Mor Oknin's Fight Apparently Canceled

Larry Merchant once described boxing as "the theater of the unexpected." Sometimes it's more like the theater of the absurd.

Mor Oknin was scheduled to fight Sunday night at the Ciudad Deportiva Carmen Serdán in Mexico City, Mexico. He had flown all the way from Israel a couple of days ago to fight an opponent who reportedly didn’t show up for the weigh-in. The fight was apparently canceled.

The event promoted by TT Promotions was streamed on Vamos Deportes Boxeo's YouTube channel. Almost two hours into the show, a strange thing occurred. Oknin got into the ring wearing a white robe with a blue Star of David and his customary number 26, also in blue. Tzitzit hung down from the robe. On the back read his surname along with his nickname "The Son of the Lion" and a larger Star of David. His trunks were also white and donned the small blue six-pointed star and his number on the back. His red Reyes gloves jabbed at shadows as he waited for the announcer to introduce him.

The ring announcer declared Rafael "El Leon" Oknin of Israel the winner by technical knockout. The referee raised Oknin's hand as he rapped along with with Ness & Stilla's controversial song Harbu Darbu that blared from the speakers. He took bows in the ring and fist bumped the announcer and the two ring card girls before exiting. But there had been no opponent and no fight.

Before Sunday night, Oknin contended that his professional record is 3-0. BoxRec says it's 1-1. He won his first bout by KO when his opponent injured his hand in 2021. The following year, Oknin undoubtedly fought in February in Mexico. The result is a matter of contention. The commission told BoxRec, Oknin lost by TKO. Oknin claims he won by TKO. BoxRec admits that commissions, particularly in Mexico, sometimes feed the site false results.

Last September, Oknin won when his opponent retired in the corner after the second round. Yet, his fight is not listed on BoxRec. The rest of the event is on the site, although it is listed as taking place on the Tuesday, September 5 when it actually took place on Sunday, September 3.

All that is to say, Mor Oknin is intimately aware of boxing's absurdity.

Mor Oknin to Fight on March 10 in Mexico City

Flyweight Mor Oknin is scheduled to fight on March 10 at the Ciudad Deportiva Carmen Serdán in Mexico City, Mexico. This fight is promoted by TT Boxing Promotions and will be Oknin's fourth fight in Mexico.

Oknin is from Netanya, Israel. BoxRec lists his record as 1-1, but he says it's 3-0 with 3 KOs. BoxRec only lists results given to them by the presiding commission, which Oknin says gave him an undeserved loss when he actually won back in 2022. His last fight, a stoppage victory after the third round on September 3, is not listed on BoxRec.

Oknin, a cancer survivor, works at his family's furniture store and offers personalized training sessions when not in training himself. He recently got in some work with former Olympian Yacov Shmuel, now a coach.

No opponent has yet been named.

Oknin is featured in the top row, second from the left.

Mor Oknin to Fight in Mexico City

Flyweight Mor Oknin told The Jewish Boxing Blog that he plans to fight in either February or March in Mexico City, Mexico. This would be Oknin's fourth pro fight, all in the flyweight-rich country of Mexico.

Oknin is from Netanya, Israel and of Moroccan ancestry. In an interview with May Samra of Enlace Judío, Mor revealed that he suffered from throat cancer at the age of 19. Fortunately, he beat the disease, but it took away three years from his career. The experience made him more religious. Oknin does not fight or weigh-in on Shabbat and keeps kosher, which can be a challenge when he visits Mexico.

A decorated amateur, Oknin has had some unsanctioned bouts in Israel since his pro career started nearly three years ago. A combination of the global pandemic and cancelled fights have slowed his progress, which has disrupted his rhythm in the ring.

Now in his 30s, Mor spends his days training, working at his father's furniture store, and offering private boxing lessons. Oknin has high aspirations, but to achieve his dreams, he must find a way to fight regularly. He'd like nothing better.

Year in Review: 2023

This year has been a great one for Jewish boxing! We got more fights and thankfully, fewer cancellations.

Some of the best:
Focused for Battle looks at several boxers' mindset during the referee's final instructions at center-ring right before the opening bell.
Sagiv Ismailov Wins Under Difficult Circumstances explores the trials an Israeli boxer faced just to take part in a fight in Germany in the wake of the Hamas attacks on October 7.
David Alaverdian Discusses His Last Fight shows what the talented fighter experienced during his gritty bout in April. The article also broke news of a virus that has kept David out of action ever since.
The Promoters' Screwjob is a behind-the-scenes look at Shawn Sarembock's personal introduction to the dirty side of boxing.
The Lasting Legacy of Boxing Historian Mike Silver is a retrospective on the man who wrote one of the  most important books about Jewish boxing history, Stars in the Ring.
Odelia Ben Ephraim Wins French Featherweight Title recaps the fight with great analysis from the fighter herself.
The Flying Hammer is a profile of Cletus Seldin: professional power puncher and part-time skydiver.
CSAC Cancelled Cohen-Bradley Due to "Large Weight Disparity" features reporting on why Stefi Cohen's January fight against Kedra Bradley was nixed at the last minute.

