Cletus Seldin

Cletus Seldin
Seldin in 2017
Born (1986-09-11) September 11, 1986 (age 38)
East Yaphank, New York, U.S.
Other namesThe Hebrew Hammer
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Reach67 in (170 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights30
Wins28
Wins by KO23
Losses1
No contests1

Cletus Seldin (born September 11, 1986) is an American professional boxer.

Early life

Seldin was born in East Yaphank, New York (part of Shirley, New York, on Long Island). He is Jewish. He was named after former New York Yankee third baseman Clete Boyer, who was a close friend of his grandparents.[2][3][4] He grew up in Shirley.[3][5] His father is Harry Seldin.[2] His grandfather Lee Seldin headed a motorcycle club, the Dragons, in Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, New York, during the 1950s.[2][5]

At Longwood High School in Middle Island, New York, Seldin played cornerback and wide receiver on the Longwood Lions football team, which won the 2004 Long Island championship. He also wrestled and learned jiu jitsu.[4][6][7] In his senior year he set the New York State deadlifting record for men weighing up to 145 pounds (66 kg), by lifting 470 pounds (210 kg).[4] He later studied at Suffolk Community College.[8][9]

Boxing career

Seldin's nickname is the Hebrew Hammer.[2][10][11][12] He is trained and managed by Pete Brodsky, and promoted by Joe DeGuardia.[4][13][14]

Seldin wears a Star of David on his trunks, as did former Jewish boxers Benny Leonard and Barney Ross.[2] "Remember the Masada", a reference to the legendary mass suicide of Jewish rebels under siege by Romans in AD 74, is stitched on the back of his jacket.[15][2] He describes his style as "come forward and fight."[10] ESPN boxing writer Dan Rafeal described him as "a fun fighter."[16]

Seldin began boxing as a professional in 2011, when he was 25 years old.[2][5]

In April 2013, he had surgery for a torn right rotator cuff, labrum, and right hand.[4][10] That was followed by nine months of recovery time.[4]

Seldin made his national television debut in July 2014 on ESPN against Bayan "the Mongolian Mongoose" Jargal (17–5–3, 11 knockouts) at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, Long Island, New York.[3][4][11][17] The fight ended as a "no-contest" in the third round, as the ringside physician called the fight when Seldin head butted Jargal and caused a badly swollen-shut right eye.[11][18]

In December 2014, he again faced Jargal.[19] Seldin defeated him by a technical knockout in the ninth round, winning the World Boxing Council International Silver Light Welterweight (140 pounds (64 kg)) title.[19][20][21]

He won with a technical knockout against Johnny Garcia (19–2–1, 11 KOs) on ESPN's Friday Night Fights on February 27, 2015, headlining as the main event in a fight for Seldin's WBC title.[20][22][23] The referee stopped the fight in the fifth round.[23] Seldin brought his record to 16–0, with 13 knockouts, including knockouts in 12 of his last 13 fights.[24][23][25]

On June 20, 2015 Seldin defended his WBC International Silver junior welterweight title and brought his record to 17-0 with 14 knockouts, with a 4th-round main event TKO of Ranee Ganoy, who was 38-13-2 with 32 knockouts, at The Paramount.[26]

On April 6, 2017, Seldin tested positive for anabolic steroid use for a second time showing an increased level of testosterone and anabolic steroid Stanozolol also known as Winstrol , which forced his June 15 fight to be canceled. His testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) was 21.02 to 1, which far exceeded the allowable threshold of 4 to 1 under World Anti-Doping Agency standards. The WBC ruled that Seldin was suspended from participating in any WBC-sanctioned bouts for six months, or until Aug. 1, 2017, and that VADA would design a specific random testing protocol for Seldin at his own cost that would go on for one year.[27][28]

On November 11, 2017, Seldin made his HBO Boxing debut fighting and winning in a third-round TKO against Roberto Ortiz, resulting in Ortiz's second-ever loss. Seldin's record improved to 21-0 with 17 knockouts.[29]

