By David Selwyn
Dmitriy “Star of David” Salita (21-0-12KO’s) will make his fourth appearance on the Big Apple stage when he headlines Dibella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing presented by the Mohegan Sun this Thursday night, June 9th, at the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center on 34 St. in New York City.
Salita, a native of Odessa, Ukraine, now fighting out of Brooklyn, will square off against Louis Brown (14-1-10KO) of Indianapolis in the main event.
I had the opportunity to have an exclusive one on one conversation with this serious and very intelligent young man.
BoxingScene.com: Hello Dmitriy, how have you been feeling?
Dmitriy: I’m feeling good I just got back from training camp in the Poconos this Saturday. I had a lot of good work, hard training and sparring. I’m just looking forward to Thursday.
BoxingScene.com: Hector Roca is still your trainer?
Dmitriy: Yes
BoxingScene.com: Have you been sparring with any known boxers?
Dmitriy: Yes, before I went up to camp I boxed at Gleason’s gym and boxed 25-30 rounds there with Lansana Diallo, a middleweight from Belgium. He just had a tough fight with Ray Joval. When I went to camp I boxed with Edgar Santana. He is 13-1. He is also fighting Thursday night. Also Jorge Teron (former NY Golden Glove champ), they all gave me good quality work.
BoxingScene.com: What’s going on with your movie about your life Story? Are you excited about it?
Dmitriy: I’m very excited about it. I guess I will be focused on it after the fight Thursday. The screenwriter is working on the script. Right now my mind is on June 9th.
BoxingScene.com: Can you tell us anything about your opponent Louis Brown?
Dmitriy: I know he is aggressive. I saw a few tapes of him. He is a tough guy who is in good shape. I’m not expecting an easy fight.
BoxingScene.com: Well, he is still an opponent. Do you feel that you are ready to fight another undefeated fighter like yourself and fight a higher ranked fighter?
Dmitriy: Absolutely. Brown is an opponent but he is 14-1. He lost to a world champion (Cesar Bazan). I don’t take him as just an opponent. He has some skills. He does not get hit a lot. I’m just hoping that I win on June 9th and put on a good show. God willing, after that I will move on to bigger and better things. The Jr. Welterweight division is opening up right now with Kostya Tszya losing his title. I think there will be a lot of changes in the division.
BoxingScene.com: Right. Now speaking of Kostya Tszyu, I know you are a big fan of his, did you see the fight Saturday night?
Dmitriy: I did.
BoxingScene.com: What did you think about the fight?
Dmitriy: I think you have to give all the credit to Ricky Hatton. He fought a great fight. He was stronger than I thought he would be. You also have to give a lot of credit to Tszyu. He always takes on tough fighters. You saw two guys show a lot of sportsmanship. After the fight they were very respectful to each other.
BoxingScene.com: Were you surprised about the outcome? Did you pick Tszyu before the fight?
Dmitriy: I did pick Tszya before the fight. I was very surprised how strong Hatton was.
BoxingScene.com: Which fighter or fighters have influenced your style and is there any fighters you try to emulate?
Dmitriy: I like Oscar De La Hoya, I like Sugar Ray Robinson. I like Kostya Tszya, Hopkins. They all train very seriously.
BoxingScene.com: So you are more influenced and impressed with boxers rather than sluggers?
Dmitriy: Definitely. I admire boxers who are skillful at their craft.
BoxingScene.com: I know that your religion is important to you. How has your faith helped you in your boxing career?
Dmitriy: It helps me in life in general. Boxing is a part of my life. Religion keeps me grounded and helps me focus on what is important. It provides me the blueprint for my life.
BoxingScene.com: You were born in the Soviet Union where you could not practice my religion. At what point in your life did you become religious and become an observant Jew.?
Dmitriy: At the age of 14 when my mother was ill, I came across a Rabbi who was like a mentor to me. It was an individual choice. No one forced Judaism on me. I became interested in Judaism. I strictly observed the Sabbath and would never fight on the Sabbath,not even for 20 million dollars.
BoxingScene.com: Who was the toughest opponent for you to this point of your career and what made him a tough opponent?
