The Maccabiah organizing committee today demanded the suspension of Dr. Max Novich, a physician to the American boxing team, for punching Shmuel Lalkin, secretary of the Israel Sports Federation, in an altercation over a bout lost by an American heavyweight last night. Chaim Wein, chairman of the committee, insisted that Dr. Novich, one of three doctors accompanying the U.S. boxers, be banned from further activities pending a hearing by the Maccabiah Court of Honor.
The incident occurred after Haim Zilber-shmidt, an Israeli boxer, twice floored Peter Brodsky, 25, of Nassau County, N.Y. Brodsky rose after the second knock-down but was counted out by the Dutch referee while on his feet. Dr. Novich rushed to the ring to protest but was blocked by Lalkin who he then punched, drawing blood from his mouth. Officials quickly separated the two men. Novich later offered an apology but Lalkin refused to accept it.
The referee said he counted Brodsky out because the rules required him to raise his fist to indicate he wanted to continue but he kept his hands at his side. Zilbershmidt, an Army paratrooper, is a recent immigrant from the Soviet Union as are several other members of the Israeli boxing team. One of them, Yaacov Luxemburg, scored a technical knock-out over William Finkle, an American middleweight. Terry Schwartz, an American welterweight, lost a close decision to Tony Waterman of Holland.
Despite the ring setbacks, the American teams continued to lead in most Maccabiah events with a total, so far, of 35 medals–16 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze. Israel is second with 24 medals, only nine of them gold. Sweden is third with four gold, four silver and one bronze medal.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
