Cletus Seldin returns to MSG's Theater to fight Jose Angulo

Don't blame Cletus Seldin if he feels a bit of nostalgia on Friday night. It's been over 12 years since he fought inside Madison Square Garden's Theater. He returns to the venue a 37-year-old fighter who insists he's far better than the kid who walked into the same ring for his fourth pro fight.

"I can't wait to get back into that ring," said Seldin, who is from Shirley. "Overall, this has been the best year in my life, fitness wise and how I feel mentally. This is a huge improvement from where I was five years ago, four years ago."

Seldin (27-1, 23 knockouts) will fight Ecuador's Jose Angulo (16-7) in an eight-round welterweight bout on Friday night. The seven-fight card will be televised by UFC Fight Pass.

This is the second bout in a comeback that Seldin hopes culminates with a shot at the world title. In October, he stopped Patrick Okine in six rounds at Sony Hall. He took that fight on just 13 days' notice and endured a few rocky moments before the stoppage. But for this fight, Seldin said his six weeks of training at the Westbury Boxing Gym was perfect.

"I'm calm, I'm relaxed," Seldin said. "I put together a gameplan with my team at Westbury, [trainers] Scott Lopeck and Joe Gadigian. The last fight was a war and we don't want that again."

It's been those wars that have made Seldin one of Long Island's top ticket sellers on the boxing circuit. He's known as "The Hebrew Hammer," which is as much a nod to his heritage as it is to his punching power. Seldin has been in and out of the world rankings since 2017 when he knocked out Roberto Ortiz (35-1) at Nassau Coliseum on a card televised by HBO. Seldin also scored a win over former world champion Zab Judah in 2019. But injuries have derailed his career over and over. He’s had five surgeries, including Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.

"This was a great camp," said Joe Gadigian, who has worked with Seldin since he was an amateur. "He had very good sparring. But this guy has never left the gym. With the all injuries he's had, he stayed around the gym, he stayed in shape. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he never did drugs. All of that has helped prolong his career, which is why he can still fight at this level."

Seldin is looking forward to his return to the Garden.

"I'm just humbled and gracious for the opportunity to fight in this card," said Seldin. "To be fighting again in this environment. This is another huge audition for me. I am ready for it. I honestly believe that at this part of my boxing career, I’m almost at a peak performance level."

The Fighting Irish

The card take place two days before St. Patrick's Day and has a distinct Irish flavor. Junior middleweight Callum Walsh, from Count Cork, fights Dauren Yeleussinov in the 10-round main event with the vacant WBC Continental Americas belt. Tyrone's Feargal McCrory meets Carlos Carlson in a 10-round super featherweight fight. Joseph Ward, who represented Ireland in the 2016 Olympics, fights Derrick Webster in a light heavyweight bout.