed more of a pro style in recent fights. Instead of revealing all of his arsenal at once, Zak has been going through the gears to establish dominance before disposing of his opponents.

Msyoka (15-2, 15 KOs) is a skilled fighter, but not on Zak's level. All of his wins have come against substandard opposition, primarily novices. A 2025 win against journeyman George Dimoso was his lone victory over someone who could actually fight. That one ended when Dimoso took out his mouthpiece in the fifth, put it back in, and then spit it out.

The ending of the Dimoso fight is illustrative of how many of Msyoka's fights finish, though Dimoso wanted to continue. While Msyoka's knockout wins are not necessarily fixed, they almost always end strangely, which could be a function of his opponents looking for a way out. 

Early in 2025, Msyoka fought Ally Pori, who was apparently knocked unconscious by a body shot. For boxers, the frustrating aspect of absorbing the perfect body shot is that they're acutely aware of their surroundings, they know the pain is temporary, and yet they are powerless to get up. Pori evidentially didn't get the memo until he magically awoke a little after the count.

Msyoka's wins have also come against opponents with physical limitations. The most extreme case came versus Alex Mwakibete, who was significantly shorter and rounder in the middle than Msyoka. After showing some tricky footwork, Mwakibete was knocked out cold by the wind of a Msyoka missed punch.

Though Mwakibete is 40 years old, he isn't one of the several Tanzanian opponents Msyoka has faced who was born during the Julius Nyerere administration.

Peter traveled abroad twice for fights, and neither went well. He was drastically out of his depth against Faton Tulaj, a decent but unspectacular fighter based in Germany. Earlier this year, the Tanzanian fought Dhruv Supeyia, a Canadian, for the not-particularly-appropriate IBO Asia-Pacific cruiserweight title. Supeyia won a wild brawl by second round TKO.

Msyoka, who customarily wears light blue trunks with white trim and colorful ribbons dangling from his beltline, has a good left hook and throws effective body punches. He has some deceptive combinations, going up and down. He throws his right to the head more like a football, but his right to the body is a thudding shot. Zak cannot take Msyoka lightly, but the Israeli has fought tougher guys like Abdul Ubaya and Arshdeep Singh. He should take care of business early.

Zak-Msyoka is scheduled for ten rounds for a couple of belts.

David Malul to Fight in November

"King" David Malul announced on Instagram that he will return to the ring in November. He had been scheduled to fight on October 10 at the Paramount Theatre, his familiar stomping grounds.

The 23 year old boasts a 5-0 record with 3 KOs. He last fought in June, an impressive second round knockout of Julius Thomas in Atlantic City.

His first three fights were on Star Boxing cards. He fought last November on his own King David Promotions show in his home borough of Queens. Last fight was part of a Boxing Insider event.

The details of Malul's next fight have not been announced yet.

Feldman Decisions Brits in Dog Fight

Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Joshua Feldman bested the tough Emile Brits by unanimous decision today at Makers Landing in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Feldman captured a gritty fight with a mixture of supreme skill and strong resolve.

The 22-year-old southpaw from Cape Town landed repeated right uppercuts and relentlessly assaulted Brits's body. Feldman had never gone more than six rounds before, but he showed impressive stamina in this fast-paced ten rounder. He exhibited a mature game plan against the toughest opponent he has faced.

Brits, a 30 year old South African, connected with clean straight rights throughout the fight. Feldman's sturdy chin was tested too frequently for his fans' liking although he slipped a number of those rights. After a dominant first round, Feldman quickly took control of center ring in the second. The strategic shift happened too early in the fight, and Brits had a strong round despite a cut above his right eye. The blood percolated down his cheek in the waning seconds of the round, but his corner did a fantastic job of preventing a gorier scene.

Feldman's constant mashing of the midsection wore down the durable Brits. If there was a criticism of Feldman's right uppercut, it's that he initiated the failsafe tool when Brits was still fresh. Though the punch was there all night, Feldman could have possibly scored a knockout by holding off on showing that weapon until Brits faded. The element of surprise is a key aspect of securing a knockout.

By the end of the fifth round, Feldman was in complete control as Brits wilted. The question of a stoppage seemed to be a matter of when and not if. But in the sixth, Brits showed tremendous guts and got back into the fight. He took the next two rounds by slim margins thanks to a ton of straight rights. Feldman's left eye reddened in the seventh. 

Referee Elroy Marshall somewhat unfairly subtracted a point from Josh's ledger in the eighth due to low blows. In the face of the infraction, Feldman's body attack didn't relent, however. He won the ninth round convincingly and closed the show in the tenth as Brits tired down the stretch.

Two judges scored the fight 97-92 while a third had it 95-94, all for Feldman. The Jewish Boxing Blog saw it 96-93. The bout was awarded fight of the night, making the two combatants 10,000 Rand richer. After the contest, Josh acknowledged he fought on the front foot too frequently, spurred on by the hometown crowd.

Feldman's record is now 8-0 with 3 KOs. Brits falls to 6-4 with 3 KOs. He has never been stopped.

Joshua Feldman: Makes Weight, Ready for Step-Up Fight

Junior middleweights Joshua Feldman and Emile Brits both made the 154 pound limit ahead of their ten-round contest tomorrow at Maker's Landing in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The winner will capture a minor belt.

Feldman weighed in at 153.2 pounds. With a record of 7-0 (3 KOs), the native of Cape Town has been remarkably consistent with his weight throughout his young career. He's been within a pound and a quarter for all of his fights. After the weigh-in, he refueled on Pasta Napoletana with chicken and bread.

Over the past year, the 22-year-old southpaw has been working with Brandon Woods at DLX Gym in Las Vegas. "His knowledge and ability to breakdown the fundamentals is unparalleled," Josh said of his coach.

Woods apprenticed for over a decade under the watchful idea of Kenny Adams, a legendary teacher and Hall of Fame trainer. The student helped the great Nonito Donaire prepare for his clash against Naoya Inoue, perhaps the best fighter in the world. Illness prevented him from working the corner that night.

A classic boxer when he first traveled to Vegas, Feldman has added weapons to his arsenal. "I'm very excited to show my progress in this fight." he told The Jewish Boxing Blog. "I've completely transformed the past year." One area of improvement has been his inside game. After sparring against Mexican contenders, Feldman realized his infighting needed work.

"Brandon has given me a great understanding of how to fight on the inside, using glove manipulation techniques, and moving my body in perpetual motion to create offense," Feldman told The JBB. That doesn't necessarily mean that's the game plan for tomorrow night against Brits, but it's a realistic option now.

