(JTA) — Former junior middleweight boxing champion and newly ordained Orthodox rabbi Yuri Foreman is ending his two-year hiatus from the ring.
Foreman, 35, will fight Lenwood Dozier at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday night.
According to ESPN, Foreman became the first Orthodox Jew to win a world title in over 70 years when he beat Daniel Santos in 2009. After losing to Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium in 2010 and sustaining a series of injuries, he quit the sport in 2013.
During his hiatus, Foreman was ordained as a rabbi by Dovber Pinson, a Chabad rabbi based in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, The Algemeiner reported.
“Coming back is a great feeling for me, especially to be coming back as a rabbi,” Foreman told Newsday. “For my observant friends, the fight starts early so for those who live a little distance from Barclays Center, you should start walking early and then take a train. I will be fighting after sundown, so it will all be kosher.”
Foreman, who was born in Belarus and grew up in Israel, now lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
“Boxing is a very spiritual sport. We all have different paths. My faith keeps me centered and focused. You can be anyone. You can be a rabbi and still be fighting on the big stage at Barclays Center,” Foreman said in a press release.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