Recap of the fights:
Cletus Seldin ended a two-year hiatus with a win in a rough fight in October. Carolina Duer dropped a disputed split decision in April. Undefeated prospect Sagiv Ismailov fought four times in 2023. The recap of his last fight has links to the other three. Dr. Stefi Cohen went 2-0 with a win in February and another in June. David Alaverdian needed to make adjustments to win his bout in April. Odelia Ben Ephraim went 2-1 this year including a dominant victory in March. Mor Oknin grabbed a "W" in September. Three Jewish fighters won in Israel in February.

This year The Jewish Boxing Blog began covering the pro careers of Ben Ephraim, Josh Feldman, Alex Karchevski, Lev Jackson, and Sahar Meir.

History:
The Top 5 series continues to look at the best 5 Jewish boxers in a particular area or category. Expect more Top 5s in 2024.

This year featured profiles of Alf Mansfield (a tough flyweight who fought Jimmy Wilde), Harry "Kid" Brown (an intelligent pioneer), Jack Silver (a popular Cali lightweight in the '20s), Frankie Fink (the "Yiddisher Cowboy"), Benny Pascal (a tough Philly fighter), Willie Buff (a pro star who embellished his amateur creds), and Ovadia Hochman (an amateur boxer who reinvented himself after scandal).

Sadly, Kenny "Bang Bang" Bogner passed away this year. Here is his obituary.

Book Reviews:
The Fighter of Auschwitz by Erik Brouwer
Stars and Scars by Jeff Jones
Matthew Saad Muhammad by William Dettloff
Family, Gangsters & Champions by Ramon Antonio Vargas
Tony Canzoneri by Mark Allen Baker
Baseball, Nazis & Nedick's Hot Dogs by Jerry Izenberg


Thank you all for reading this year! You can support The Jewish Boxing Blog by following on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Threads; subscribing to the Jewish Boxing newsletter at Buy Me a Coffee for a one-time payment of $3; and using Amazon affiliate links on The JBB's Featured Books page. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Mor Oknin Wins By Stoppage

Flyweight Mor "The Son of the Lion" Oknin won his third professional fight when his opponent quit after the second round at 3-33 Studio in Mexico City, Mexico tonight. "Ratoncito" Morales was a last-minute replacement.

Oknin- a flyweight from Netanya, Israel- climbed into the tiny ring as rain fell outside in Mexico City. The weigh-in for the event was on Saturday, but because Mor observes Shabbat, he weighed in this morning. Recovering quickly, he started the fight aggressively, but had issues with his timing and rhythm. He controlled center ring and worked behind the jab, gliding towards his opponent, but Morales ducked under Oknin's early power shots. "Ratoncito," however, hardly fired back and Oknin, who the announcer repeatedly called "Ortiz," carried the first round comfortably.

Morales actually threw punches in the second round, but they were merely meant to touch Oknin. They had no menace behind them. Oknin found the right uppercut early in the round. Morales landed a low blow late which sent Oknin to the canvas in obvious pain. After he arose, Mor kept throwing a combination featuring a right uppercut followed by a looping right to the body.

Oknin had won the first two rounds, but looked a little tired heading back to the corner. Perhaps the low blow had taken its toll or maybe the long trip from Israel to Mexico City or the same day weigh-in sapped his stamina. Just then, Ratoncito's corner pulled off his glove and cut his tape. Curiously, Morales had retired in the corner. A combination of taking the fight on short notice and Oknin's body shots may have been the culprit.

Oknin's record is 3-0 with 3 KOs although BoxRec will list his as 2-1 with one KO. It's a long story. Morales was probably a tougher opponent than the man he replaced, Pedro Rabio. Since Morales was such a late replacement, he is an unknown commodity; this article will be updated to include his record when it becomes known.

Mor Oknin to Face Pedro Rabia

Flyweight Mor Oknin is scheduled to face Pedro Rabia on Sunday, September 3 at Studio 3-33 in Mexico City, Mexico. The event is promoted by TT Boxing Promotions.

