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On the comeback trail, Yuri Foreman will race the sun Friday

Fighters Network
02
Jun

Want to watch The Fighting Rabbi in action Friday night at Resorts World Casino in Queens? Then you must not be a late-arriver and hit the “Broadway Boxing” event, a Lou DiBella promotion with an assist from New Legend, fashionably tardy.

Yuri Foreman, a 35-year-old Park Slope resident, needs to hit the ring and finish his eight-round bout against Jason Davis before the sun sets.

The Brooklyner, who held a 154 crown for a spell, is back in the hunt after some downtime spent daddying (he has two sons with wife Leyla), dealing with managerial issues and studying to attain rabbi status.

“I don’t know much about my foe,” Foreman told me. “But I’m ready. I do know they start at 7:15, I heard. Sundown is 8:15. By 8:15 I will have to be done.”



Not because he’s picky like that. Foreman adheres to the requirements of the Jewish sabbath, which runs from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. One may not work during that time and it is a practice meant to encourage mindfulness of the spiritual side of life and spending time with family.

As far as Foreman knows, the night in Queens kicks off with a four-rounder and then he’ll hustle to get ‘er done.

Foreman sports a 33-2 record, with 9 KOs. He’s a ring technician who isn’t prone to brawling or trading. He uses his feet and brain as much as he does his fists. The Gleason’s Gym regular will be cornered by Pedro Saiz with cutman Lenny De Jesus assisting vs. the 13-11-2 Davis.

Foreman had a busy 2013, re-climbing the 154 ladder, then was off in 2014. He fought once in 2015, and this is his first start of 2016. So, is the plan, presumably, to return to the glory enjoyed in 2009, when he beat WBA beltholder Daniel Santos? DiBella promotes Foreman – I posed the query to him.

“The plan is to see how Yuri looks and proceed from there,” DiBella said. “He was rusty in his first fight back (12-5-15 vs. 9-9-1 Len Dozier) as anticipated. He had a minor, but nagging injury that kept him out awhile since. As a result, we slowed down the curve. The plan is to get him to a big opportunity when he’s ready.”

Has age affected the fighter? Is he feeling as good as ever? Age affected him at all? Or does experience trump any aging deterioration?

“Good as ever! What age?!” the rabbi replied, showing a deft counterpunching ability.

A Richar Abril-Jerry Belmontes fight tops the card in Queens tomorrow night, for the record. If his repudiation of the aging process holds, soon enough Foreman will be back in that headliner slot.

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