Fighter of the Week: Cletus Seldin

Fighter of the Week: Cletus Seldin

By Gary Kittilsen

Cletus Seldin walked into the ring and saw “Sugar” Shane Mosley sitting ringside and realized it was his moment to shine, some of the best fighters in the world had shown up and gathered to watch him fight. He knew a win on in the main event on the biggest stage of his career against the legendary six-time world champ Zab Judah at the Turning Stone Casino would put him firmly on the boxing map.

It was Induction Weekend at the nearby International Boxing Hall Of Fame in Canastota, New York and two native New Yorkers squared off in a must-win fight in front of the legends of the sport. Seldin needed a big win against a big name to stay relevant after his one-sided loss in his last step up fight against Yves Ulysse a year and a half ago. Seldin delivered the best performance of his career on its biggest stage and captured our Fighter Of The Week award.

On the advice of his trainer, Peter Brodsky, Cletus Seldin started fast! Jumping on Judah from the opening bell and staying on Zab Judah through the remainder of the fight. Seldin stayed on the aggressive and in control throughout the fight badly outworking the Brooklyn native in the early rounds and landing the much cleaner and harder shots. including a chopping right hand towards the end of the third-round that sent the former six-time champ reeling across the ring into the ropes before being saved by the bell a few seconds later.

A badly hurt Judah tried to answer back and had his best round of the fight in the fifth catching Seldin with right hooks and straight left hands out of his southpaw stance. However, it was too little. as the all-out aggression of Seldin finally broke the 41-year old legend down. Another big right hand badly hurt Judah in the 11th, Seldin poured on about six more unanswered power shots before referee Charlie Fitch stepped in and stopped the fight, giving The Hebrew Hammer the TKO victory and likely sending Judah into retirement.

It was the star-making performance the “Hebrew Hammer” needed, an impressive beat down of a world close, elite level, former world champion was exactly what Seldin needed on his resume.

Postfight, the Seldin stated:

“I was very proud to go into the 11th round, I was waiting for the opportunity to take it over and Pete Brodsky and Scott Lopeck gave me the go ahead. Right after this fight, I am looking for a 12-round world championship fight.”

With all four champions locked into fighting each other, Regis Prograis & Josh Taylor will unify the WBA & IBF titles and Maurice Hooker and Jose Carlos Ramirez will unify the WBO & WBC straps.

Seldin may have to wait a little while longer for a world title shot. In the interim, a fight against fellow Long Islander Chris Algeri would be an entertaining clash of styles a very popular fight in New York and easily makeable as both fighters are signed with Joe Deguardia’s Star Boxing.

(All our thoughts are with Zab Judah who was taken to the hospital after the fight. Zudah’s promoters, Star Boxing, confirmed: “He’s awake, communicating and making progress.”)