British boxer Amir Khan has retained his WBA light-welterweight title after winning the much-hyped “battle of the faiths” by stopping challenger Dmitriy Salita in the first round on Saturday night.
Khan, a devout Muslim, knocked down his Jewish opponent three times before the referee stopped after just one minute and 16 seconds.
Salita, an American citizen who was born in Ukraine and is nicknamed “Star of David”, was unable to follow up his bold claims made in the build-up to the fight, which took place in Newcastle in the north-east of England.
The 22-year-old Khan was successful in his first defense of the belt that he won in defeating Andreas Kotelnik in July.
He is trained by American Freddie Roach, who also guides Filipino star Manny Pacquiao, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
“It was very explosive. The fight was just what we asked for, what Freddie asked me to do. We had too much power for this guy,” a delighted Khan told reporters after the fight.
“I’m a growing young man and developing as a man. Freddie said to take it easy, pick the right shots and you’ll take this guy out and we did.
“Freddie is a great trainer, he’s like a father figure to me and to have him in my corner means a lot. Everyone knows I’m a hard-working fighter and if you put the hard work in you’re going to get the benefits.
“After the first shot I could see his legs buckling and I just had to take my time. I knew he was going.”
Roach has helped the Olympic silver medal winner to rebuild his career after a humiliating defeat by unknown Colombian Breidis Prescott last year.
“It was a blessing in disguise what happened against Prescott, I got beat and came back stronger,” Khan said.
Roach was equally impressed with his young charge.
“I would give him an A+. I said if you hurt him, finish him. We’ve been working on that power and the fight was really over after that first punch,” he said.
Ran out of time yesterday. Another point: There is an image depicted throughout the world and even among us that Judaism is something of the past. We have to get with the present. It’s not relevant, it’s not hip or trendy, it’s old fashioned. It’s restrictive – can’t do this or that – can’t turn lights on etc etc. There are Yidden who are ashamed of frum Yidden – I call it the ‘dirty Jew image.’ Like the communist traitorous jews who worked against the Rebbeim in communist Russia. I’ve encountered Non-Jews and Jews alike lehavdil who see a frum… Read more »
Firstly. a yasher koach to Dmitry Salita, he is a hero of the Jewish people, and shows the world that we’re not cowards. (Although, I think that I may be one, personally). He rekindles the Jewish fighting flame and especially during Kislev and Yud Tess Kislev, which is all about the fight to express religious freedom. We don’t need to negativity of #2 or the opponents to him either. Lets be positive. Some people in the frum world just can’t understand what Dmitri has gone through in being bullied at school for not speaking english (if you read his story).… Read more »
don`t say bad stuff about him
We support you, man!
We’ll get him next time.
By we I mean you…
A mandatory tko is does not equal crushed.
There is a well known story in the gemoro. Reb Shimon Ben Lakish (Resh Lakish) was a leader of a band of robbers. He was able to jump over a river in one leap. When Rabbi Yochonon saw this Koiach, he suggested that he use it for learning Torah…which he did. Afterwards he could not leap over the river… as Torah weakens the physical strength of a person.
When did boxing become the official Lubavitch sport?
No, I’m not a perpetual basher, as a matter of fact I wish Dimitri Salita lots of luck in life and hope that he is healthy and well. For him to fight is one thing, this has been his ambition for many years, my problem is with all the Chassidim that surround him.
This is Chassidus?
first of all Yasher koach Mashpia yisroel liberow,
Dimitri thousands of lubavs around the world await your next fight be it against kahn or whoever , rember kahn also was knocked out . COME OUT STRONGER FROM THIS WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU!!
i agree. i think he should give up and jut be a frum yid following in the way of the rebbe and not influence youth to follow in his ways!!!!!!!!!!
Well done for trying but Amir Khan is serious stufff.
DIMITRY WAS EVEN M’KAYEIM A MITZVOH D’RIASOH IN THE RING………………………..SHLUACH HA KHAN…………….