Oknin's record is up for debate. The Israeli won his first fight by knockout. He says he won his second fight a year and a half ago by TKO. The commission that oversees boxing in Agua Prieta, Mexico told BoxRec that he lost. Oknin says the commission screwed him over and took his money. He shared clips of the referee raising his hand after the fight. The promoter curiously posted video of every other fight that night except for Oknin's. They didn't answer a request from The Jewish Boxing Blog for video of the fight. Oknin also says he's five years younger than BoxRec has him listed.

Pedro Rabia is a 36 year old native of Mexico. He doesn't have the toughest nickname, "El Pillo." It means "Rascal," and thankfully not it's English cognate, "Pillow." His record is not good. He's 0-5 and has been stopped five times. He has gotten out of the first round once. Troublingly, BoxRec lists him as indefinitely suspended by the Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre del Estado de México.

This bout is scheduled for four rounds.

Mor Oknin Scheduled to Fight on September 3

Flyweight Mor Oknin is scheduled to fight in Mexico City, Mexico on September 3 as part of a TT Boxing Promotions event.

Oknin's record is controversial. There is no question that he won his first fight in 2021 by TKO. He says he won his second fight by TKO as well, and he shared some clips on social media. BoxRec lists that fight as a TKO loss. BoxRec only lists what the commission tells them and acknowledges that fake reports out of Mexico have been a problem for the site. Oknin says the local commission took his money and then screwed him over. He attempted to enlist the help of Juan Luis Castillo to get the result overturned, but as of now, it officially remains a loss.

Oddly, La Terraza Sport Bar, the venue for that second fight, shared all of the fights from that night on its Facebook page except for one: Oknin's fight.

In the meantime, Oknin has fought in several exhibition bouts in Israel since that last disputed pro bout. He has also had a couple of late cancellations. One opponent failed to make weight and last month an opponent pulled out at the last moment.

No opponent has yet been named for Oknin's next fight.

The Promoters' Screwjob: Behind the Scenes of Shawn Sarembock's Last Fight

Boxing can be a dirty game. Shawn Sarembock found that out first hand before and during his last fight, which resulted in a majority draw. He recently revealed to The Jewish Boxing Blog just how promoters attempted to sabotage his career.

Sarembock and his dad Neil had a good relationship with a local Mexican promotional firm that gave them fight dates and found opponents for Shawn in exchange for a fee. A couple of weeks before this last fight, the company offered Shawn a contract, but he "politely refused" because he wanted to keep his options open. Sarembock said, "They must have taken it personally when I turned down their offer because that's when the problems started."

*****

The Jewish Boxing Blog has decided not to name the promotional company, the location of the fight, or the opponent in this article because of the real possibility of retribution against Sarembock for speaking out. The promoters, who have a close relationship with the local commission, could still have the result of the fight changed. [For certain details about Sarembock's last fight view The JBB's recap or his BoxRec page.]

Retroactively changing a result out of spite has precedent. It's exactly what Israeli flyweight Mor Oknin says happened to him a year ago. He claims he won a fight by fourth round TKO in a locale in Mexico near where Sarembock fought, but Oknin's BoxRec page lists the result as a third round TKO loss. "I'm very sad about this. It's all about politics," Oknin told The JBB last fall. He added, "They cheated me out of money there."

BoxRec simply reports the results provided by the commissions. An editor at the self-described "official record keeper of the sport of boxing" told The JBB that BoxRec has "lots of problems with wrong reports" coming out out of many countries, including Mexico.

*****

The trouble for Sarembock started immediately after his refusal. "Three or four opponents fell through," he said, "which never happened before." While multiple opponents do occasionally back out of fights, the promoters' actions allegedly became more nefarious with time. They claimed other fighters had missed their flights, and they needed to deduct that money from Sarembock's pay. "They squeezed us out of money," Shawn said.

On the day of the fight, Neil was told he was not allowed to work his son's corner. Shawn and Neil's relationship is such that it would be like telling a fighter pilot he wasn't allowed to wear his prescription aviator glasses into battle. Instead, the promotional company, which has its own gym and its own trainers, provided the cornermen at the last moment.

"We had watched footage of the opponent and we had a game plan," Shawn said. "The first two rounds, I was going to box because we noticed he lunged in when he came forward. The plan was to take little half steps back and counter, especially with uppercuts." After two, assuming the opponent remained standing, Neil would add his expert input, and Shawn would adjust accordingly. But without Neil in the corner, the game plan quickly went out the window.

