Newly-crowned Yuri Foreman may have several challengers now

Steve Marcus

Daniel Santos, left, of Puerto Rico takes a punch from Yuri Foreman during the WBA super welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday November 14, 2009. Foreman, a 29-year-old Israeli, claimed the WBA super welterweight belt from Santos with a unanimous decision victory.

By Ryan Greene (contact)

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 | 2:58 a.m.

His unique story of being both an up-and-comer in both the fight world and the spiritual world helped put Yuri Foreman on the national radar.

That legend only grew on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, as the 29-year-old Israeli claimed the WBA super welterweight belt from Daniel Santos with a unanimous decision victory.

"By the 11th or 12th round, my corner was telling me that I was ahead," Foreman said. "And I still didn't really want to believe them."

Calling it a childhood dream come true, Foreman became the first Jewish fighter in several decades to form himself into a world champion.

He was proudly introduced to the podium in the media center following the bout between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto by Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who as a fellow Jewish man admitted to feeling a sense of pride with Foreman's triumph.

"There's a lot of tough Jews," Foreman said. "It's actually a country of tough people. People should not be surprised to see an Israeli to be a world champion."

Not only does Foreman's belt and unblemished 28-0 record now make him the target of several super welterweight contenders, but the recognition he's received of late for combining his packed training schedule with the tough task of taking on rabbinical training makes him even more appealing.

"We'll see," he said. "Everybody's probably going to call me out now, but one thing is that I'm happy today. I'm a world champion, and I've proven that you can do things that look very contradicting to one another. I think it's a good message."

His victory also helps solidify his status as an icon in the Jewish community, both in his current neighborhoods in Brooklyn and around the world.

Foreman was open in responding to a question asking if he saw his athletic ability and accomplishment as a potential bridge to ease tensions in his homeland, even if in the slightest of ways.

He drew on his childhood, when he trained at gyms in his teenage years before moving to the United States in Arab neighborhoods in Israel.

"It might be actually a good peace solution in the Middle East," he said. "Sports transcends differences between nations."

Ryan Greene can be reached at ryan.greene@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7844.