The next few weeks are massive for Jewish boxing fans with two fighters involved in high-profile bouts. It’s been a while since the community had something to shout about in terms of bragging rights in the ring but we must not forget that the sport has produced some top Jewish sporting talent.
The names of Benny Leonard, Barney Ross, Abe Attell, Ted ‘kid’ Lewis, Maxie Rosenbloom and Daniel Mendoza may be blasts from the past but the history books show that at one point, many of the top boxers in the world were Jewish.
Now, Yuri Foreman and Dmitri Salita have the opportunity to put their names up in lights. With Foreman fighting on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto bill in Vegas, followed by Salita taking on Amir Khan for the WBO crown, there is genuine belief that we will produce a marquee sportsman.
● Daniel Stanton has been named captain of the JC MSFL Rep Team who start their London Inter-League Cup campaign against the Turkish & Federation League on November 24. The appointment caps a memorable year for Stanton who represented Team GB at July’s Maccabiah Games. He said: “It’s a great honour to have been given the chance to lead the team against the Turks. However, I am expecting it to be a tough game. We have got to go into the match without any complacency and register our best performance possible.”
● Montana Boca United A defender Alex Haffner has been ruled out for the rest of the season after dislocating a shoulder for the second time in a matter of months. He suffered the injury minutes into the recent Division One clash against Oakwood, and had yet to touch the ball. He will be operated on next Wednesday and faces six months of rehab. Haffner told his teammates: “Please make sure that if I manage to come back next year it’s to join a Premier Division squad.” There was better news off the pitch as the team recently renewed a sponsorship deal with Euracom.
● Players of North London Raiders A have agreed to tone down goal celebrations in a bid to ensure the Swine Flu epidemic does not hit the squad. Top-scorer Jonny Blain, who has scored in all five league games, even refuses to shake hands with his teammates before the game. B team player Matt Greene is the latest player to have suffered the dreaded metatarsal break.
● Footballers from Redbridge Jewish Care A are growing moustaches to help raise awareness and funds for men’s health — specifically prostate cancer.
● The open doubles final of the Maccabi GB National Tennis Tournament, sponsored by Barnett Ross, takes place at David Lloyd Chigwell on Sunday. Robert Taub and Daniel Cordell take on Simon Sugar and Robert Levy, son of Lord Sugar. Tournament organiser Jonathan Cohen said: “Both pairs play great tennis and deserve their place in the final.”
● Match of the day in the JC MSFL on Sunday sees second-placed Faithfold A tackle title rivals Redbridge Jewish Care A in the Premier Division. And although Faithfold will be missing talisman Alex Levack, who is on honeymoon in the Far East, assistant-manager Daryl Phillips said: “We’re back where we want to be. We are starting to click and playing some nice football.”
Leaders Neasden A will be missing Dan Levenfiche, Matt Stock and Daniel Stanton for the visit to Glenthorne A.