*****

The fight had been scheduled for 7pm local time. It was to be the second fight of the night. Shawn and Neil, who would still help wrap his son's hands, took the hotel's elevator down at 5:30pm. One of the promoters met them when they reached the ground floor and told them the card had been delayed two hours. Shawn's fight was now the opener because one of the fighters scheduled for the first bout had been in a car accident. So the Sarembocks went back to their hotel room for an hour since Shawn was now scheduled to open the card. He posted the two-hour delay as an Instagram story, not knowing it was all a lie.

When they came back down the elevator at 6:30, the stands were full and live banda music blared. They knew something was up. There were too many people in the crowd for an 8pm start. By the time Neil had wrapped only one of Shawn's hands a member of the local commission burst into the locker room to say Shawn had ten minutes to get ready.

A boxer's preparation in the moments before a fight is crucial to their success in the ring. Shawn says he typically needs a minimum of an hour to prepare. "It's not just getting physically ready. Getting mentally prepared for battle is even more important."

Shawn recounted what happened next, "The commission came in five times and began yelling, 'Get your ass out!' The ref even came back and threatened, 'If you don't come out in ten minutes, you're off the card.'"

*****

Hands wrapped and his Winning gloves on, Shawn had been warming up for five minutes when he was notified it was time to make his ring walk or he'd be pulled out of the fight. He told officials that he needed to use the bathroom, but they didn't allow it. He hadn't yet stretched, which of course put him at an increased risk for injury, nor had he worked up a sweat. It's essential for boxers to warmup properly before a fight because it's far more likely for them to get knocked out early if they start the fight "cold."

Shawn admits that he should have tried to ignore the commotion, but he let it get to him. After a slow start in the ring, Sarembock received poor guidance in the corner. "The corner is a vital part of a fight," he said. "I want calm and control in the corner. Take a deep breath and then it's time for strategy. Instead, I was coming back to a corner in panic mode." After every round, the promoters' handpicked cornermen kept telling Shawn he was losing. They wanted him to throw five-punch combinations, which would have opened him up for the opponent's dangerous left hook.

"Mentally, it was hard to put everything aside," Sarembock said. "I never even got ready. I got through the fight because of grit." Despite everything he endured, one judge agreed with The JBB and scored the bout for Sarembock 58-56. But the two other judges had it 57-57 for a majority draw. "It was the worst performance of my career," Shawn said. "Absolutely terrible." Sarembock's record of 8-0-1 (8 KOs) now carries a blemish.

And the fighter who was supposed to be in the opener, but had apparently been in a car accident so Sarembock had to open the show? He fought in the second bout of the night.

*****

Shawn called the ordeal "a huge learning experience." It was really his first chance to see "the dirty politics, the dirty business side" of boxing up close. But his primary lesson from his experience was more practical. "I'm never fighting without my dad in my corner again," he declared.

After a week off, the Sarembocks are back in training. The plan is to move up to an eight-rounder, a fight somewhere closer to home for the still undefeated resident of Phoenix, Arizona. "I've accepted what happened," said Shawn, "and now it's time to move on." The dream of a world championship remains though the path to achieve it is never linear. It's often filled with pitfalls and screwjobs.

2022: Year in Review

Canceled fights and curious decisions defined the year in Jewish boxing. Sadly, there were more canceled or postponed fights this year than actual fights. The Jewish Boxing Blog summed up the frustratingly unfair outcomes in an article last month.

David Alaverdian went 2-0-1 with 2 KOs in the pro ranks. He deserved to win the draw. Shawn Sarembock improved his record to 8-0 with 8 KOs. Stefi Cohen and Isaac Chilemba each went 1-1 this year. Igor Lazarev lost both of his fights but deserved to win one of them.

On September 15, four Jewish boxers took part in three bouts in Ashdod, Israel. Kickboxing star Itay Gershon won his pro boxing debut. Prospect Sagiv Ismailov won his third fight, and Aki Mishaev scored a knockout in his second fight. Ismailov, Mishaev, and Lazarev are among the Jewish boxers scheduled to fight on a card in Bnei Ayish, Israel on February 9. The resurgence of pro boxing in Israel is a big development.

There were quite a few boxing exhibition events in Israel this year, a great way to grow the sport in the country. Former world champion Hagar Finer put on a couple of them. Mor Oknin, Mikhael Ostroumov, and Nikita Basin were among the Jewish pro boxers to take part in such shows.

Former world champion Robert Cohen Z"L and heavyweight contender Tim Puller Z"L passed away this year.

The JBB reviewed Holocaust Histories, a podcast about boxers victimized during the Shoah. The reviews of books published this year or late last year include Boxing in Atlantic City, Gangsters vs Nazis, and The Unexpected Danny Green.