Feldman and Brits sparred a little over two years ago. Josh felt he got the better of the session though he acknowledged Brits's team said their man was out of shape. "I know I've progressed a ton in the last two years," explained Feldman.

That progress has come about thanks in part to sparring with the likes of Francisco Veron, Stevie McKenna, and the Terteryan twins, Sebastian and Nikolai - the latter an Olympian. "It's given me a ton of confidence," Feldman said. "I couldn't have hung with them when I first got here last year, but I now can give great work to any 154 pounder out there." He credits Coach Woods with that development.

Brits, a 6-3 (3 KOs) 30 year old from Kraaifontein on the outskirts of Cape Town, weighed in at 152.6 pounds. He's a tough veteran of combat sports who has never been stopped. Splitting his time between welterweight and junior middle, the five and a half year pro has faced the far stiffer competition under the lights. A rough come-forward fighter, Brits signifies Feldman's toughest opponent to date. It's a challenge Josh will face without Woods, who couldn't make the trip to Cape Town.

The fight is scheduled to be shown on Ignition TV in South Africa.

Cyril Benzaquen's Brief Boxing Career

Cyril Benzaquen medaled at prestigious amateur Muay Thai championships. He's a world champion kickboxer, who has been rated in the top ten in the world across different promotions. A model, speaker, promoter, and entrepreneur, Benzaquen has done just about everything. He even dabbled in professional boxing.

Of Moroccan heritage, the 36-year-old Benzaquen was born in France. He started kickboxing at the age of 13. After a successful amateur career in both kickboxing and Muay Thai, he turned pro in 2010. Benzaquen, who has two Master's degrees, won the ISKA light heavyweight title in 2015.

Cyril, who was trained by the legendary André Zeitoun, is known for his technical skills. "He was a really serious man in the gym," Zeitoun said of his former student. "He has good hands and very good low kicks," he told The Jewish Boxing Blog.

In 2018, Benzaquen decided to see what those good hands could do. On May 25, he debuted as a professional boxer. He dropped a four-rounder to the more experienced Matthieu Bernardet, three rounds to one. Less than a month later, Benzaquen swept the cards against Jeffe Florentz. On February 9 the following year, Benzaquen lost a close fight by split decision against another more experienced foe, Mehdi Salouane. Benzaquen finished with a pro boxing record of 1-2.

Cyril took his flying knees back to kickboxing, where he continued his astonishing success. He made his return to Glory in 2024 and won another ISKA world title. He is an eight-time world champion, a mark which includes title defenses in French kickboxing. Though his boxing career was brief, the champ continues to add to his long list of achievements in other disciplines.

The Big Deal is Back

Brooklyn "The Big Deal" Barwick took the summer off from boxing to visit Israel. The 26 year old featherweight linked up with several members of the Israeli combat sports community. Moshe, the brother of Nili Block, the Baltimore-born Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion, was one. While in the Holy Land, Barwick met the celebrity chef Tom Aviv and connected with Assaf of IsraelsMMA.

Barwick is nearing the end of her conversion journey. Born to a Jewish father, she is converting to Orthodox Judaism. "The conversion is long, hard and I've had to learn thirteen years of knowledge in nine months, but I'm feeling really good," she told The Jewish Boxing Blog.

She's developing self-defense courses, particularly for women, but also for co-eds. "I want to teach Jews how to fight," she said. Barwick held a self-defense seminar at the Palm Shtrimpin Festival in New York over the summer. Her next seminar is a women's safety class scheduled for Unity Litt's Rosh Hashanah Retreat. After experiencing controlling behavior in a past relationship, she wants to teach frum women and girls to protect themselves.

Brooklyn got back to training last week with the Sosa crew at New York Cops & Kids in Flatbush. She's targeting a fight in the fall at 126, before planning a move down to junior featherweight. She's currently seeking additional sponsors for her next bout.

If that isn't enough, Barwick announced, "I have a DJ set coming out soon. It's a break-up tune, and I hope that it shows you can come from nothing and turn into something." The EDM aficionado is aiming to walk out to her song in her next fight. She'll also sport a return to what she calls "Big Deal Blonde," as she was moments from a visit to the hairstylist during our phone conversation.

"It's a brand," she said. One the 7-1 fighter with seven KOs, looks to continue. "I am going to be a "'Big Deal' for as long as I can."

Preview of Joshua Feldman vs. Emile Brits

Undefeated junior welterweight Joshua Feldman will face fellow South African Emile "The Bomber" Brits on September 5 at Makers Landing in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. This will be Feldman's first fight since he began training with Brandon Woods in Las Vegas. The 22 year old southpaw will have had a fifteen-month layoff before he enters the ring next month with a couple of belts on the line.

Feldman traveled to Vegas last summer after spending his entire pro career under the guidance of one of the best trainers on the globe, Colin Nathan. As a world-renowned trainer and star manager, Nathan had a lot on his plate. Feldman sought out the DLX Gym and Woods, a quality trainer in his own right but one without Nathan's reputation yet.

This is a homecoming for the 7-0 fighter. This is will be his first pro contest in his hometown of Cape Town. Feldman has fought all of his pro bouts in the Johannesburg area.

Brits, 30, is an experienced kickboxer. The resident of Kraaifontein, located just outside of Cape Town, became a professional boxer in 2021. He's a rough, come-forward fighter. His toughest test came against Ibrahima Diallo on December 16, 2023 for the WBA 154-pound Africa title. Diallo, a tall southpaw, boxed effectively to win by unanimous decision.

Diallo landed right uppercuts as Brits came in. He attacked the body to slow down the South African, and landed crisp clean shots over the top. Lots of Brits's shots fell on Diallo's gloves and arms. Feldman fights differently than Diallo, but he's a southpaw who is adept at boxing. In recent fights, though, Josh has shown there's a dog inside of him, his mean streak in the ring rising to the surface.

Brits is 6-3 with 3 KOs; BoxRec doesn't list the Diallo fight. He's as tough as they come, so it will be difficult for Feldman to stop him. But body shots early could slow Brits's pressure. The right uppercut will be there and that could set up Josh's overhand left and right hook, both sharp punches.

This fight marks Feldman's first ten rounder. Brits has had two scheduled that far with the Diallo fight going the distance.

David Malul Scheduled for October

Undefeated welterweight prospect "King" David Malul is scheduled to return to the ring on October 10 at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York, USA. This will be his fourth fight at the Paramount and his fourth on a Star Boxing card.

Malul, 5-0 (3 KOs), is a native of Queens, New York. The 23 year old last fought at the Tropicana in Atlantic City back in June. He stopped Julius Thomas in the second round.

