Cletus Seldin is fighting for much more than himself.
He’s fighting for a community he believes is underrepresented in boxing. Fighting for a group he’s seen face rising hate. Fighting for his people.
Seldin, nicknamed “The Hebrew Hammer,” is one of the only Jewish boxers currently starring in the sport.
It’s a foundational part of his identity, both inside and outside the ring.
“I got balls the size of matzah ball soup,” Seldin told The Post. “I’m out there wearing what I’m gonna wear, I’m not gonna change who I am. I feel as if I’m one of the few athletes in all of sports that can represent their culture, their religion, who they are inside the boxing ring, and with honor.”
The 37-year-old Seldin (27-1, 23 KOs), who grew up in Shirley on Long Island, will square off with Jose Angulo (16-7, 9 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight bout on March 15 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Seldin, who notably knocked out the legendary Zab Judah in 2019 in the final bout of the latter’s iconic career, will certainly be paying homage to his Jewish background in his attire, something that has been a staple in his career.
He features a large Star of David on his trunks.
On the purple satin jacket he dons while walking to the ring, Seldin has the words “Remember the Masada” inscribed, referencing the mass suicide (though evidence is sparse and some historians dispute it) of Jewish rebels under siege by Roman Empire troops during 73-74 CE.
After his last bout, which came just days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and in which he knocked out Patrick Okine in the sixth round at Sony Hall in Manhattan, Seldin proclaimed that he was motivated to “win for Israel.”
He has “#StandUpToJewishHate” in his Instagram bio.
“It’s been a big relief, especially this past year, to be able to wear that and have that honor,” Seldin said. “… I went to school with only like 10 or 15 Jewish kids. But if you go to my fights, I have a whole alumni of people that I played sports with, people I went to school with, and they all have changed their whole opinions about the ‘Hebrew Hammer.’ They come to the fights and they’re screaming ‘Hammer, Hammer, Hammer,’ and to see that whole community transformed to being like ‘Ok, we know what we have here. Somebody that’s different.’
“And I always preach that there’s not too many of us out there, in any sport. It’s always been a huge tradition of mine to always represent who I was, never hide like I had to as a kid, and show people that there are tough people that are in the Jewish community that are in the sport of boxing.”
Seldin has fought the vast majority of his bouts in New York, though not at Madison Square Garden since Oct. 22, 2011.
He finally makes his long-awaited return 12.5 years later.
A big puncher who comes straight forward aggressively and certainly doesn’t run inside the ring, Seldin is steadfast that he’s exactly what fans crave at the “Mecca.”
“With me, everybody knows you get every dollar’s worth,” Seldin said. “I come in there and I punch like a mule. I’ve got my unique style, my defense, everything all together. … It’s always everybody’s dream [to fight at Madison Square Garden]. I’m more than ecstatic. I’ve been there before, and I know how to put on a great show.”
After his win over Okine, Seldin was ranked No. 9 at welterweight by the WBA.
Though this next bout is one weight class down, Seldin is eyeing Mar. 15 as the fight to launch him to contender status as he continues to search for his first world title, although he’s won various smaller belts in his career.
And Seldin makes no mistake about his age and how much longer he has in boxing.
It’s now or never.
“I feel as if this is the fourth quarter of my career, I’ve been calling it,” Seldin said. “I always keep saying, in the fourth quarter, if you know sports, that’s when the winning happens. And that’s where I am. I’m here to win. And I’m here to bring everyone with me.”
