Background
Cletus Seldin, who is Jewish, was born in East Yaphank, New York (part of Shirley, New York, on Long Island), named after former New York Yankee third baseman Clete Boyer, who was a close friend of his grandparents. He grew up in Shirley in the eastern blue-collar part of Long Island. His father is Harry Seldin.
Education
He later studied at Suffolk Community College.
Career
His nickname is the Hebrew Hammer. Seldin"s record as of June 2015 was 17–0, with 14 knockouts. In his senior year he set the New York State deadlifting record for men weighing up to 145 pounds (66 kg), by lifting 470 pounds (210 kg).
Seldin has also lived in Brentwood, New York, and now resides in Brooklyn.
Seldin"s nickname is the Hebrew Hammer. He is trained and managed by Pete Brodsky, and promoted by Joe DeGuardia.
Unlike Jewish contemporary fighters Yuri Foreman and Dmitry Salita, who fight using modern boxing styles, Seldin fights in a throwback rugged brawler style, focusing on constantly putting pressure on the opposing fighter to wear him down. He describes his style as "come forward and fight." Entertainment and Sports Programming Network boxing writer Dan Rafeal described him as "a fun fighter."
Seldin began boxing as a professional in 2011, when he was 22 years old.
In April 2013, he had surgery for a torn right rotator cuff, labrum, and right hand.
That was followed by a lay-off of nine months. Seldin made his national television debut in July 2014 on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network against Bayan "the Mongolian Mongoose" Jargal (17–5–3, 11 knockouts) at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, Long Island, New New York The fight ended as a "no-contest" in the third round, as Jargal suffered a badly swollen-shut right eye, and the ringside physician decided that Jargal could not continue any longer.
In December 2014, he again faced Jargal.
Seldin defeated him by a technical knockout in the ninth round, winning the World Boxing Council International Silver Light Welterweight (140 pounds (64 kg)) title. The referee stopped the fight in the fifth round.
Seldin brought his record to 16–0, with 13 knockouts, including knockouts in 12 of his last 13 fights.
Views
On June 20, 2015 Seldin defended his WBC International Silver junior welterweight title and brought his record to 17-0 with 14 knockouts, with a 4th-round main event TKO of Ranee Ganoy, who was 38-13-2 with 32 knockouts, at The Paramount.