A devastating puncher when he first turned pro in 2024, David has incorporated more boxing into his game of late. Typically shorter than his opponents, he has been jabbing more on the way inside. He sets up his concussive overhand right more, and his left hook has evolved into a real weapon.

The October 10 fight is slated to be Malul's fight six-rounder. No opponent has yet been announced.

Fat City

The third installment in writer Andrew Rihn's #HittingTheBooks series is Fat City by Leonard Gardner.

Ernie Munger, an up-and-coming boxer, and Billy Tully, a washed up veteran trying to hang on to his career, struggle through life in their own ways. Neither lives life; both seemingly exist in a dreary continuum. Their only agency comes in the form of self-sabotage. The fleeting moments of boxing triumph are quickly washed away by low-paying jobs, strained relationships, and low-rent living accommodations in Stockton, California. They are trapped in a perpetual rut.

Munger's career essentially begins when he out-spars a faded Tully. To save face, Tully vouches for Munger's talent. But the young prospect doesn't have Top Rank, Matchroom, the PBC, or Zuffa setting him up with patsies to pad his record. Trainer Ruben Luna gives his time and money to his fighters for nothing more than a dream at the big time. He's no power broker though, and puts Munger in fights that turn out to be losing propositions.

Both Tully and Munger begin to resent the women in their lives. Tully drinks to numb the pain, but his alcoholism only causes him more trouble. In many ways, boxing isn't much different; it provides a brief high, but in the end, it literally leaves Tully stranded in the desert at night.

After the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Miami Dolphins by a score of 24-7 in Super Bowl VIII, defensive end Carl Eller explained, "It seemed I could hear Scottish bagpipes in the distance, keeping time as they came after us, wave after wave, gaining ground so easily, they seemed to be floating in suspended animation. It was a weird surrealistic scene, as if we were on the sidelines watching our own struggle yet being powerless to do anything about it."

Munger, Tully, and Luna would have fit in well with the Purple People Eaters on that day. But instead of Jim Kiick, Larry Czonka, and Mercury Morris crashing down on them in waves, the main characters of Fat City faced something more existential.

The last book as part of this year's #HittingTheBooks is The Slip by Lucas Schaefer.

"King" David Blyumkin: Boxing and Caviar

"King" David Blyumkin had a brief two-fight career as a 19 year old in 2021. Following a notable amateur career, he took a hiatus before winning both of his professional fights, one by knockout.

Born to Alexander and Polina, David was a slick boxer from Beverley Hills, California.  At 5'11", he was very tall for the junior welterweight division. He used his plus hand speed to counter opponents.

In 2018, Blyumkin made the quarterfinals of two national youth tournaments, the US Junior Olympics and the Youth National Championships. The 15 year old fought as a lightweight.

After about 18 amateur fights, Blyumkin took a couple of years off before returning to boxing and turning pro. Coached by former Ukrainian light heavyweight contender Anatoliy Dudchenko, David was set to make his debut on April 22, 2021 on a Ring City card headlined by heavyweight Jermaine Franklin. Instead, he and his team changed course and traveled to Palmito, Sucre, Colombia for an April 23 fight against Franki Vides (4-8, 4 KOs).

Goading Vides to charge forward, Blyumkin countered with some quick left hooks off the pivot. He had no problem touching the Colombian's body with quick combinations. Fighting off the back foot, David connected with a quick right counter that stunned Vides. The Californian pushed Vides back to the ropes and unleashed a sustained flurry that forced referee Edgar Alvarez to stop the contest with two seconds left in the opening round.

On November 20, David traveled back to Colombia, this time to Tolu, Sucre. He fought Jader Esquivia (2-11-1, one KO), scoring a picture perfect knockdown off his patented check hook. Blyumkin won by unanimous decision with three scores of 40-34.

Five years later, David is in the Los Angeles area and running a caviar company called Golden Reserve Caviar, which he founded with a couple of his friends.

Speaking with the Legends: Binnie Klein's Boxing Journey

In her memoir Blows to the Head: How Boxing Changed My Mind, Binnie Klein imagines conversations with three-fourths of the Jewish boxing Mount Rushmore: Daniel Mendoza, Benny Leonard, and Barney Ross. The accomplished Renaissance Woman has adapted these conversation for her Substack Open Tuning.

A psychotherapist by trade, Klein has also been a songwriter, DJ, Yale lecturer, author, and almost anything else you can think of. She took up boxing in her 50s, first as part of her physical therapy in recovering from an injury, and then because it was a way to discover more about herself.

Boxing allowed Klein to face her self-perceived physical inadequacies, which were partly tied to her Jewish heritage. Her training with coach John Spehar allowed her to discover her physical, mental, and emotional strength and develop a toughness she never realized she had. Spehar's selflessness is remarkable in its ubiquity in boxing; the trope of the coach who sacrifices tremendously for the betterment of his/her boxers. Most fighters have encountered the like.

Though Blows to the Head has a smattering of annoying historical inaccuracies, Klein gets boxing. She understands the discipline required, the notion of competitive violence, and the intimacy of working with a coach or sparring with a partner. She learns of the longline of Jewish toughs who overcame antisemitism, poverty, and family tragedy to reach heights their people never dreamed imaginable. Her conversations with the greats of yesteryear may feel a bit contrived at first, but the dialogue is tremendously insightful. Each fighter teaches Klein something about boxing and about life, all of which reinforces Spehar's philosophies. She captures the fighters' distinct voices so beautifully that their unnatural entrances become faded memories.

Boxing gave Klein a greater appreciation of her Jewish heritage. The sport was a portal into ethnic pride in a Bikelesque sense: not at the expense of other groups, but as an understanding in the stereotype-busting power of pugilism.

Two Fights on the Schedule in September

Joshua Feldman and Yan Zak are scheduled to fight in separate bouts in September. A junior middleweight, Feldman will be fighting in his home town of Caper Town, Western Cape, South Africa on September 5. Zak, a cruiserweight, fights in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on September 9.

Feldman, 7-0 (3 KOs), will be 22 years old when he fights Emile Brits, a 30 year old from Cape Town with a record of 6-2 (3 KOs).

Zak is a 26 year old with a record of 8-0 (6 KOs). The resident of Ashdod, Israel faces Peter Mysoka, a 32 year old Tanzanian with a record of 14-1 (14 KOs).

The Jewish Boxing Blog will have full previews of both fights.