Dmitriy: Delgado was a tough fight. I had to make a lot of adjustments and did not expect that kind of movement from him. He knew how to maneuver around the ring. Every fight brings different challenges.
BoxingScene.com: Dmitriy, I have met you a few times and I got the impression that you are a very well disciplined conservative young man. Do you have any set routines on the day of a fight. Take us through your planned “fight night” day.
Dmitriy: I try to get a good night'ss sleep. Eat a good breakfast and pray. Stay focused and relaxed. Try not to answer the phone and talk to too many people and not get distracted. Take a few naps. Eat good and healthy and gain a few pounds.
BoxingScene.com: Is there a certain point that day where you get nervous?
Dmitriy: I’m a little nervous the whole day. I think everybody is. I think the day of the fight is harder than the fight itself.
BoxingScene.com: The build up, the anticipation?
Dmitriy: Absolutely. It’s very hard.
BoxingScene.com: When do you actually relax that day. When the fights over?
Dmitriy: Once I get to the arena, I’m more relaxed. It’s always on your mind. After the fight, when I win, I feel relaxed and could have a good time and feel that the sacrifices I made were worth it.
BoxingScene.com: Outside of boxing and your religion, what do you enjoy to do?
Dmitriy: Well it’s summertime now. I like to go out to the beach.
BoxingScene.com: Check out the bikinis?
Dmitriy: (Laughs) Check out the bikinis. Absolutely. Have a few sodas and hang out by Sheepshead Bay (Brooklyn, NY). I like to be just a regular person and go to the movies, eat pizza and ice cream. I think all these boxing movies now are great. They expose the sport to everyone.
BoxingScene.com: What is the title of your movie going to be?
Dmitriy: I think it’s called “Golden Boy”
BoxingScene.com: (Laughs) I think someone already owns that title.
BoxingScene.com: Anything you would like to add or say to your fans?
Dmitriy: I just want to thank everybody for their support. I look forward to putting on a great performance on Thursday, June 9th.
BoxingScene.com: Ok. Good Luck to you Dmitriy
Dmitriy: Thanks. Brooklyn is in the house
Dmitriy “Star of David” Salita (21-0-12KO’s) will make his fourth appearance on the Big Apple stage when he headlines Dibella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing presented by the Mohegan Sun this Thursday night, June 9th, at the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center on 34 St. in New York City.
Salita, a native of Odessa, Ukraine, now fighting out of Brooklyn, will square off against Louis Brown (14-1-10KO) of Indianapolis in the main event.
I had the opportunity to have an exclusive one on one conversation with this serious and very intelligent young man.
BoxingScene.com: Hello Dmitriy, how have you been feeling?
Dmitriy: I’m feeling good I just got back from training camp in the Poconos this Saturday. I had a lot of good work, hard training and sparring. I’m just looking forward to Thursday.
BoxingScene.com: Hector Roca is still your trainer?
Dmitriy: Yes
BoxingScene.com: Have you been sparring with any known boxers?
Dmitriy: Yes, before I went up to camp I boxed at Gleason’s gym and boxed 25-30 rounds there with Lansana Diallo, a middleweight from Belgium. He just had a tough fight with Ray Joval. When I went to camp I boxed with Edgar Santana. He is 13-1. He is also fighting Thursday night. Also Jorge Teron (former NY Golden Glove champ), they all gave me good quality work.
BoxingScene.com: What’s going on with your movie about your life Story? Are you excited about it?
Dmitriy: I’m very excited about it. I guess I will be focused on it after the fight Thursday. The screenwriter is working on the script. Right now my mind is on June 9th.
BoxingScene.com: Can you tell us anything about your opponent Louis Brown?
Dmitriy: I know he is aggressive. I saw a few tapes of him. He is a tough guy who is in good shape. I’m not expecting an easy fight.
BoxingScene.com: Well, he is still an opponent. Do you feel that you are ready to fight another undefeated fighter like yourself and fight a higher ranked fighter?
