:Dmitry Salita

{{Family name hatnote|Oleksandrovych|Salita|lang=Eastern Slavic}}

{{Infobox boxer

| name = Dmitriy Salita

| image = Dmitry Salita.jpg

| caption = Salita (middle, with arm raised) in 2010

| nickname = Star of David

| weight = Light welterweight
Welterweight

| height = 5 ft 9 in

| reach = 69 in

| nationality = American

| native_name_lang = uk

| native_name = Дмитро Саліта

| birth_date ={{birth date and age|1982|4|4}}

| birth_place = Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)

| style = Orthodox

| total = 38

| wins = 35

| KO = 18

| losses = 2

| draws = 1

}}

Dmitry Oleksandrovych Salita{{efn|{{langx|uk|Дмитро Олександрович Саліта|{{transliteration|uk|ukrainian|Dmytro Oleksandrovych Salita}}}}}} (born Dmytro Oleksandrovych Lekhtman, April 4, 1982) is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer. Born in Ukraine, he grew up in New York City from the age of nine.

Salita is a practicing Orthodox Jew. He does not fight on the Sabbath or Jewish holidays and keeps kosher.{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5340&more=1|title=Unbeaten Jewish Star Dmitriy Salita Returns on Dec 15|website=Eastsideboxing.com|access-date=July 11, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707120135/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5340&more=1|archive-date=July 7, 2009}}

Biography

=Early years=

Salita was born in Odesa, and grew up in Petrivka in the Odessa Oblast in what was then the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union (today Ukraine). He was five years old when he saw his first boxing match. "It was Mike Tyson, and I remember dancing around my room that night imitating the moves", he recalled.[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212441010&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Jerusalem Post article on Salita] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713123910/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212441010&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |date=2011-07-13 }}, jpost.com; accessed August 11, 2017. Salita's family moved to the United States when he was nine years old, citing antisemitism in Ukraine, and settled in Flatbush, Brooklyn. His father, Aleksandr Lekhtman, was an engineer; his mother, Lyudmila Salita, was an accountant. He has one brother, Mikhail.[https://usa.one/2017/06/intervyu-s-avtorom-pervoj-v-mire-rep-knigi/ Строкова Л. Интepвью c aвтopoм пepвoй в миpe pэп-книги. Usa.one] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704005517/https://usa.one/2017/06/intervyu-s-avtorom-pervoj-v-mire-rep-knigi/ |date=July 4, 2018 }}.[https://life.ru/t/новости/120710 life.ru. Рэп-книга об одесском боксёре покорила западных читателей].

His mother originally opposed her son's boxing, but eventually became an enthusiastic supporter. She died in January 1999, after a two-year battle with breast cancer. As a tribute to his mother, he uses her maiden name, Salita, as his professional name.[http://www.haaretz.com/news/sports/1.557862 Orthodox Jewish boxers score a hit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124135629/http://www.haaretz.com/news/sports/1.557862 |date=November 24, 2013 }}, Haaretz.com; accessed August 11, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.dsalita.com/?c=17|title=Dmitriy Salita|website=Dsalita.com|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-date=December 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202214220/http://www.dsalita.com/?c=17|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5340&more=1|title=Unbeaten Jewish Star Dmitriy Salita Returns on Dec 15|website=Eastsideboxing.com|date=November 22, 2005|access-date=April 13, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707120135/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5340&more=1|archive-date=July 7, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/view.php?pg=rising|title=Rising Stars|website=Boxingscene.com|date=April 4, 1982|access-date=April 13, 2010}}

Salita graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business and Jewish Studies from Touro College.{{cite web|url=http://www.urielheilman.com/0218dmitrysalita.html|title=The Boxer|publisher=Uriel Heilman|date=February 18, 2005|access-date=March 11, 2014|author=Uriel Heilman|archive-date=March 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311152424/http://www.urielheilman.com/0218dmitrysalita.html|url-status=live}}

Marriage

In September 2009, Salita married Alona Aharonov,{{cite web|url=http://crownheights.info/simcha-galleries/19590/lchaim-salita-aharonov/|title=L'Chaim: Salita - Aharonov • CrownHeights.info - Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch NewsCrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News|website=Crownheights.info|date=July 2009 |access-date=12 August 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708011444/http://crownheights.info/simcha-galleries/19590/lchaim-salita-aharonov/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/24794/salita-hate-chants-%EF%AC%82oored-me|title=Salita: hate chants floored me|website=Thejc.com|access-date=2017-08-12|archive-date=September 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922052928/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/24794/salita-hate-chants-%EF%AC%82oored-me|url-status=live}} Alona is from the Lubavitch community.{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/129363/a-brooklyn-boxer-humbled-not-down-for-the-count/|title=A Brooklyn Boxer Humbled, Not Down for the Count|website=Forward.com|date=July 15, 2010 |access-date=12 August 2017|archive-date=April 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422173439/http://forward.com/articles/129363/a-brooklyn-boxer-humbled-not-down-for-the-count/|url-status=live}}