SPOKS: The Ben Ephraims' New Project

Odelia Ben Ephraim and her dad, David, served as consultant on a new app called SPOKS. The Sport Konnections Global Action Network is designed to bring together athletes, clubs, federations, and experts from various fields.

A psychology student and artist in addition to her career as  professional boxer, the former French featherweight titlist, Odelia, is the face of the enterprise. David has been a long time coach, who now runs a gym in Israel.

Free for athletes, SPOKS intends to bring them together with gyms, various medical and performance experts, agents, and other athletes. Beyond boxing, folks involved in a variety of people are encouraged to sign up. Media members can also join to gain access to the people they cover. It's a fantastic idea meant to connect athletes all over the world with services they need to perform at their best. The challenge now is to drive up users.

Visit spoks.io for more.

The Gravity of Sarah Deming's Boxing Career

About a quarter of Brown University students are Jewish, up a few percent from thirty years ago. And while there have been quite a few Jewish winners of the New York Golden Gloves, only one graduated from Brown with a BA in comparative literature.

Sarah Deming worked as a yoga instructor, a chef, and a tutor when she decided to lace up the gloves for the first time. A classy boxer, who threw smart combinations, Deming wasn't afraid to mix it up and get her nose bloody. She won the New York Golden Gloves and the New York Empire Games as a featherweight just three years after taking up the sport. During the 1999 bantamweight finals at the Golden Gloves, Deming was still finding her style. Two years later, she showed dramatic improvement during her championship run.

Deming parlayed her successful amateur career into one as a writer. Her boxing experience informed her terrific 2019 novel Gravity, a story that oozes authenticity. Gravity Delgado has a Jewish mother and a Dominican father. A 16 year old amateur boxer, Gravity takes care of her eight year old brother, goes to school, and boxes at a world class level. She's forced to grow up quickly, because their dad left the family years ago and their mother is an abusive alcoholic.

Gravity trains at NY Cops and Kids in Flatbush, where Deming trained, although it was called Atlas Cops and Kids then. Gravity's coach is the crotchety old Jefferson Thomas, based on the late trainer and heavyweight George Washington. The Bocacrew is a rival stable at the gym and is based on the Sosacrew. One of Gravity's USA Boxing teammates is Sacred Jones, a nearly unbeatable middleweight like Claressa Shields.

Gravity and Sacred are members of the 2016 US Boxing team, who qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. They are followed by my favorite character, Carmen Cruz, the blogger who has gained the respect of the fighters because she tells it like it is. Cruz travels all over the world covering the team, which is cause for extreme jealousy.

Gravity provides tremendous insight on the New York boxing scene and women's amateur boxing just when it was exploding in popularity. Teens will probably appreciate the romance scenes and the importance of social media more than us old fogies. But the boxing content and the complex relationships in the gym, told by someone who was there, can be appreciated by everyone.

Lev Jackson Outclasses Ian Abbott

Southpaw Lev Jackson looked classy in a unanimous decision victory over Ian "Mr. Wonderful" Abbott at the Lions Club in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. It was his first fight at junior lightweight, which might be a new home for the 34 year old from Vancouver.

After entering the ring to the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Can't Stop," Jackson pawed with his jab against the 32 year old from Denton, Saskatchewan, who also fights under the name Ian Masuskapoe. Jackson soon began doubling his jab to land the straight left. It was a strategy he used much of the fight.

By the end of the first, Jackson took control of center ring. He started the second with more of the jab, tripling up on it at one point. He threw lead lefts, sometimes following them up with sweeping rights that were meant to distract Abbott from blocking another incoming straight left. A power jab knocked out Mr. Wonderful's mouthpiece.

Before the start of the third and fourth rounds, the doctor checked Jackson's bruises and cuts. Lev battles Crohn's disease and the medicine he takes to control the disease can lead to increased bruising and causes him to cut easily. Abbott was tough and often fired back, but he was second best when it can to the number and effectiveness of the blows. His best shot was a right uppercut after Lev launched an overhand left and then rolled for the second consecutive sequence.

Despite the doctor's concerns, the third round was more of the same, with Jackson backing Abbott into the corner several times. In the fourth round, Jackson continued to show his right to force Abbott to walk into the left.

At 130 pounds, Lev looked fast and fought smart. He used measured brawling to outwork and outclass his opponent. His breath control was superior, exhaling with each shot. Abbott, an experienced MMA fighter, didn't have the same mastery over his breathing.

Jackson won with two scores of 40-36 and one of 39-37. The Jewish Boxing Blog scored the bout 40-36 for Jackson. He moves to 6-1-1 with 3 KOs. Abbott is now 1-8-1. He has never been stopped.

After the fight, Lev showed respect to Abbott, noting he was tough and quick. He said he was prepared to execute plan A, B, and C if it came to that. He's hoping for something big up next, possibly back in Alberta against a local prospect.

Lev Jackson and Ian Abbott Make Weight

Junior lightweights Lev "Gutsy" Jackson and Ian "Mr. Wonderful" Abbott both made weight ahead of their clash tomorrow night at the Lions Club in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. A career lightweight, this will be Jackson's first pro fight at 130.

At 5-1-1, the 34 year old from Vancouver has scored two of his three knockouts in his last two fights. Jackson's heaviest weight was 138 against Elroy Fruto, who he sparred with to get ready for this fight. Lev tipped the scales at 129.5 pounds, the lightest of his seven-year career.

Abbott, a 32 year old from Saskatchewan, came in at 129 pounds. His lightest was 124 in 2024 and his heaviest was 133 the year before. Abbott also goes by Ian Masuskapoe as he is a member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. An MMA fighter, his boxing record is an unassuming 1-8-1, but he's a tough journeyman.

After the faceoff, Jackson and Abbott respectfully shook hands. Lev refueled with spaghetti and sushi after drinking a ton of fluids. Back with coach Junior Moar, he's excited to face the challenge of a new weight class.

Jackson-Abbott is scheduled for four rounds. For a preview of the fight, visit here. A link to the stream is here.

Joshua Feldman Poised for Hometown Return in August

Junior middleweight prospect Joshua Feldman is scheduled to return to the ring after a thirteenth-month layoff. The 21 year old is slated to fight at the Cabo Beach Club in his hometown of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa on August 15.

The 7-0 southpaw has been working with trainer Brandon Woods States-side at DLX Boxing in Las Vegas for about a year. When he first arrived at DLX, Feldman ran into Tomer Benny, a highly-touted amateur boxer from Israel.

Josh had been training with Colin Nathan, the world class trainer based in Johannesburg. Nathan, who runs No Doubt Management in addition to the Hot Box Gym, counts world champions among his large stable. Feldman has nothing but love and respect for Nathan, but he felt the move to the U.S. was the right decision at this stage in his career.

