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Boxer Credits God for … Defeat?

Salita, in Israel, reflects on loss

by
Marc Tracy
December 09, 2009

It’s been only a few days since Dimitry “Star of David” Salita’s 76-second pummeling at the fists of world junior welterweight champion Amir Khan in Newcastle, England Saturday night, yet already the Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn-bred Orthodox Jewish boxer is waxing philosophical on his humbling defeat. And he’s doing so in Israel, on a trip sponsored by the aliyah-promoting Nefesh b’Nefesh, prompting some to wonder whether Salita is considering a change of scenery. (He denies firm plans.) “I was cold and I didn’t get into the fight,” Salita says. “It felt like the easiest fight of my life. I mean, nothing happened.” Those who witnessed Salita get knocked down three times in the first round might disagree, but we understand what he means. More mystifying, however, is Salita’s claim that his ability to box comes from God. Given the circumstances, some might consider that blasphemy.

For the masochistic, here is video of the fight:

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.