In August 2013 as part of fundraising activities for the network of Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish schools Oholey Jinuj,{{clarify|date=November 2022}} during a gala dinner in Buenos Aires speaking with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Salita affirmed that at the end of his boxing career, he would like to migrate to Israel with his family.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/orthodox-boxer-will-make-aliya|title=Orthodox boxer will make aliya|publisher=Times of Israel|date=August 8, 2013|access-date=March 11, 2014|archive-date=March 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311152250/http://www.timesofisrael.com/orthodox-boxer-will-make-aliya/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2013/08/08/default/salita-tells-jta-he-will-make-aliyah-when-finished-fighting|title=Salita tells JTA he will make aliya when finished fighting|publisher=JTA|date=August 8, 2013|access-date=August 11, 2017|archive-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812063934/http://www.jta.org/2013/08/08/default/salita-tells-jta-he-will-make-aliyah-when-finished-fighting|url-status=live}}

Boxing career

{{quote box|width=31em|bgcolor=|align=right|quote="My gym's like a league of nations. I seen every kind of kid come through the doors, but I ain't never seen one like this Dmitriy. Kid looks Russian, prays Jewish, and fights Black.|source=— Jimmy O'Pharrow}} Salita started boxing at the age of 13 at the Starrett City Boxing Club. Among others, he trained with Zab Judah.

=Amateur career=

Salita had an amateur record of 59–5. When he was 16, he represented New York in the Junior Olympics and won a bronze medal. "I thought, 'I'm ranked in America as a boxer.' That's when I really felt like an American", he said.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A16265-2002Aug30¬Found=true|title=The Ring and a Prayer|first=Alona|last=Wartofsky|newspaper=Washington Post|date=September 1, 2002}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} His last loss came when he was 17 in a split decision in the finals of the Golden Gloves tournament in 2000.[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1243346493819&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Archive]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, jpost.com; accessed August 11, 2017.

He followed that up by becoming U.S. national under 19 champion at the U.S. Amateur under 19 Championships in Gulfport, Mississippi.{{cite web|url=http://www.chabad.info/index.php?url=article_en&id=15399|title=G-d in My Corner|website=Chabad.info|date=July 20, 2009|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721192117/http://www.chabad.info/index.php?url=article_en&id=15399|url-status=live}} At the 2001 New York Golden Gloves, he won the championship at 139 pounds. Salita won the finals on April 5, 2001, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

=Pro career=

He turned pro at the age of 19, in the summer of 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.dsalita.com/pdf/BoxingDigest0107.pdf|title=Prospects: Dmitriy Salita|publisher=Boxing Digest Magazine|date=January 2007|page=41|first=Ron|last=Zaslow|access-date=February 8, 2007|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004903/http://www.dsalita.com/pdf/BoxingDigest0107.pdf|url-status=live}} He signed a contract with Las Vegas-based promoter Bob Arum, whose Top Rank stable of fighters has included George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Manny Pacquiao.

On August 25, 2005, Salita captured the North American Boxing Association light welterweight championship by stopping Shawn Gallegos via ninth round TKO.{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5340&more=1|title=Unbeaten Jewish Star Dmitriy Salita Returns on December 15|publisher=East Side Boxing|date=November 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707120135/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5340&more=1|archive-date=2009-07-07}}

Salita remained in contention for a junior welterweight title bout, extending his unbeaten streak to 28, with a unanimous 10-round decision over Grover Wiley at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in March 2007. Salita staggered Wiley (30–9–1) with a series of body punches in the 7th round.{{cite web|url=http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=133902&t=0|title=Dmitry Salita remains unbeaten – 03-23-2007|website=Covers.com|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-date=July 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708161809/http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=133902&t=0|url-status=live}}

On November 8, 2008, Salita won the International Boxing Federation International,{{cite news |title=SUPER JOE POUNDS JONES JR. IN GARDEN BRAWL |url=https://nypost.com/2008/11/09/super-joe-pounds-jones-jr-in-garden-brawl/ |work=New York Post |date=9 November 2008 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115203522/https://nypost.com/2008/11/09/super-joe-pounds-jones-jr-in-garden-brawl/ |url-status=live }} the World Boxing Association international and WBF Junior Welterweight world title. A card held on the undercard of HBO PPV card featuring Roy Jones versus Joe Calzaghe.{{cite news |last1=Pusey |first1=Trent |title=Roy Jones Jr vs. Joe Calzaghe Results {{!}} Inside Pulse |url=https://insidepulse.com/2008/11/09/roy-jones-jr-vs-joe-calzaghe-results/ |work=insidepulse.com |publisher=Inside Fights |date=9 November 2008 |language=en-us |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115205024/https://insidepulse.com/2008/11/09/roy-jones-jr-vs-joe-calzaghe-results/ |url-status=live }}