In Vegas, Feldman has been getting high-level sparring in preparation for his first pro fight in his hometown. His previous seven fights, three by KO, were in and around Johannesburg.

David Malul Stops Julius Thomas in the Second

"King" David Malul dominated Julius "June Bug" Thomas Jr., scoring a second round TKO at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA tonight. Since Malul observes Shabbat, his fight was the last of seven on a Boxing Insider Promotions card. His rights to the body, set up a series of overhand rights that led to the stoppage.

Thomas, a 36 year old from Youngstown in Ohio, entered the ring first to Bossman dlow's "Motion Party." Malul, a 23 year old from Queens, came next to The Script's "Hall of Fame."

Thomas started the fight as a southpaw while Malul applied steady foot pressure in the early stages of the fight. He was initially a bit tentative, feeling out Thomas before committing to his attack. His coach, Mike Stellate, kept yelling, "50, David, 50!" Showing the jab, David dug several hard rights to the body, forcing Thomas to switch to an orthodox stance. Malul then threw left hooks to the body.

In the second round, David dipped, which caused Thomas to anticipate another right to the body. Instead, an overhand right dazed the fighter from Youngstown. Thomas had his moments in the second as Malul pushed the tempo, but he constantly ceded ground. Backed into a corner, Thomas missed and was countered by a huge overhand right. Malul followed with another bomb, flooring Thomas in his own corner. Thomas's trainer began giving him instructions until a commission official told her that coaching wasn't allowed in that situation.

Malul recognized that Thomas was in bad shape and constantly connected with overhand rights. At one point the two fighters stopped, believing the referee had called, "Break." When the referee waved them to fight, Malul punished Thomas with two overhand rights that forced an end to the fight.

"I eat, sleep, and breathe the body shots," David said after the fight. Those body shots set up his second round blows to the head beautifully. Defensively, he blocked many of Thomas's attempts, including the uppercut. Malul looked sharp defensively and his offensive game plan set up the knockout.

Fifteen minutes after the fight, when the crowd had filed out of Tropicana's showroom, David climbed back into the ring and soaked up the scene, accomplishing his fifth pro win in as many tries. It was his third knockout. Thomas falls to 1-4-1 with one KO.

David Malul and Julius Thomas Weigh In

"King" David Malul and Julius "June Bug" Thomas both weighed in ahead of their clash tomorrow night at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino. Boxing Insider Promotions is putting on the card. Initially announced as a welterweight bout, it's now scheduled to be contested at junior middleweight+.

Malul weighed in at 154 pounds, the heaviest of his brief career. His lightest was 146.5 pounds in his debut against Lucien Hannah in 2024. The 23 year old from Queens sports a record of 4-0 and 2 KOs.

Thomas came in at 155 pounds, also the heaviest of his career. His lightest was 144 pounds, but this is the third time he has weighed at least 150 pounds for a fight. Thomas is a 36 year old from Youngstown, Ohio. His record is 1-3-1 with one KO.

Malul was visibly annoyed at Thomas after the face off. He'll have his opportunity to show his disdain for Thomas in the four-rounder, which will take place after Shabbat tomorrow. Boxing Insider has a feature on David and his observance of Shabbat.

Check out a preview of Malul-Thomas.

The Professional

The second installment in writer Andrew Rihn's "Hitting the Books" series is The Professional by W.C. Heinz.

Visiting training camps used to be an important part of covering boxers. Writers often relied on their creativity to morph the smallest tidbit into a bombshell revelation. Such was the clamoring for information on the part of boxing fans. These days, as the popularity of the boxing industry dwindles in the United States, fighters' camps are rarely covered, save for a few silly video clips that often have nothing to do with the camp or the upcoming fight.

In the novel The Professional, Heinz's narrator, the fictitious writer Frank Hughes, is embedded in the camp of Eddie Brown, a middleweight challenger trained by the grizzled old manager Doc Carroll. Though almost nothing of note happens, the story is gripping because of its realism. It's about routine and relationships. About professionalism and working towards a goal. Quiet confidence and humbling disappointment. The only major events that happen before the culminating fight are a death in the camp, a television appearance, the press conference, and the weigh-in. Yet, the mundane occurrences during training are crafted in such a way as to be fascinating.

Many boxing books, particularly those about the Prohibition period, play up the mob ties of the fighters. Hughes explains, "Two or three of the people in the mobs were playing with fighters. It was never quite as serious as they have made it in the bad books and motion pictures. It was rather the way a man of means will keep a show dog. It was a point of prestige."

Jackie Fields said of mobsters, "All those guys loved athletes, especially fighters. In those days, boxing was the number-one sport." In the same vain, Ruby Goldstein claimed many of the best boxers had mob sponsors. They happened to be the ones with money and an interest in boxing, but often authors take conspiracies between the mob and boxing too far, as Heinz indicates.

Interestingly, Jews aren't featured much in the book. At one point, Eddie Brown's trainer says, "Hands are a fighter's tools... He's got to take care of his tools. A fighter busts his hands and he's nothin'. I see many a good fighter have to tap out with bad hands, You remember Danny Bartfield?" The Danny Bartfield reference aside, the novel takes place after the golden age of Jews in boxing, which is generally regarded as 1920-1950.

The Professional also shines light on the biases of media members and the cozy relationships they can develop with fighters and managers. Frank Hughes tries to conciliate his desire to see Brown win and his close relationship with Carroll with his assignment. Every decent boxing writer encounters the conundrum of balancing relationships with the fighters with the responsibility of producing an honest account.

The next Hitting the Books entry is Fat City by Leonard Gardner.

Daniel Ivanovski Pummels Najm Khan in Decision Victory

Cruiserweight Daniel Ivanovski battered Najm Khan over four rounds to win a shutout victory at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, USA this evening. Khan had no answer for the crafty combinations of the Israeli.

Ivanovski, a 25 year old who weighed 195 pounds, began the fight cautiously, pawing with his jab. The 38 year old Khan came out as a southpaw and switched stances the entire fight, mostly because of faulty balance rather than strategic adjustments.

In fact, Khan seemed to be limping the entire fight. The apparent injury badly affected the California-based Pakistani's movement. He lunged with his shots and held Ivanovski like a college girlfriend. Daniel continuously snapped back Khan's head. Several times, the Israeli threw a beautiful short left hook that Khan couldn't anticipate. He also had crisp straight rights down the middle and crunching overhand rights around the guard.