With all the support you are receiving from fellow chassidim and yidden around the world it is a clear indicator that you really are the champion! Chazak V’yamatz Libecha V’kavei El Hashem Moshiach Now!!!
No matter the outcome, Dimitriy has already succeeded in making the greatest Kiddush Hashem. Dimitriy is a blessing to the Jewish people!!
Dimitriy, we are so proud of you!!! Remember, for us, you were, are and will always be no.1
In real life, YOU are the one with the blessings of G-d, not Khan. Hashem has given you great talent, intelligence, charisma, and a wonderful wife. You are far ahead of him in every arena.
You rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE FIGHT DID NOT START UNTIL 10PM UK TIME. WELL AFTER SHABBOS. DIMITRY WAS MEDAKDEIK ON EVERY HIDUR MITZVOH BEFORE DURING AND AFTER SHABBOS. HE DAVENED WITH A MINYAN ONLY ATE GLATT WAS NOT MECHALEL SHABBOS EVEN TO EXCERCISE IN HOUSE….. HE WAS NOT SHY TO SHOW HIS LOVE FOR TORAH AND MITZVOIS BFARHESIAH AND PROUD OF BEING A TORAH JEW. PERHAPS THE SCHEDULE FOR SHABBOS OF NO ACTIVITY SLOWED HIM CONSDUERABLY NOT TO MENTION ALL THAT KUGEL AND CHOLENT GEFILTE FISH MIT CHICKEN SOUP AND KNEIDLICH AND CHALLAH MIT MAYONAISE AND CHRAINE AND CHICKEN AND SALADS FOLLOWED BY SWARTZ… Read more »
MECHAYIL EL CHOYIL DIMITRY..YOU WILL COME BACK STRONGER FASTER BETTER THAN THAT KHAN WILL EVER BE….. MANY FIGHTERS HAVE LOST AND WON, LIKE MUHAMED ALI AT 32, YOU LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES AND YOU WILL RECTIFY THEM IN GOOD TIME AND WIN AND THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RETIRE GRACEFULLY WITH MUCH HONOUR AS THE WORLD CHAMPION AND FULLFILL YOUR DREAMS. DONT LET ANYONE DETER YOU FROM FULLFILLING YOUR DREAM. THE FACT YOU WERE ABLE TO STAND UP IMMEDIATELY SHOWS YOUR MADE OF MUCH STRONGER STUFF AND HE DID NOT KNOCK YOU OUT. YOU ARE A KIDDUSH HASHEM AND… Read more »
he did the best he could do, HaShem does the rest.
He DID do a big kiddush HaShem because he has a beard and kipah and he acts like a yid.
Dmitry is smart and young, he is going to bounce back and figure it out by himself what to do next and he has a beautiful smart wife.Good team. Much blessings!
Forget the fact that Salita is a Yid, it has nothing to do with the fact that boxing has got to be the dumbest sport in existence. To pound someone until they fall down and get hurt, crowns you as the winner?? Hello??? Is that the way to show how “good” you are. Sounds pretty pathetic to me. Boxing should be illegal. There have been plenty of boxers who have been brain damaged or worse from this crazy “sport”. And yes, I know the argument that when your time is up, it will be whenever, but you are also not… Read more »
his mind and heart ambitions are no synched one with each other over the years of not been given the opportunity to perform on a greater scale he lost his stamina. In his mind he still yearned for the title a conquest he envisioned 15 years ago when he walked into the boxing gym for the first time. However, is heart was no longer there, his heart lost that ambition, his heart gave up on boxing. He was determined and focused and trained hard but yet he did not stand a chance. This is not because Amir was over qualified… Read more »
you duds dimitri was did what he can g-d takes the rest so if he neva lost till now its a reason bro, now thaht he lost once is alsa a reason so is allll right g-d will take care of that muhamad
He just had his life’s dream crushed. Have you no heart?
Kahn is probably a Jew from the Pathans of Afganistan – Pakistan who are of the ten tribes, of course he would lose against a fellow Jew…We want Moshiach Now!
Learn to talk clearly…..make the interview exciting not boring!
