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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Looking for a good fight
In this picture taken on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, a young Israeli young boxer jumps rope ahead of the Israel's National Youth Boxing Championship at a boxing club in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. Boxing provides a unique chance for young Arab and Jewish competitors to meet in the ring as equals, equipped with helmets and gloves and playing under the same set of rules. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) (CP)
In this picture taken on Friday, June 29, 2012, an Israeli Arab boy warms up prior a fight during the Israel's National Youth Boxing Championship at the Arab village of Arabe, northern Israel. Boxing provides a unique chance for young Arab and Jewish competitors to meet in the ring as equals, equipped with helmets and gloves and playing under the same set of rules. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) (CP)
In this picture taken on Friday, June 29, 2012, a young Israeli Arab boxer wraps his hands as he prepare for a fight during the Israel's National Youth Boxing Championship at the Arab village of Arabe, northern Israel. Boxing provides a unique chance for young Arab and Jewish competitors to meet in the ring as equals, equipped with helmets and gloves and playing under the same set of rules. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) (CP)
In this picture taken on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, an Israeli coach talks to a young boxer prior to his fight during the Israel's National Youth Boxing Championship at the Arab village of Kfar Yasif, northern Israel. Boxing provides a unique chance for young Arab and Jewish competitors to meet in the ring as equals, equipped with helmets and gloves and playing under the same set of rules. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) (CP)
In this picture taken on, Friday, June 29, 2012, Israeli Arab boys warm up prior a fight during the Israel's National Youth Boxing Championship at the Arab village of Arabe, northern Israel. Boxing provides a unique chance for young Arab and Jewish competitors to meet in the ring as equals, equipped with helmets and gloves and playing under the same set of rules. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) (CP)
In this picture taken on Thursday, June 28, 2012, Israeli Arab boys fight during the Israel's National Youth Boxing Championship at the Arab village of Kfar Yasif, northern Israel. Boxing provides a unique chance for young Arab and Jewish competitors to meet in the ring as equals, equipped with helmets and gloves and playing under the same set of rules. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) (CP)
Jews and Arabs have been fighting each other for decades, so boxing may seem like a strange way to build peace between the two -- but that's what the Israel Boxing Association aims for. The association held its National Youth Boxing Championship last week in three cities over four days. In the final event, nearly 50 competitors in their early teens gathered in a hot community gym in the northern city of Acre to fight their last bouts of the season. One young boxer summed up the collegial feeling of the competition: "It's not important what the name of the boxer is. You can be Moshe, you can be Muhammad, you can be Dmitri."
Photos by Oded Balilty of The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 7, 2012 j14
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