Ivanovski dominated the third round and the beginning of the fourth. His combinations were varied and clever. He threw a straight right-left hook combo. He changed levels, targeting the body more as the fight progressed. In that third round, he moved laterally better, which opened up avenues for his big shots. Khan "The Brave" showed immeasurable heart and an iron chin to withstand the onslaught. His face was tomato red by the end.

Daniel's performance wasn't flawless, however. He let Khan hit him too much early. Except for the third, he stayed in front of Khan, failing to utilize angles. Most importantly, he allowed Khan to constantly hold. That not only thwarted Ivanovski's attack, but enabled the heavier Khan, who weighed 203 pounds and was round in the midsection, to use his mass in an attempt to wear down the younger man.

Nevertheless, it was a commanding performance for Daniel Ivanovski, who is now 6-0 with 4 KOs. All three judges, The Jewish Boxing Blog, and the two announcers scored the contest 40-36 for Daniel. Khan falls to 1-1.

One announcer, former world champion Steve Cunningham, has sparred with Daniel. "I'm very impressed with Ivanovski," Cunningham said after the fight. "I like what he's done against a very awkward fighter in Khan."

Yan Zak Crushes Adamu Barnaba

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak destroyed Adamu Barnaba today at the Meydan Gallery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Zak maintained his undefeated record with a second round TKO victory.

In a battle of undefeated 26 year olds, Zak used his height advantage effectively, jabbing southpaw Barnaba back to the ropes early in the fight. From that point forward, Zak's offensive onslaught never let up.

After a three-punch combination and a straight one-two, Zak utilized an odd punch: a lead right uppercut. The shorter man from Tanzania was often caught in a defensive crouch, allowing Zak to throw lead uppers with his back hand without facing retribution. Zak also peppered Barnaba with lead straight rights.

Barnaba was gassed after the first round. He wheezed like an octogenarian after climbing a flight of stairs. Zak toyed with the Tanzanian in the second round. He kept his left artificially low and unleashed a barrage of straight rights that found their mark again and again. Barnaba fired his dangerous right hook because Zak's left was so low, but missed. It was Barnaba's one chance to get back in the fight.

A left and a chopping right two minutes into the round put Barnaba down in a heap. The tough Tanzanian beat the count, but took a false step after a delay and the contest was thankfully stopped two minutes and thirteen seconds into the second stanza.

Zak drastically outclassed Barnaba, so he didn't get to go through the gears as he did in his last fight against Arshdeep Singh. The Israeli's improvement came in the form of taking care of business. In previous fights, he had played with his overmatched opponents too much. He did that a little in this second round here with his piston-like series of straight rights, but he didn't allow Barnaba to linger in the fight. With the combination of a shrewd game plan last fight and spiteful intentions in this one, Zak is developing a formidable pro style.

Yan is now 8-0 with 6 KOs while Barnaba tumbles to 10-1-1 (8 KOs).

Yan Zak and Adamu Barnaba Make Weight

Yan Zak and Adamu Barnaba both made weight for their cruiserweight+ bout at the Meydan Gallery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates tomorrow. The contract weight for this clash of unbeatens was 203 pounds.

Zak, a 26 year old, came in at 202.4 pounds. The resident of Ashdod, Israel is 7-0 with 5 KOs. His heaviest weight thus far during his pro career was 202.8 pounds while the lightest was 190. Zak and his team arrived in Dubai yesterday. This will be the fourth fight in the emirate for the "Terminator."

Barnaba came in at 198.2 pounds. He was a junior middleweight until he moved up to cruiserweight last year. Since moving up to cruiserweight, his lightest weight has been 186.3 pounds and his heaviest has been 200.5. A 26 year old from the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Barnaba has a record of 10-0-1 with 8 KOs.

Zak-Barnaba is scheduled for ten rounds. For a preview of the fight, visit here.

Lev Jackson to Face Ian Abbott on June 27

Lev "Gutsy" Jackson is scheduled to face "Mr. Wonderful" Ian Abbott on June 27 at the Lions Club in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. Despite Abbott's upside down record, he poses a challenge to Jackson.

Jackson is a 33 year old from Vancouver, Canada with a record of 5-1-1 (3 KOs). This will be his first fight since he got married. A southpaw, Lev boxed more in his last two fights in Mexico, a shift from the all-action fighter he was before.

Abbott, who also goes by Ian Masuskapoe, is a 32 year old from Debden in Saskatchewan. A member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Abbott has a record of 1-8-1 and hasn't won in over ten years. But he is an experienced fighter with experience in MMA and karate. Tough and durable, Abbott has only been stopped once.

Abbott is a better fighter than his record suggests. A competent boxer, he flicks out the jab but doesn't work off of it much. He's mostly looking to counter and get into exchanges. The Saskie typically does enough to lose as punch-output has been a problem for him in the past. He doesn't have a lot of wrinkles in his game, and there's not a lot of variety in his attack. But he is a game guy.

Jackson is the naturally bigger man, fighting primarily as a lightweight. Abbott has mostly been a featherweight. This four-rounder is scheduled for junior lightweight.

Daniel Ivanovski to Face Najm Khan on Saturday

Cruiserweight Daniel Ivanovski is scheduled to face Najm "The Brave" Khan at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, USA this Saturday. This is a battle of undefeated fighters with extensive combat experience.

Ivanovski is a Russian-born Israeli with a record of 5-0 (4 KOs). After a decorated amateur career, the 25 year old has fought all of his pro bouts in the United States. Daniel is a skilled technician who can vary his shots and put together combinations. He has shown a propensity to get hit with overhand rights, however.

Khan is a 38 year old from Pakistan, who is based in Los Angeles. He has a positive MMA record and a black belt in karate. Muscle-bound with long hair, Khan participated in one professional boxing match back in 2022.

The fight was against Muhammad Abbas on a PBC card. Instead of bikini-clad ring girls, the Pakistan Boxing Commission used young boys wearing shalwar kameez to notify the crowd of the round. Khan switched stances and rarely led, preferring to counter when the crude Abbas launched his wild right hand. When Khan did fire first, particularly as a righty, he ran at his opponent instead of keeping his stance. Khan also circled left the entire fight, which would be a mistake against Ivanovski, who will cut off the ring and land an overhand right.

Though Khan is a strong, tough guy with plenty of fighting experience, Ivanovski's youth and boxing technique make him the favorite Saturday night.

David Malul's New Opponent is Julius Thomas Jr.

"King" David Malul is now scheduled to fight Julius "June Bug" Thomas Jr. at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. BoxRec had previously listed Justin Spalding as Malul's opponent for the Boxing Insider show.