Some noteworthy profiles of past Jewish boxers were of Charley Phil Rosenberg, Henry Nissen, Ray Miller, Jack "Kid" Berg, and Izzy Zerling. Then, there was a look back at the wild Israeli amateur boxing scandal in 1988 and the night in 1929 when five Jewish boxing stars fought to raise money for the Jews of British Palestine. Two articles examined the different brands of boxing gloves and the importance of pad work.

The JBB conducted interviews with a few Jewish boxers this year. The interview with Yuri Foreman became two articles, one on his ambitions and another on his reflections. There were two separate interviews with David Alaverdian, one in article form, and a different one in video form. Shawn Michael Sarembock told The JBB his inspiring story. And the two articles about Dmitriy Salita concentrated on his career as a boxer and his work as a promoter.

As for The Jewish Boxing Blog, this year was amazing! Two of the last four months have seen the most traffic in the nearly 13-year history of this site. The other two months were not far behind. The number of followers of the Jewish Boxing Instagram page has more than tripled in the past year, and Twitter followers have doubled in the past two years. A special shoutout to supporters of the Jewish Boxing BuyMeACoffee page ($3 for all newsletters). You are truly appreciated!

Next year looks like there will be a few pro debuts, which is exciting. And hopefully, there will be many more fights. All the best to you and yours.

Frustratingly Unfair Decisions

There is an old anti-Semitic trope that asserts Jews run the world, and since boxing is part of the world, they run boxing, too. This line of thinking is particularly deleterious, because it casts suspicion on any individual Jew who achieves success. At one time, Jews were certainly overrepresented as boxing promoters, but overrepresentation, of course, does not equal control.

If, for some peculiar reason, we accept the anti-Semites' view that Jews control boxing, it certainly hasn't helped Jewish boxers. This year has seen several frustratingly bad decisions go against Jewish fighters.

The worst decision came in Poland this past March. Igor Lazarev dominated the local kid, Dominik Harwankowski. The Jewish Boxing Blog scored the bout 59-55 for Lazarev, but the local judges disagreed. Eugeniusz Tuszynski, Tomasz Chwoszcz, and Arek Malek scored the fight 59-55, 58-56, and 58-56 respectively for their fellow countryman. The JBB soon learned that Arek Malek had a significant conflict of interest considering he was Harwankowski's mentor.

On November 11, David Alaverdian showed off his skills against local prospect Angel Geovanny Meza Morales in Mexico. The JBB scored the fight 59-55 for Alaverdian. The judges' scores are a bit of a mystery, but one had it 59-55 one way, another scored it 56-58 the other way, and the third judge saw it 57-57 for a spit draw.

The most bizarre incident dates to Mor Oknin's fight on February 26 in Agua Prieta, Mexico. Oknin claims he defeated Jose Cariaga by fourth round TKO. BoxRec lists the result as a third round TKO victory for Cariaga. The JBB investigated and was told by an editor of BoxRec that the site has "lots of problems with wrong reports." BoxRec posts whatever result the local commission reports. This fall, Oknin told The JBB that an effort to overturn the result was ongoing.

There has been no evidence of anti-Semitism as a motivation for any of these bad decisions. They were almost certainly erroneous decisions made to favor the local fighter regardless of the background of the opponent. The pro game is so decentralized that local commissions can pretty much do whatever they want. 

Jewish boxers also suffered from bad decision in amateur boxing this year. During the European Amateur Championships in May, Alaverdian and Miroslav Kapuler were the victims of curious judging. In Alaverdian's fight, two judges inconceivably scored the third round for his opponent. Kapuler clearly controlled the second round of his bout, but two judges inexplicably scored the round for his opponent. Judge Johany Maden of France was the common denominator in both decisions, scoring against the Israelis regardless of their performance in the ring.

The IBA, which ran the European amateur champions, is so corrupt it has been barred from running the Olympic boxing tournament. That corruption is the likely culprit for those bad decisions.

For all the power a faceless group of Jews supposedly possesses, it sure hasn't helped actual Jewish boxers. Those boxers have been on the short end of some terrible decisions this year, not because of their religious persuasion, but because the amateur game is shrouded in corruption and the pro game is so decentralized that results are determined by the whims of individual commissions.

Some Fight Rumblings for Alaverdian and Oknin

Even if boxers have a fight date set, their fights can disappear in a flash. David Alaverdian and Mor Oknin don't even have that, but both revealed on Instagram when they are looking to fight next.

Alaverdian, last seen losing a disputed decision in the European amateur boxing championships in May, said there is potential to fight either in late July or early August. After the judges awarded the decision in his quarterfinal match to his opponent, David retired from amateur boxing.