Hardships can be turned into opportunities, Dmitri; be strong, get back up were all behind you in the good and the hard times. Chassidim dont give up. The fact that you got this far is a milestone and something to be proud of , you should go mechayil el choyul, from strenth to strenth in your career physicaly and spiritually.
Yoreshin vgorishin in order to become greater, I think its a rosh hashana maamor in Eter
seems like the champ is the champ for a reason and dimitry was out of his league.
happens.
dimitry is a strong chassid, not crushable by a goy; bad title!
may you and your wife gain from this experience and be happy and successful in all that you do
Amir is a quick & solid fighter. Remember, that this fight was well prepared on both sides. Amir knew that he had to defend his world title…its do or die. Amir also has more experience because he also tasted a major defeat (knockout) in his first round just last year against Prescott. There was no way Amir was going down again. He didn’t leave any openings or weak spots for Salita to get in. Amir’s objective was crystal clear….to finish off Salita quickly in the first round. Only now does Salita know who he was up against. Unfortunately we didn’t… Read more »
Learning to win is easy but to lose and then get back up again and win the game. now that is a real chidush! So demitry I know you are a fighter and you will retry and win again with your great skills and yiddishe kup!! BS”H
Hey everyone knows about rocky. Its a great show cause he loses and then retries and wins!!!
Good luck!
We are with you all the way. You are a walking kiddush hashem and a real mentch. But you have a beautiful wife , you’re young, so why not leave this boxing behind. You have your whole life a head of you. You will always be the greatest, no matter what!!!
The Rebbe always held and still does, that once a person is already involved in something he has to finish!!!!! Dimitry is Geshmake Frume yid who had a bad fight tonight, he should take a few days to recover and celebrate yud tes kislev, and right away train non stop and fight the winner gain. all these idiots that differ are mammosh being Klany Keppledik.
Dimitry should sit and learn and settle down with life.
Boxing is not a sport for any human being. It is all about violence. I wonder if there will be boxing when Moshiach comes.
keep ur head up high..u won 30 bouts one way or another b”h…u got alot to be grateful for…the best boxers lose too! Have a safe trip back home 🙂
We are still very proud of you and remain your fans!
Even tho he lost this time, there will, PG be other chances. Solid work doesn’t just disappear. If it didn’t pay off this time, it will pay off later.
Who knows – maybe if he had won against a devout Muslim, there would be vengence at this time… we don’t know HaShem’s ways… gam zu l’tovah.
Keep up the good work, Dmitri. You are a solid role model of yegaiti u’motzasi taamin.
BS:D To # 2 You represent everthing which is wrong with Yiddiskeit or those who claim to observe. 1 Dimitry gives graciously of his time to speak to school kids at school assemblies and he does just what you ((without even knowing- rather just exhibiting the negativity you probably show in all phases of your life. ) accuse him of not doing. 2 If you ever met him you would be mesemorized by his adel personality who represents everything a chosid should be and whom you would be lucky to emulate with 80 years of work on yourself 3 When… Read more »
I know Dmitriy personally outside the ring, he is a great guy.
I wish him and his wife the best!
Oh well, so people want to generalize that this is a battle of the faiths, so people can draw the conclusion that Muslims are better at beating people up than Jews..
I respect Salita for being a frum Yid IN SPITE of being a boxer, but I’m not sure we need a boxing title to feel proud to be frum Yidden…
hes not ganna quit hes ganna get up and fight him next time NOT QUIT.
This loss will turn into a big GAIN, Dmitriy will come back way more determite, stronger, focused,ready to show the world who is the real number ONE and regain his title. Chasiduss explain this as “Yerida Letzorich Aliya”. This muslim amir khan is full of NOTHING.
c’mon people now this is not what makes him a special boxer and above all a great person
Dmitry has accomplished more in his life so far they you ever will with your knee-jerk criticism and computer-commando negativity.
Who says that his winning would have been a kiddush Hashem? Maybe now, he can live like a frum yid should, encourage kids to learn in Yeshiva and not follow his lead.
it would have been such a kidush hashem