Thomas is a 36 year old from Youngstown, Ohio and possesses a record of 1-3-1 with one KO. He fought in the Cleveland Golden Gloves in 2011. Thomas is a true fighter with a better defense than Malul's previously scheduled opponent. In 2019, he fought a security guard at a bar and when police were called, he fought them, too. In 2023, an unidentified man charged at Thomas, who was on his front porch. Thomas allegedly shot his rifle, and a stray bullet entered a neighbor's house and struck her Pitbull. Only the Pitbull suffered injuries.

Thomas, who runs a cleaning business and trains kids in boxing, turned pro in 2024 at the age of 34. He had been training for a year and lost a significant amount of weight as a result. Standing at 5'6", Thomas dropped his first fight by split decision. He defeated Kameeko Hall on August 10, 2024 when a right to the body in the second round caused Hall to projectile vomit. The fight was quickly stopped, and Thomas was awarded a TKO victory.

Since then, Thomas has dropped two fights by decision and fought to one draw. His last fight was a little bit over a year ago. He poses a tough test for Malul, a 23 year old from Queens, New York. This four-rounder should be an exciting one.

David Malul to Fight Justin Spalding Next Month

Welterweight prospect "King" David Malul is set to return to the ring against Justin "War Time" Spalding at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA on June 13.The event is promoted by Larry Goldberg's Boxing Insider Promotions.

Malul is a hard-punching 23 year old from Queens, New York. His record stands at 4-0 with 2 KOs. After  a quick start to his career, Malul has fought only once in fourteen months. That was a dominant decision victory against Colin Huntington last November.

Spalding, a 27 year old with a record of 1-4-1 (1 KO) is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. A game fighter who constantly throws punches, he has the guts of a burglar. Ten years ago, he was charged with stealing bows and arrows from an archery store and selling the loot on Craigslist.

Spalding has since turned his life around. He has been drug free for over seven years and just got off parole after serving time. Recently engaged, he is gainfully employed. He turned pro in 2024 and fought all of his six career bouts that year. His willingness to trade leaves Spalding open for counters. Defensively, he relies on a good chin, but it's more limestone than granite as he's been stopped three times.

Spalding is listed as 5'9", but if he is that tall, he doesn't fight like it. He appeared shorter than 5'9" Justin Lacey-Pierce and a similar height as 5'6" Ramsey Vesey Jr. in their contests. After the Lacey-Pierce fight, Spalding was suspended for 90 days and fined $400 by the Michigan commission for an undisclosed violation. Boxing is so decentralized that he fought twice in other states within that span.

Because of his punch output, Spalding has a chance early in the fight, but Malul should find openings. Spalding's right doesn't protect his chin when he throws the left. Though Malul's best punch is an overhand right, the left hook could be the key here, particularly when set up by a right to the body.

This bout is scheduled for four rounds.

Scrap The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Celebrating great Jewish fighters has been part of the mission of The Jewish Boxing Blog for over sixteen years. The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, based at the Suffolk (NY) JCC, purports to do the same. The organization claims, "It is dedicated to honoring American Jewish figures who have distinguished themselves in sports. Its objective is to foster Jewish identity through athletics and to commemorate sports heroes who have emerged from people not commonly associated with sports." However, it misses the mark with those it chooses to include and not include. A more appropriate name for it would be A Random Collection of Jewish Athletes.

The Hall first began inducting a menagerie of Jewish athletes in 1993. It's outside the purview of this site to explain why the Hall elected Art Shamsky (1994) before Hank Greenberg (1995) or Art Heyman (1993) before Dolph Schayes (1995). Maybe the voters were a group of guys all named Art? The boxers chosen make less sense. For those outraged at Arturo Gatti's and Vinny Pazienza's places in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, wait until you see this list.  

Logically, Benny Leonard (1996) and Barney Ross (1997) were the first two boxers inducted into the NJSHoF. It would be hard to find anyone who would argue with their inclusions. The famed trainer Ray Arcel (1999) was the next boxing person elected. So far, so good.

You could have a hundred guesses and not come up with the next fighter unless you knew the answer. As a hint, think something like the thirtieth best Jewish heavyweight of all-time. Claiming to have thrown a bout against Rocky Marciano, Harry Haft (2007) finished his career with a record of 10-7. A Holocaust survivor, he is one of many boxers affected by that horrific tragedy.

Al "Bummy" Davis (2011), the popular contender from the 1940s who died tragically, came next. You could have a hundred more guesses and not get the next boxer. Boyd Melson was in the middle of his six year career when he was inducted in 2013.

The problem isn't that Haft and Melson are in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame; it's that nearly all of the great Jewish champions and contenders are not. Haft and Melson deserve recognition, but not as two of the five most significant Jewish American boxers ever.

The Hall didn't nominate anyone from 2016-2022, which was a good decision based on its track record.

Then, in 2023, the Munich Eleven were inducted. The eleven Israeli Olympic athletes murdered at the 1972 Munich Games should be commemorated, but it would be more appropriate elsewhere. After all, the nation in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is the United States of America. And then why hasn't Victor "Young" Perez been nominated if nationality has no bearing on entry into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame? A world champion, he was murdered during the tragedy of the Holocaust.

Four boxers were inducted last weekend and the bizarre selections continue. "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom is generally renowned as a top five Jewish boxer of all-time, so better late than never. Rabbi Yuri Foreman is at least the best male Jewish boxer of the twenty-first century so far and a former world titlist.

The Hall missed the memo on the other two. Cletus Seldin has had a very fine career, but he reportedly had to pull out of a fight in December for testing positive for elevated testosterone levels. Sadly, it wasn't his first time. It's awkward timing at best, particularly since 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun has not been honored, likely due to a positive test for a banned substance in 2013.

The other entrant is Max Baer, a Christian who wore a Star of David for a couple of his fights. Genealogist Catherine Johnson shows convincing evidence of Baer's religion in her book Then the World Moved On. The Hall might as well honor James Toney and Bennie Briscoe at this rate.

Abe Attell, who held the featherweight championship for six years and is generally regarded as one of the four best Jewish boxers of all-time, hasn't been inducted. There's no Battling Levinsky, Joe Choynski, Jackie Fields, Kid Kaplan, Abe Goldstein, Al Singer, Izzy Schwartz, Charley Phil Rosenberg, Lew Tendler, Sid Terris, Charley White, Jill Matthews, Bob Olin, Yale Okun, or Mike Rossman among many many deserving others. It's unfortunate that the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame celebrates boxing, a sport that embodies the Jewish experience of the last 150 years, so haphazardly. Might be time to scrap the Hall and start over.