The European tournament was run by IBA (formerly AIBA). Though it's too late for David, it was recently decided that IBA will be banned from running the boxing tournament in 2024 for the second straight Olympics. This is welcome news as the allegations of corruption made against IBA are lengthy.

Oknin fought most recently in an unsanctioned boxing match in Tel Aviv last month. Trained by Dan Mor- a boxing coach, actor, and diamond dealer- Oknin came away with the victory. He said he hopes to fight in Mexico or on the West Coast in the US in September. He hinted something may come up in Israel in late July.

Both Alaverdian and Oknin are currently in Israel. Unlike heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, neither Israeli super flyweight should have trouble getting into the country. Fury was reportedly denied entry into the United States due to his ties with alleged drug kingpin Daniel Kinahan. Kinahan was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in April. MTK Global, the boxing management and promotional firm he founded with former middleweight Michael Macklin, folded shortly thereafter.

No Jewish boxers have been swept up in the Kinahan scandal, but the ire of Alaverdian's eye, Sunny Edwards, has. Edwards, a beltholder at flyweight, was part of the MTK Global team, often taking to Twitter to vouch for Kinahan. If Alaverdian and Edwards ever do fight down the road, the sun has likely set on it taking place in the U.S.

BoxRec Changes Mor Oknin's Name and Says He Lost

BoxRec has changed Mor Oknin's name to More Vaknine. His full name is listed as More Refael Vaknine, and his age is recorded as 36 years old. A BoxRec editor told The Jewish Boxing Blog that the organization was sent a copy of Oknin's passport information which prompted the change.

Countless boxers have fought under pseudonyms rather than their legal names including Sugar Ray Robinson, Benny Leonard, Archie Moore, Barney Ross, and more recently, Dmitriy Salita, just to name a few.

BoxRec claims Oknin lost his last fight, held on February 26 in Terraza Sport Bar in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico to Jose Cariaga Yanez by third round TKO. Vaknine's record is posted as 1-1.

Oknin, the name he uses on his trunks and on Instagram, shared two videos on the social media site with highlights of the fight. At the end of the second video, the referee raises Oknin's hand after the result is announced. Oknin gives a salute and then smilingly shakes the hand of the referee. He does not appear to be a man who had been stopped moments before.

The editor said BoxRec still has "lots of problems with wrong reports" out of many countries, including Mexico. BoxRec only records what the commissions in charge tell them. In this case, Comision de Box Agua Prieta is in charge. If the result should be changed, Oknin's team will need the commission to send a correction to BoxRec.

This site will continue to refer to him as Mor Oknin but mention his legal name when appropriate. The JBB will follow up on any additional information about this story should it become available.

Mor Oknin Wins

Mor Oknin won his second professional fight tonight. This bout was held at La Terraza Sports Bar in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. This was to be Oknin's second fight in Mexico in a week, but his opponent didn't show up for last Saturday's contest. Fortunately for Oknin, the opponent did show up tonight.

Mor earned a fourth round TKO. He is now 2-0 with two KOs. Next on the schedule for Oknin are fights in Tijuana and New York. He hopes to fight in three months.

Oknin to Fight Tomorrow

Super flyweight Mor Oknin is scheduled to fight in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico tomorrow. This was to be his second bout in a week, but his first fight was cancelled.

Oknin flew from Israel to Los Angeles, California in the United States about a week and a half ago. He tipped the scales in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico last Friday in preparation for his bout on the Jaime Munguia undercard. His opponent didn't show however, and Oknin wasn't able to fight.

This week, he spent some time back in Los Angeles. From there, he flew to Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico for training. He then traveled to Agua Prieta, which is on the other side of Sonora. Once there he weighed in and began his observance of Shabbat.

This fight will be on a smaller card, so information is not readily available. When his weight becomes known, this article will be updated. 

No Opponent for Oknin

Mor Oknin traveled from Israel to Los Angeles in the United States and then to Mexico for a fight scheduled yesterday at Plaza Monumental, a famed stadium in Tijuana. On Friday, he weighed in at 110.2 pounds. He did everything he was asked.

As of Friday night, the name of Oknin's opponent remained unknown. Or, to be more exact, there were three different names. None of the three weighed-in on Friday.

When it was time to fight on Saturday, no opponent showed up. Oknin was left without a foe and thus couldn't fight on an unusually cold night in Tijuana. He had traveled halfway around the world and was left to watch as Jaime Munguia stopped D'Mitrius Ballard in the third round of the main event with a series of left hooks to the body and head.

Hopefully, Oknin won't leave Mexico without a fight. He is scheduled to do battle on February 26 in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.