In May 2009, he scored a dominant 10-round shutout victory over Raul "El Toro" Munoz (20–12–1, 15 KOs){{cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/?p=12101|title=Boxing: Salita still unbeaten!|website=Fightnews.com|date=May 25, 2009|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529194456/http://www.fightnews.com/?p=12101|archive-date=2009-05-29|url-status=dead}} in Las Vegas for his 30th win.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/6844/dimitriy-salita-beats-raul-munoz-desert|title=Dmitriy Salita Beats Raul Munoz in Desert|website=Thesweetscience.com|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526211547/http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/6844/dimitriy-salita-beats-raul-munoz-desert/|archive-date=2009-05-26|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lvrj.com/sports/45975472.html|title=Salita positions himself for shot at title|work=ReviewJournal.com|publisher=Lvrj.com|date=May 25, 2009|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-date=May 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528222615/http://www.lvrj.com/sports/45975472.html|url-status=live}}

Salita lost to WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan on December 5, 2009. Khan knocked out Salita in 76 seconds, knocking him down three times in the first round to defend his world title, shattering Salita's dreams of a world title. He credited Khan's superior hand speed as the reason for being knocked down.{{YouTube|zjN1OllR7Ak|Interview with Salita, post Amir Khan fight}}

Salita made a comeback on September 1, 2010, fighting as a junior middleweight, winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Franklin Gonzalez at the Oceana Hall in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. After the Gonzalez bout, former world champion Paul Malignaggi entered the ring to congratulate Salita and propose a bout between the two of them in the very near future. On April 13, 2011, Salita (33–1–1, 17 KOs) scored an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Ronnie Warrior Jr. (13–5–1, 4 KOs) at the Oceana Hall.

In the final fight of his career on November 9, 2013, Salita lost to fellow Brooklyn fighter Gabriel Bracero by unanimous decison. Salita's slower reflexes and frequent drop of his guard right hand made him vulnerable to Bracero's left hooks, one which knocked Salita down in the 8th round.{{cite news |last1=Woods |first1=Michael |title=Bracero beats Salita in Brooklyn war |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/boxing/post/_/id/5241/sunset-parks-bracero-wins-brooklyn-war |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=ESPN.com |date=10 November 2013 |language=en}}

Jewish heritage

{{quote box |width=27em|bgcolor=|align=right|quote="I enjoy being different. People are surprised at how good the White, Jewish kid is, surprised that I can fight. I take that as a compliment."|source=Salita{{cite web|url=http://www.dsalita.com/?c=17&lang=en|title=Biography|work=Official Website|access-date=April 9, 2007|archive-date=February 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206132916/http://www.dsalita.com/?c=17|url-status=live}}}}

In 2009 Salita visited Israel. {{Cite web|title=Boxing: Salita faces the heat in first Israel visit|url=http://www.jpost.com/Sports/Boxing-Salita-faces-the-heat-in-first-Israel-visit|website=JPost.com|date=December 10, 2009 |access-date=2016-01-14|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201153828/http://www.jpost.com/Sports/Boxing-Salita-faces-the-heat-in-first-Israel-visit|url-status=live}} During his tour he visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, planted trees in Aminadav Forest{{Cite web|title=Jewish Boxer Plants Trees in Aminadav Forest near Jerusalem|url=http://www.jpost.com/Green-Israel/People-and-The-Environment/Jewish-Boxer-Plants-Trees-in-Aminadav-Forest-near-Jerusalem|website=JPost.com|access-date=2016-01-14|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201105525/http://www.jpost.com/Green-Israel/People-and-The-Environment/Jewish-Boxer-Plants-Trees-in-Aminadav-Forest-near-Jerusalem|url-status=live}} and toured Hebron in the West Bank,{{Cite web|title=Champion Chabad boxer Dmitriy Salita visits Hebron|url=http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?id=605|website=Hebron.com|access-date=2016-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131080202/http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?id=605|archive-date=2016-01-31|url-status=dead}} where he visited the Cave of Machpela and other holy sites. He also gave boxing tips and sparred with local Jewish residents.{{Citation|title=Boxing Champ Dmitry Salita Teaching Sparring in Hebron|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhqO-J0wfIQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/bhqO-J0wfIQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|date=2009-12-13|access-date=2016-01-14}}{{cbignore}}

Endorsement deal

In 2009, Salita signed a deal to represent ARTHUR, a French-based Homewear company.{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20476&more=1|title=News: Angulo vs Rosado; Hernandez vs Jones; Dmitriy Salita|publisher=Eastsideboxing.com|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717230227/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20476&more=1|archive-date=July 17, 2009|url-status=dead}}

Promoter

In April 2011, Salita became a boxing promoter. He is the President of Brooklyn, New York-based [http://www.salitapromotions.com/contact Salita Promotions].{{cite web|title=Golden Gloves Champ Dmitry Salita Jumping into the Business side of Boxing|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/golden-gloves-champ-dmitriy-salita-jumping-business-side-boxing-article-1.111446|website=Nydailynews.com|date=April 8, 2011 |publisher=Tim Smith|access-date=April 8, 2011|archive-date=November 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122035136/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/golden-gloves-champ-dmitriy-salita-jumping-business-side-boxing-article-1.111446|url-status=live}} Among the boxers Salita promotes are Claressa Shields, Christina Hammer, Jarrell Miller, Otto Wallin, and Nikolai Potapov.