He is the reigning Super Lightweight Champion of the North American Boxing Association; in 2020 he broke his own record by winning 25 of 26 fights, with 21 knockouts, when he fought Luis Florez.[30]

On October 16, 2021, in the main event at TrillerVerz at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, he knocked out Brazil's Willam Silva in the seventh round.[15]

Personal life

Seldin resides on Long Island.[24][31]

Professional boxing record

29 fights 27 wins 1 loss
By knockout 23 0
By decision 4 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
28 Win 26–1 (1) Brazil William Silva KO 7 (10), 0:24 Oct 16, 2021 United States Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained WBA-NABA super lightweight title
27 Win 25–1 (1) Colombia Humberto Martinez TKO 7 (12), 3:00 Feb 28, 2020 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S. Retained WBA-NABA super lightweight title
26 Win 24–1 (1) United States Zab Judah TKO 11 (12), 1:40 Jun 7, 2019 United States Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, U.S. Won vacant WBA-NABA super lightweight title
25 Win 23–1 (1) Hungary Adam Mate KO 1 (10), 1:00 Jan 26, 2019 United States Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S.
24 Win 22–1 (1) Nicaragua Nelson Lara KO 1 (10), 2:55 Nov 16, 2018 United States Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
23 Loss 21–1 (1) Canada Yves Ulysse Jr. UD 10 Dec 16, 2017 Canada Place Bell, Labal, Canada
22 Win 21–0 (1) Mexico Roberto Ortiz TKO 3 (10), 1:47 Nov 11, 2017 United States Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, U.S.
21 Win 20–0 (1) France Renald Garrido UD 10 Sep 28, 2017 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
20 Win 19–0 (1) United States Jesus Selig KO 1 (10), 2:11 Jun 17, 2016 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
19 Win 18–0 (1) Puerto Rico Orlando Vazquez KO 1 (10), 2:34 Mar 5, 2016 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S. Retained WBC International Silver super lightweight title
18 Win 17–0 (1) Philippines Ranee Ganoy TKO 4 (10), 0:32 Jun 19, 2015 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S. Retained WBC International Silver super lightweight title
17 Win 16–0 (1) United States Johnny Garcia TKO 5 (10), 3:00 Feb 27, 2015 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S. Retained WBC International Silver super lightweight title
16 Win 15–0 (1) Mongolia Bayan Jargal TKO 9 (10), 0:30 Dec 20, 2014 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S. Won vacant WBC International Silver super lightweight title
15 Win 14–0 (1) Dominican Republic Ramesis Gil KO 2 (10), 2:06 Sep 19, 2014 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
14 NC 13–0 (1) Mongolia Bayan Jargal NC 3 (8), 2:08 Jul 18, 2014 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Nicaragua Wilfredo Acuna TKO 7 (8), 1:12 Apr 24, 2014 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 United States Gilbert Venegas UD 8 Nov 22, 2013 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 United States Jonathan Cuba KO 3 (8), 2:22 Feb 23, 2013 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Puerto Rico Luis Rodriguez TKO 3 (6), 0:05 Jan 25, 2013 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 United States Carl McNickles TKO 2 (8), 2:45 Oct 13, 2012 United States NYCB Theatre at Westbury, Jericho, New York, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Puerto Rico Jonathan Garcia KO 1 (6), 2:33 Jul 28, 2012 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 United States Marcus Hall TKO 2 (6), 2:57 Mar 31, 2012 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 United States Tyler Pogline KO 1 (6), 3:00 Jan 28, 2012 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 United States Rashad Bogar TKO 3 (6), 1:58 Nov 19, 2011 United States Paramount Theatre, Huntington, New York, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 