Dmitriy: Absolutely. Brown is an opponent but he is 14-1. He lost to a world champion (Cesar Bazan). I don’t take him as just an opponent. He has some skills. He does not get hit a lot. I’m just hoping that I win on June 9th and put on a good show. God willing, after that I will move on to bigger and better things. The Jr. Welterweight division is opening up right now with Kostya Tszya losing his title. I think there will be a lot of changes in the division.
BoxingScene.com: Right. Now speaking of Kostya Tszyu, I know you are a big fan of his, did you see the fight Saturday night?
Dmitriy: I did.
BoxingScene.com: What did you think about the fight?
Dmitriy: I think you have to give all the credit to Ricky Hatton. He fought a great fight. He was stronger than I thought he would be. You also have to give a lot of credit to Tszyu. He always takes on tough fighters. You saw two guys show a lot of sportsmanship. After the fight they were very respectful to each other.
BoxingScene.com: Were you surprised about the outcome? Did you pick Tszyu before the fight?
Dmitriy: I did pick Tszya before the fight. I was very surprised how strong Hatton was.
BoxingScene.com: Which fighter or fighters have influenced your style and is there any fighters you try to emulate?
Dmitriy: I like Oscar De La Hoya, I like Sugar Ray Robinson. I like Kostya Tszya, Hopkins. They all train very seriously.
BoxingScene.com: So you are more influenced and impressed with boxers rather than sluggers?
Dmitriy: Definitely. I admire boxers who are skillful at their craft.
BoxingScene.com: I know that your religion is important to you. How has your faith helped you in your boxing career?
Dmitriy: It helps me in life in general. Boxing is a part of my life. Religion keeps me grounded and helps me focus on what is important. It provides me the blueprint for my life.
BoxingScene.com: You were born in the Soviet Union where you could not practice my religion. At what point in your life did you become religious and become an observant Jew.?
Dmitriy: At the age of 14 when my mother was ill, I came across a Rabbi who was like a mentor to me. It was an individual choice. No one forced Judaism on me. I became interested in Judaism. I strictly observed the Sabbath and would never fight on the Sabbath,not even for 20 million dollars.
BoxingScene.com: Who was the toughest opponent for you to this point of your career and what made him a tough opponent?
Dmitriy: Delgado was a tough fight. I had to make a lot of adjustments and did not expect that kind of movement from him. He knew how to maneuver around the ring. Every fight brings different challenges.
BoxingScene.com: Dmitriy, I have met you a few times and I got the impression that you are a very well disciplined conservative young man. Do you have any set routines on the day of a fight. Take us through your planned “fight night” day.
Dmitriy: I try to get a good night'ss sleep. Eat a good breakfast and pray. Stay focused and relaxed. Try not to answer the phone and talk to too many people and not get distracted. Take a few naps. Eat good and healthy and gain a few pounds.
BoxingScene.com: Is there a certain point that day where you get nervous?
Dmitriy: I’m a little nervous the whole day. I think everybody is. I think the day of the fight is harder than the fight itself.
BoxingScene.com: The build up, the anticipation?
Dmitriy: Absolutely. It’s very hard.
BoxingScene.com: When do you actually relax that day. When the fights over?
Dmitriy: Once I get to the arena, I’m more relaxed. It’s always on your mind. After the fight, when I win, I feel relaxed and could have a good time and feel that the sacrifices I made were worth it.
BoxingScene.com: Outside of boxing and your religion, what do you enjoy to do?
Dmitriy: Well it’s summertime now. I like to go out to the beach.
BoxingScene.com: Check out the bikinis?
Dmitriy: (Laughs) Check out the bikinis. Absolutely. Have a few sodas and hang out by Sheepshead Bay (Brooklyn, NY). I like to be just a regular person and go to the movies, eat pizza and ice cream. I think all these boxing movies now are great. They expose the sport to everyone.
BoxingScene.com: What is the title of your movie going to be?
Dmitriy: I think it’s called “Golden Boy”
BoxingScene.com: (Laughs) I think someone already owns that title.
BoxingScene.com: Anything you would like to add or say to your fans?
Dmitriy: I just want to thank everybody for their support. I look forward to putting on a great performance on Thursday, June 9th.
BoxingScene.com: Ok. Good Luck to you Dmitriy
Dmitriy: Thanks. Brooklyn is in the house