Mor Oknin to Fight in Tijuana Tomorrow

Mor Oknin is scheduled to fight tomorrow night at Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico on the undercard of Jaime Munguia's fight with D'Mitrius Ballard. Oknin, who is from Israel, is 1-0 with one KO. His debut came in Mexico as a super flyweight last April. Oknin controlled the action before his opponent retired during the first round due to injury.

Oknin weighed in at 110.2 pounds for tomorrow's contest. He spent time in Los Angeles, California in the United States and worked out with legendary trainer Freddie Roach before heading to Tijuana just over the border. Oknin shared pictures of the trunks he will wear into the ring tomorrow with The Jewish Boxing Blog. He asked The JBB not to post the pictures until Saturday night, but they are quite sleek. Mor went with a different design for this fight. As in his debut, he'll sport a Star of David and the number 26 on his trunks, though.

There is some question about Oknin's opponent. A bout sheet lists Luis Cervantes as the opponent. Cervantes is credited with a 3-11 record including one KO and being from Agua Prieta, Mexico on the bout sheet. BoxRec doesn't list a Luis Cervantes from Agua Prieta with a record close to 3-11. There is a Luis Cervantes who is an 0-2 flyweight from Hermosillo, though. Cervantes, if that is his real name, did not weigh in.

When asked, Oknin said his opponent was Valle Quiroz Perez. Perez would likely be making his debut tomorrow night as BoxRec does not list anyone by a similar name in the flyweight or surrounding divisions. The JBB contacted one of the promotional companies associated with event, Zanfer, to clear up things, but they have yet to respond. This bout, whoever it's against, is scheduled for four rounds.

Update:
Another site names Oknin's opponent as Rigo Cruz Ceberos. Ceberos, a native of Agua Prieta, is 3-11 with one KO.

Two Fights Scheduled for Mor Oknin

Super flyweight Mor Oknin told The Jewish Boxing Blog he has two fights scheduled in Mexico this month. One fight is slated for February 19 in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The next fight is penciled in for February 26.

Oknin is 1-0 with one KO. He fought in his debut last April. Several of his scheduled fights in Mexico last fall fell through. In normal times scheduled boxing matches evaporate all the time, particularly for fighters who don't have powerful connections. The pandemic has forced the postponement or cancellation of many boxing events. It has complicated international travel as well.

Hopefully, circumstances will allow Oknin to fight more often in 2022. While there are professional boxers based in Israel, the sport does not currently enjoy much popularity in the country, so the boxers must travel internationally. Mexico is a hotspot for fighters in the lighter weights. It is also somewhat of a hotspot for covid. Mexico is currently orange or "at risk" on Israel's covid-risk chart. Israelis are not allowed to travel to red or "high risk" countries but are permitted to go to countries categorized as orange.

Oknin's bouts are scheduled for four rounds.

Boxing Brings People Together

Last night  Mikhael Ostroumov was in Bălţi, Moldova to cheer on two teammates from his boxing club located in Afula, Israel. In one fight, Yosef Ktzraui, an Arab Israeli, stopped Turac Icoz of Turkey. Ktzraui was a bit wild and occasionally fought with his hands down, but he battled like a bulldozer as he overwhelmed his more experienced opponent. In another fight, Khalil Jabarin, another Arab Israeli, also had his hand raised after facing Mucahit Rahman Birsan of Turkey. After the matches, Mor Oknin voiced his support for the Israelis online.

Ktzraui and Jabarin both made their debuts on a card promoted by Evgheni Boico for Arena Boxing Moldova. A promoter and a coach, Boico is an increasingly important man in Moldovan boxing and in Israeli boxing. Last night's event included boxers from several countries.

Boxing has the power to bring people together. This is especially true in Israel where Jews and Arabs don't always have a chance to develop meaningful relationships with one another. Since the popularity of the sport is relatively small in the country, Jews and Arabs must train together. Boxing can help form friendships that might not otherwise exist. These friendships can help break down walls of bigotry.

The old Am-Shalem's gym in Nazareth was a place that brought together Jews and Arabs. Tony Milch's Gloves and Doves program is also bringing boxers of different backgrounds together in an attempt to foster peace. The relationship between Arthur Abramov and Nur Rabia, chronicled in the short film Jerusalem In Between, is another example of boxing building bridges.

It's ironic that such a violent sport can help forge unlikely friendships, but there is something about two fighters baring their souls inside the squared circle, putting their lives on the line for the entertainment of the fans, that produces a shared experience in which few others in the world can relate.

As Dahlia Am-Shalem once said, "You take two boxers: one white, one black; one Arab, one Jew; whatever and whoever wins the fight, you'll always see them embrace at the end. Boxing breeds mutual respect. It binds people together."

