Guest column: Salita makes it three in a row

by Ron Ross

Utilizing a snapping left jab and rapid fire combinations, Dmitriy Salita thrilled his “congregation” at Oceana Hall in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn by outboxing, outpunching and outfighting his taller, rough-housing opponent, Ronnie Warrior of Oklahoma City, who came in with a 13-4-1 record.

The fight did not start off on a positive note for Salita. Just seconds into the opening frame of the scheduled eight-round bout, a clash of heads that resounded throughout the arena caused Salita to kneel on the canvas in obvious pain. The referee gave him time to shake off the effects and admonished Warrior. Dmitriy then came at his opponent snapping out a left jab and moved inside with a solid combination of blows to the body when Warrior, living up to his name, resorted to whatever weapon was available –– in this case a forearm smash to Salita’s head. This drew another strong warning from the referee.

At this point Dmitriy was aware that he was in with a bully-type brawler and set out to teach him a lesson and took charge, going after Warrior with three, four, and five punch combinations.

The Star of David’s speed, accuracy and ring craftsmanship had him totally dominate Warrior, who had no answer for his opponent’s boxing skill or punching volume. Other than the left jab there was no single punch output. For Salita it was “punches in bunches.” He would open his attack with a snapping left jab then move in behind it with a cluster-attack, whipping the left hook to the body, right to the body, left hook again, then right cross to the head.  His stamina never diminished. He began punching harder in the sixth round and had the crowd roaring its approval as he was banging away at Warrior with a  two-fisted onslaught at the final bell. It was a masterful performance that saw Salita sweep every round on two of the judges’ scorecards and the third giving Salita seven of the eight rounds.

Salita, weighing in at 149, is now 33-1-1. There is no question that his record and skill level warrant another shot at a world title. It may take a win over a “name” opponent to get that stamp of approval.

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Boxing aficionado Ron Ross is author of Bummy Davis vs. Murder, Inc.: The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Mafia and an Ill-Fated Prizefighter.

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