Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 January 1964 — Page 4

The National Jewish POST and OPINION

Friday, January 17, 1964

Israel Boxer a 'Smash' in New York

By GARY GOBETZ NEW YORK (P-O) - There have been few Jewish fighters to interest Jewish boxing fans since Benny Leonard and Barney Ross, but an Israeli welterweigiit named David “King David” Nahon may soon change that picture. Sixteen semi - truant yeshiva boys and 42 sailors from the Zim ship “Israel” were on hand to watch King David dispense of his sixth professional opponent in less than two minutes of the first round in Nahon’s first New York fight. The 23-year-old Israeli knocked out Alfred St. George with a flurry of punches at the New York Coliseum last week to register his fifth knockout and sixth victory in his six professional fights. Nahon was scheduled to fight in Worcester, Mc-s., Jan. 16 16 and will be on a card Feb. 3 al the Coliseum again. According to his manager George Sheppard, he will have four or five fights in the United States before returning to Israel to Israel to show his prowess to the hometown folks sometime in May or June. There was a small but vociferous coterie of fans present for his Coliseum bout, made up of an odd assortment not usually seen at a prize fight. Forty-two sailors from the “Israel” cheered loudly as he felled St. George, ;ind one leapt into the ring to congratulate him .Iter his brief but impressive triumph. “We only came to see you,” they told him in his dressing room alter the fight. “Now, let’s go home.” Nahon laughed and urged them to stay on with him as he watched the rest of the card. Also present were 16 yeshiva boys, who had decided to attend despite reproachments from their principal. He finally allowed them to go, but begged that they dkl not divulge the name of their school should they be asked. Nahon wore a Star of David on the back of his bathrobe but was prevented from wearing trunks with “Mem Dalid,” the Hebrew initials “Melekh David” or “King David” by a New York State Boxing Commission ruling. The Commission prohibits the wearing of racial or religious lettering or emblems on a boxer’s trunks so as not to overly arouse enthusiastic fans. However, Sheppard said that Nahon would use the trunks in states where there is no boxing commission regulation to the contrary. Nahou, who was born in Morocco and came to Israel when he was 10, was asked why a Jewish boy such as he would Want to fight. “The Jews have been fighting lor thousands of years tor survival,” he answered. But why boxing? “Some like football, some like Soccer; I like boxing,” be said simply. Since beginning his campaign in the United States, Nahon has been a steady Sabbath worshipper at Congregation Darche Noam - Bayswater Jewish Center in Queens, N. Y., the synagogue Sheppard attends. “He comes every Sabbath morning and seems to be an observant boy,” Rabbi Arthur Neulander, the synagogue’s spiritual director, said. “If we have to have a Jewish fighter.

This St. George Would Have Needed a Dragon

One minute David “King David” Nahon (black trunks) and his opponent Alfred St. George were sparring. The next St. George was crumbling under a two-fisted barrage of blows to the head and body, and Nahon had won

his sixth consecutive fight, five by knockouts and four in his current United States campaign. The Israeli welterweight needed less than two minutes to finish St. George

for his quickest victory to date.

The Winnah! David "King David” Nahon raises his hands in triumph after winning his sixth consecutive professional bout.

it’s good to have a nice clean kid like that.” Rabbi Neulander said that he is surrounded by the congregation’s youths every Sabbath morning. “They regard him as a hero,” he said. "But he exerts no bad influence on them, and he will not bring any disgrace upon us.”

Fans Greet 'King David/ New Jewish Boxing Idol

“King David,” or David Nahon, as he was known before his well-meaning and publicity minded manager got to him, is greeted by fans as he comes out of his dressing room, after scoring a technical knockout in one round over Alfred St. George at the New Yt rfr Coliseum. It was the 23-year-old Israeli welterweight’s sixth victory and fifth knockout in six fights, as he made his New York debut an auspicious one. Among the fans who cheered for

him at ringside were 42 sailors from the Zim ship “Israel” and 16 teen-age yeshiva boys, who had to persuade their principal they would not divulge the name of their yeshiva if they were asked in order to go to the fight. Nahon is the first Israeli to fight professionally in the United States. He plans to fight in Israel later this spring for the first time professionally before his countrymen.