Undefeated ‘Star of David’ shines for local ring fans

by Ron Kaplan
NJJN Staff Writer

Dmitriy Salita, an undefeated junior welterweight boxer, has his vital statistics listed on the Web site Boxrec.com. Among the information is his “fighting stance,” which is listed as “Orthodox.”

In this case, the description is applicable to his religious stance as well.

Known as the “Star of David,” the 23-year-old immigrant from Odessa, Ukraine, may be the most winning boxer ever to refuse to fight on Shabbat.

Salita shared his experiences with a group of 100 enthusiastic fans at a Nov. 7 dinner sponsored by the men’s club of Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston.

Salita is a throwback to the days when Jews were prominent in the fight game, including Benny Leonard, Maxie Rosenbloom, and Barney Ross. A Golden Gloves winner in 2001 and the North American Boxing Association junior welterweight title in August 2005, he aspires to become the first Jewish boxer to win a major title since Mike Rossman, who held the World Boxing Association Light Heavyweight crown in 1978-79.

Salita, who came to Brooklyn with his family in 1991, described to the audience how he came to the Orthodox community as a 14-year-old while his mother, Lyudmila, was suffering from breast cancer. Visiting her in the hospital one day, he became acquainted with her roommate’s husband, an Orthodox Jew through whom the curious young man eventually became involved with Chabad, which he enjoyed because of its inclusiveness.

“What captivated me was that there were people from all different walks of life…all just sitting, praying together, and studying.”

Salita now attends synagogue daily, maintains a kosher lifestyle, and does not fight on Shabbat, a time when most of the higher-profile matches take place. In his early days as a professional, such observance proved challenging, but boxing was always secondary to following the tenets of his faith.

Obviously, it has all worked to the good. Salita has won all of his 23 pro bouts and is the subject of much interest: He was featured in the October 2005 edition of the hipster style magazine Fader and is the subject of an upcoming Disney movie. He was even invited to the 2004 White House Hanukka party. “[That] was a great surprise and honor,” he told NJ Jewish News before the Livingston program. “It was a great honor, something I didn’t expect at this stage of my career.”

It’s hard to believe from his soft-spoken demeanor — he sounds and acts like the Touro College business student he is — that Salita can generate enough ferocity to take an opponent out with one punch. “It’s a great honor when people get motivated by what you do,” he said. “A boxer is almost like a performer, so when people come to your fight and show you a lot of support, it’s a great compliment, and it’s a blessing.”

Addressing the Shabbat and holiday logistics, he said, “There are certain nights that I can’t fight, but, thank God, my career is going well. Now that people know who I am and I’m the main event, my fight doesn’t start until the last fight anyway. When I fight on Saturday night, it’s great because you’re supposed to rest [during the day]. I completely turn off from all the distractions that the fight can present and go to a different world.”

Salita is satisfied with his progress to date. “Everything that happens, happens for the good, but in the near future I’m hoping to have nationally televised fights on HBO and Showtime to prove that I’m one of the greatest.”

Stephen Goldberg, president of the synagogue’s men’s club, told NJJN, “We are very proud to have him speak to us because he’s an athlete and an observant Jew and it’s just a wonderful thing to see.”

Myron Sugarman, a resident of Montclair and a long-time fight fan who was an instrumental figure in helping Salita launch his pro career, hailed him as an inspiration for young Jews in an increasingly hostile world. “When I met Dmitriy and I understood the extent of his religious conviction and dedication, this was very impressive, much more than the fact that he was a prize fighter,” he told the audience. “The fact that he is a prize fighter, and in fact a great prizefighter and is going to be a great champion…is extremely important, not just for all of us sitting here in this room, but for Jews throughout the United States of America and the world.”

Rabbi Mordecai E. Feuerstein similarly praised Salita. “You’re not just a boxer who happens to be Jewish. You’re an Orthodox Jew who happens to box,” he said, comparing Salita with the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel.

“We are all children of Israel [the name given to Jacob following the battle] and when we see you climb into the ring, we are proud of that and we remember and we hope you win again and again.”

Ron Kaplan can be reached at RKaplan@njjewishnews.com.

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