Yan Zak to Face Adamu Barnaba in a Battle of Unbeatens

Cruiserweight Yan "Terminator" Zak is scheduled to face Adamu Barnaba at the Meydan Gallery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on June 6. Both fighters are undefeated 26 year olds.

Zak is coming off a fifth round TKO win against Arshdeep Singh earlier this month, which moved his record to 7-0 with 5 KOs. The resident of Ashdod, Israel was particularly impressive in that fight. He showed an educated game plan and was defensively responsible throughout the contest. Zak will need a similar type of performance against Barnaba.

With a record of 10-0-1 (8 KOs), Barnaba has had a weird career. A Luis Ortiz-like 26, Barnaba resides in Mabiba, Tanzania, which is on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, the country's most important city. BoxRec lists pro fights when he was a prepubescent scamp and a random draw in 2019. His career really started last year. He has been 8-0 since 2025 although a few of his opponents' names on the fight film don't match those on his BoxRec ledger.

A southpaw, Barnaba has chiseled six-pack abs; they're just hidden behind a drooping beer belly. But don't let his physique fool you. He's a strong, skilled fighter. With a back as wide as the cultural gap between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, Barnaba possesses a powerful right hook to the head and body. In recent fights, he's shown a snapping jab and a quick straight left. He aims to take center ring, is composed and patient in the ring, and uses feints. He sometimes avoids punches by leaning back.

Barnaba resembles a tough test for Zak, but Zak is a massive step up for Barnaba. Though skilled, he has primarily feasted on unschooled novices. Zak has punished journeyman and recently stepped up to face unheralded fighters with good records.

Zak's foot and hand speed should carry the fight against the plodding Tanzanian. Yan will need to be careful because Barnaba is a hard-punching southpaw. While his right hook is his money punch, he pulls the punch back too far, allowing himself to be countered. Adamu has yet to face an opponent talented enough to take advantage of that flaw. In Yan Zak, he will.

This bout is scheduled for ten rounds.

Brooklyn Barwick Scores Another First Round KO

Brooklyn "Big Deal" Barwick beat the fight out of Shaniqua Frazier en route to a first round stoppage victory at the Moore Building at the Fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina.

With respected trainers Jimmy Sosa and Nirmal Lorick in her corner, Barwick came out of the gate charging the significantly taller Frazier, a native of North Carolina. Frazier's awkward style initially disrupted the rhythm of New York-based Brooklyn. Frazier landed a wild swiping left, but her style resembled less a pro boxer and more of an untrained street fighter.

Frazier crouched down to get on Barwick's level, but she didn't possess a jab, so she had no way of keeping the diminutive Barwick at range. Brooklyn struggled to land a big shot until she threw a double jab and an overhand right that connected.

The real key was a right to the body and left hook to the head that hurt Frazier. Barwick followed it up with several body shots, forcing Frazier to the canvas, where she stayed gasping for air for the full ten seconds.

Barwick repeatedly yelled,"!עם ישראל חי" after the stoppage. She is now 7-1 with 7 KOs. Frazier falls to 0-9. She has been stopped in the first round each time.

Brooklyn Barwick and Shaniqua Frazier Weigh In

Brooklyn "Big Deal" Barwick and her opponent, Shaniqua Frazier, weighed in this evening ahead of their clash at the Moore Building at the Fairground in Columbia, South Carolina, USA.

Barwick (6-1, 6 KOs) weighed in at 126.5 pounds. She weighed in again with her skirt on and came in at 127. Barwick was 127.5 pounds in her last two fights. Her lightest has been 119.5. Frazier (0-8) was 127 pounds. This is the lowest weight of her career thus far. Her heaviest was 136.5 pounds.

Barwick refueled with peach rings from Mazza and More, a peanut butter and jelly uncrustable, and Sprite Zero. Then she had a meal of salmon, mash potatoes, and veggies from Kosher Concierge. She couldn't find grape juice anywhere in Columbia, so a Chabad rabbi said it was ok for her to say Kiddush over Sprite Zero. The weigh-in was held later in the day than usual, so she was then on her way to observe Shabbat. Barwick noted the local athletic commission has been accommodating with regards to her Shabbat restrictions.

Barwick-Frazier is scheduled for six two-minute rounds. For a preview, visit here.

Brooklyn Barwick to Face Shaniqua Frazier

Brooklyn "Big Deal" Barwick is scheduled to battle Shaniqua Frazier in a tune-up fight at the Moore Building at the Fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina, USA on Saturday night.

Barwick, 26, made it down to South Carolina today. Her mother was supposed to join her, but her flight on Spirit Airlines was cancelled when the company closed its doors on May 2. She has not yet been able to get a refund.

Based in New York, Barwick (6-1, 6 KOs) attended a pre-fight get-together last week with 25 of her Jewish friends at the 2nd Ave Deli. It was a chance for Brooklyn to unwind as fight night approaches. She took special glee in roasting Aryeh, one the attendees at the shindig.

The party also provided an escape from several incidents of antisemitism Barwick has recently faced. BoxRec changed her nationality to Israeli, and she has been outspoken in her love for the Jewish people. She has received positive messages from Israeli girls who look up to her, but she has also received some backlash for her unapologetic Jewish pride. She even experienced an incident today on the trip to South Carolina.

Frazier, a 34 year old from Wilson, North Carolina, is the right opponent for Barwick at this time. Brooklyn is coming off of a disputed loss in February and a rough Team Boxing League showing in March. Frazier's size, height at 5'7", and her wild formless punches are her best assets. But she sports a poor record of 0-8 with eight first round stoppages. Frazier's best opponent was Stevie Morgan (19-2, 17 KOs), who once challenged the great Amanda Serrano back in 2024.

Barwick will be observing Shabbat in between the weigh-in on Friday and her fight Saturday night. Her kosher food is sponsored by Mazza and More and The Kosher Concierge. This bout is scheduled for six two-minute rounds and marks Barwick's U.S. debut.

David Malul to Fight in June

Welterweight prospect "King" David Malul is scheduled to fight at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA on June 13. The 4-0 native of Queens, New York last fought in November, a decision victory over Colin Huntington on a card David promoted.

This show, promoted by Boxing Insider, will be David's first fight outside of New York. He turned pro in September of 2024. After three fights, he suffered a fractured nose which contributed to a seven and a half month layoff. Since the Huntington fight, Malul has been scheduled to enter the ring twice, but both fights fell out.

The king is back with Main Street for his four rounder next month. No opponent has yet been announced.