2021 Year in Review in Jewish Boxing

For the second year in a row, covid-19 dominated the storyline. Fighters contracted the virus, fights were canceled or postponed, and a new variant threatens to continue the trend into 2022. In addition, Zachary Wohlman tragically passed away in February.

Despite the pandemic, some Jewish boxers were able to fight this past year. The biggest win came in October when Cletus Seldin knocked out William Silva in the seventh round of their fight in Brooklyn. One of the alphabet organizations ranks the 35-year-old Seldin in their top ten in the junior welterweight division. The New Yorker seeks a big fight in 2022.

Other world class competitors, Yuri Foreman and Isaac Chilemba, weren't able to secure wins this year. Foreman dropped a majority decision to Jimmy Williams in June after testing positive for covid-19 in March. Chilemba had a controversial draw with Fedor Chudinov in February and a unanimous decision loss to Pavel Silyagin in November. Chilemba called Silyagin a future world champion.

David Alaverdian and Shawn Sarembock both went 3-0 in 2021. Alaverdian, a flyweight, is 5-0 with 4 KOs. Sarembock, a junior middleweight, is 7-0 with 7 KOs. Miroslav Kapuler, a junior middleweight, won two fights in 2021 to improve his record to 3-0 with one KO. Mor Oknin won his debut in April.

Former two-division world champion Carolina Duer and powerlifting world record holder Dr. Stefi Cohen also had a successful year in the ring. At the age of 43, Duer won a decision over Silvia Fernanda Zacarias in August. Cohen has started her career 1-0-1. She stopped Haydee Zapa in the third round of their fight in the Dominican Republic in June. Cohen fought Marcela Nieto to a draw in September.

Igor Lazarev was 1-1, Benny Sinakin went 0-1, and Nikita Basin was stopped in both of his bouts after a twenty-month layoff.

John Jarrett's The Great Benny Leonard, Jeffrey Sussman's Holocaust Fighters, and J. Russell Peltz's Thirty Dollars and a Cut Eye were all published in 2021.

A big thank you to everyone who followed The Jewish Boxing Blog this year and a special thank you to those who offered their support on BuyMeACoffee.com. Stay tuned for big things in 2022!

Mor Oknin to Fight in December

Mor Oknin's second professional fight was originally scheduled for November 18 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. However, it has been postponed until December 11 and will take place in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Oknin's first fight was also in Mexico, in Sinaloa, north of Jalisco. He scored a first round stoppage victory when his opponent bowed out due to injury after Oknin had started to take control of the contest.

Oknin, who is from Israel, fights in the super flyweight division. Fellow Jewish boxer David Alaverdian, who has fought at flyweight and super flyweight, has also fought exclusively in Mexico. Mexico might seem like a strange choice for a couple of Jewish boxers from Israel. Though the first Jew to arrive in Mexico came 500 years ago (believed to be Hernando Alonso in 1521) there are only about 65,000-70,000 Jews currently living in Mexico. For reference, about twice the number of Jews live in Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.A. than in all of Mexico.

Some American boxing writers and pundits look down on fights in Mexico, but that's unfair. In the United States, the commissions in California, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania do a better job than others in regulating who can fight. Too many commissions in the U.S. are far too lax. Similarly, there are areas in Mexico where it's easy to build up a record and other places where the opponents are better qualified.

The truth is Mexico the place to go to fight in the 112 or 115 pound divisions. According to BoxRec, Mexico is home to the most fly and super flyweights by far. There are about 130 super flyweights and 140 flyweights in the country. That's more than 25% of all the 112 and 115 pounders in the world.

Japan (about 150 total) and the Philippines (70ish) also have a lot fighters in those two weight classes, but Mexico has more than both of them combined. BoxRec says their are 33 American super flyweights and just 23 flyweights. Believe it or not, there are only 43 fighters between 109 and 115 pounds in all of Europe! Even Thailand has more, 44 in total, in the two classes. So Mexico is the place to be for super fly and flyweights.

Fortunately, both Oknin and Alaverdian have had positive experiences in Mexico. Alaverdian told Mike Orr that the atmosphere at a fight in Mexico is awesome. "When they hear I'm from Israel, they're a bit surprised, but very cheerful." The crowd is happy when he wins and David poses for many pictures and signs many autographs after his fights there. "It's fun. I can't lie; it's pretty cool," he said of the experience. Oknin's appreciation for Mexican culture has grown since fighting there last time. He now has a deeper affinity for the language, the country's hip hop, and its boxers.

Oknin's bout is scheduled for four rounds. No opponent has yet been named.