From Getting Beat To A ‘Strategic Monster’

Photo/Star Boxing
The undefeated Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin is set to lace up and get into the boxing ring at The Paramount on June 15. He’ll be facing “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis.

By Jano Tantongco

jtantongco@longislandergroup.com

Long Island native Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin’s rock-solid confidence is rooted in a boxing prowess he’s forged through constant training and the preparation he takes before each fight. It’s led him to the undefeated, 19-0 (16 KOs) record he currently holds.

“It stinks when you have to fight me, because I’m just coming and going, a hard-punching, strategic monster that comes in there and wrecks things,” said Seldin, who has won via knockout the last two times he’s laced up.

Seldin, in a super lightweight, 10-round match, will face off against Atlantic City’s “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (26-10, 13 KOs) on June 15 at The Paramount as the main event of Star Boxing’s Rockin’ Fights 27.

The Bay Shore resident has fought in many venues, but calls the Huntington arena his “number one.”

Seldin, 30, has been boxing professionally for the last five years, and three years as an amateur before that. He grew up in Shirley, engaging himself in football, lacrosse and wrestling at Longwood High School. He always knew he wanted to be a pro athlete, but wasn’t sure where he would focus his attention.

First, he found a mixed martial arts gym, but soon moved on to his true passion.

“Then, I found a boxing gym. And, because I was so bad at it, I became addicted to it. Each day for an entire year I went to that gym. I got my butt beat every single day,” Seldin said.

But that constant training eventually sharpened his skills to the point where he found success in the ring at the amateur level.

“That’s pretty much the whole protocol of how we beat everybody. It’s just by outworking them every single day and grinding out hours and hours in the gym, overdoing what everyone else is doing,” Seldin said.

Before each fight, Seldin travels down to West Palm Beach, Florida, to train with his coach and thoroughly prepare for the match.

The night of fights begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets ($50-$200) are available at the box office or Paramountny.com.

The fight card also includes Vincenzo D’Angelo (2-0) and Tyrone James (4-0, 2 KOs), whose opponents had not yet been announced at deadline Friday. Terell Bostic (3-0, 1 KO) will face Alexander Picot (2-3-1); and Abner Guadalupe, who will be making his pro debut, will take on Dan Cion (0-1).