Brooklyn Barwick and Grecia Novas Weigh-In

Brooklyn Barwick and Grecia Novas weighed in ahead of their clash tomorrow at Polideportivo Virgilio Frias in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The NBA featherweight title is at stake in this six round affair. Barwick is looking to become the fastest Jewish woman to win a major sanctioning body's belt. This will be her seventh fight - BoxRec only lists four of them - and less than a year since she turned pro.

Barwick's weight was announced as 126 pounds, but she says the official weight is 125.8. Either way, she was able to eat the day before and still make weight. Novas reportedly came in at 127.4 pounds, which is over the featherweight limit but within the weight allowance.

Novas and her team seemed dismissive of Barwick during the weigh-in. Barwick was there alone as her team, Jimmy Sosa and Nisa Rodriguez, were stuck in New York because of the massive storm that dumped nearly two feet of snow on the city. Barwick's flight was also delayed, but she managed to get another one after much trouble to make it down to Santo Domingo.

The fighters were forced to wait to weigh in as an official arrived hours late. Barwick, who is converting to Orthodox Judaism, was asked to take off her NYC Cops & Kids windbreaker before she stepped onto the scale. She preferred to observe tzniut and keep it on but had to bow to the commission's demands. During her conversion journey, Barwick has been mindful to dress more modestly than in the past. She has been working with Rabbi Steinmetz and Rabbi Feldman at Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side in Manhattan through the process.

After the weigh-in, she downed some kosher Korean BBQ jerky from Holy Jerky and added hummus and pita. She consumed a liter and a half of water on the thirty minute ride back to her hotel where she ate a meal of salmon and steamed vegetables brought to her by the kosher concierge from the Santo Domingo Chabad.

After eating, she spoke to The Jewish Boxing Blog on the phone as she broke in her new light pink shoes courtesy of Adams Boxing. She sounded ready for the fight, charged by the disrespect shown from Novas and her team at the weigh-in and a tumultuous breakup last year.

A preview of Barwick-Novas can be viewed here. The fight can be streamed here.

David Malul Off Saturday's Card

Welterweight prospect David Malul had been scheduled to fight this Saturday at his old stomping grounds, the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York, USA. The Jewish Boxing Blog, however, has learned the 23 year old from Queens won't fight on the Star Boxing card.

Malul last fought in November, headlining a card he promoted. With a record of 4-0, Malul has been beset with relative inactivity recently. The devastating puncher fought three times from September 2024 to March 2025 but only one time since. He suffered a nose injury last summer which forced him off an August card in Long Island. He was slated to fight in Kansas last December, but that didn't pan out. Fortunately, this latest issue does not seem to be injury related.

Malul's team is looking to send him back in action either next month or in April. Since his last bout, "King" David has moved over to the Sosa Crew at NYC Cops and Kids.

Preview of Brooklyn Barwick vs. Grecia Novas

Brooklyn Barwick is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jewish women world champions Jill Matthews, Carolina Duer, and Hagar Finer. Her first major step comes against Grecia Novas for the NBA featherweight title this Thursday, February 26 at Polideportivo Virgilio Frias in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

A 55-fight veteran, the 40 year old Novas signifies the toughest test of Barwick's career. Barwick, a 26 year old based in New York, is 6-0 with 6 KOs. She has fought inexperienced fighters since she turned pro about a year ago. BoxRec has yet to record two of her fights that took place in Colombia.

Nicknamed "Big Deal," Barwick is primarily a brawler but has shown some boxing skills in her last two fights. Still, one unnamed industry insider described her skills as "raw." She just started boxing three years ago and influencer bouts replaced her amateur career. Nevertheless, she has made great strides in a short period of time. She was recently picked up by the NYC Attitude of the Team Boxing League in addition to her burgeoning pro career.

Novas (19-32-4, 10 KOs) turned pro in 2004. The native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic has fought consistently throughout her long career. She battled Amanda Serrano twice, Cindy Serrano, and Tiara Brown in addition to several trips to Germany. But Novas hasn't beaten a foe with a win on their ledger since 2015.

Novas has picked up some skills during her 22-year career, but she throws wide shots. She shows decent movement and a solid jab, but leaves herself open when throwing power shots. Novas will present a mental and emotional challenge for Barwick as the veteran has no problem sneaking in rabbit punches in clinches, just one of her wily tricks.

Novas has a significant experience advantage, fighting 250 rounds to Barwick's 7. She's gone six or more rounds more times than Brooklyn has fights. The two fighters are of similar height, but Novas has fought at heavier weights. Barwick, however, has the better chin. Novas has been stopped 12 times.

Barwick-Novas is scheduled for six rounds and will be streamed here.

Yan Zak Stops Sadiki Maroy

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak stopped Sadiki Maroy when Maroy retired after the third round, claiming an injury. It wasn't Zak's best performance due to Maroy's awkward attacks, but Yan's class was evident.

Zak, a 26 year old who just won the Israeli amateur title last week, started the first round cautiously. He threw range-finding jabs and feinted to keep the bigger Congolese fighter off of him. The 37 year old Maroy is a stance-switcher, but he primarily fought as a southpaw, which somewhat neutralized the effectiveness of Zak's superior jab. Zak controlled center ring and got inside Maroy's wide punches when the bigger man initiated his wild assaults.

Zak did more damage in the second round, crashing chopping rights to the side of Sadiki's skull. Maroy went for broke in the round and was clearly winded by the end of the three minutes. Meanwhile, Yan landed straight rights, particularly after showing the jab.

Maroy, nicknamed the "Buffalo," seemed to run out of gas by the third. He started the round passively, staying on the perimeter as his mouth remained agape. Conversely, the "Terminator," landed a right-left-right combination and some more chopping rights off his jab.

When the bell rang, Maroy limped to his corner. Even before he began limping, it seemed as if he wouldn't come out for the fourth. Maroy laid on his back as his cornerman rubbed his right calf. Maroy pounded the canvas with his gloves in apparent agony. This went on past the minute-rest period, and the fight was stopped.

Because Maroy was a southpaw heavyweight who threw awkward wide shots, Zak didn't look quite as fluid as usual. Sometimes, he pulled straight back to avoid the shots, instead of shifting on an angle so he could counter. It was still an impressive victory, beating a man 13 pounds heavier who now has a solid record of 17-3-1. Zak is 6-0 with 4 KOs.