United States Jose Segura Torres TKO 2 (4), 0:21 Oct 22, 2011 United States Madison Square Garden WaMu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 United States Clarence Booth UD 4 Sep 23, 2011 United States Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 United States Hector Rivera UD 4 Jul 20, 2011 United States Oceana, New York City, New York, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 United States Wilson Feliciano TKO 3 (4), 0:17 Jul 9, 2011 United States Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Boxing record for Cletus Seldin". BoxRec.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "On the Rise: 'Hebrew Hammer' Cletus Seldin Seeks to Join Ranks of Historic Jewish Boxers". Algemeiner. August 3, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Mitch Abramson (July 17, 2014). "L.I. boxer Cletus Seldin eager for shot at Chris Algieri". NY Daily News.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Ryan Songalia (July 16, 2014). "New York attraction Cletus Seldin makes his ESPN debut". Ring TV.
  5. ^ a b c Michael Woods (March 31, 2012). "The first "Cletus" I ever talked to fights tonight". ESPN.
  6. ^ "Cletus Seldin". MaxPreps.
  7. ^ "Jamie Stuart spars with 'Westbury Wars' boxers". News 12 Long Island. October 12, 2012.
  8. ^ Mitch Abramson (February 25, 2009). "Sherron waits out, wins out in Gloves". New York Daily News.
  9. ^ Mitch Abramson (March 5, 2009). "Cletus Seldin wins slugfest over Emmanuel Duverge at Golden Gloves". New York Daily News.
  10. ^ a b c Michael Woods (November 19, 2013). "Update on 'The Hebrew Hammer'". ESPN.
  11. ^ a b c Mitch Abramson (July 19, 2014). "Cletus Seldin and Bayan Jargal fight ends in no contest". NY Daily News.
  12. ^ "Rising Jewish Brawler Cletus Seldin Wins Latest Match in Three Rounds". Algemeiner. January 28, 2013.
  13. ^ Robert Cassidy (July 17, 2014). "Cletus Seldin looks to Chris Algieri for motivation". Newsday.
  14. ^ Mark Whicker (November 18, 2014). "Chris Algieri hits the road so he can hit Manny Pacquiao". USA Today.
  15. ^ a b "With 'spectacular' KO, Boxer Cletus Seldin — another 'Hebrew Hammer' — keeps his championship title". The Forward. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Chat with Dan Rafael – SportsNation". ESPN. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014.
  17. ^ Dan Rafael (December 19, 2014). "Redkach headlines 'ShoBox' card". ESPN.
  18. ^ Jordan Lauterbach (July 18, 2014). "Shirley's Cletus Seldin hammers foe but it's declared a no-contest". Newsday.
  19. ^ a b "Seldin and Smith Winners In "Rockin Fight" Fashion!". Boxing 24/7. December 22, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Cletus Seldin-Johnny Garcia Headline Rockin Fights 17 Live On ESPN's Friday Night Fights". Boxing.com. February 6, 2015.
  21. ^ "WBC International Championships, WBC Boxing
  22. ^ Dan Rafael (January 19, 2015). "Notes: Bute signs with Haymon". ESPN.
  23. ^ a b c Greg Logan (February 28, 2015). "Cletus Seldin hammers his way to fifth-round win". Newsday.
  24. ^ a b "Cletus Seldin – Boxer". boxrec.com.
  25. ^ Martin Hines (February 27, 2015). "Carl Frampton vs Chris Avalos; Tyson Fury vs Christian Hammer; Dmitry Chudinov vs Chris Eubank Jr - boxing on TV this weekend". The Independent.
  26. ^ "Cletus "The Hebrew Hammer" Seldin Remains undefeated with TKO over Ganoy". Boxing News 24. June 20, 2015.
  27. ^ "Seldin tests positive for elevated testosterone". June 8, 2017.
  28. ^ Random Hits (April 6, 2017). "Cletus Seldin Suspended for 6 Months By WBC Over Failed Test". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  29. ^ "'Hebrew Hammer' Seldin wins by TKO".
  30. ^ "No Stopping Cletus 'Hebrew Hammer' Seldin, as US Jewish Boxer Retains Title With Latest Victory". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "Seldin fights at Paramount Friday". Newsday. January 24, 2013.