“From Age 10 I Fought With a Kippah and Tzitzit”: Israeli Fighter Defeats Turkish Rival Who Posted Anti-Israel Messages

Ahavat Hashem Gordon, a 19-year-old Israeli Muay Thai fighter, returned to Israel on Monday after defeating Turkish opponent Ali Koyuncu in Lithuania. The fight gained widespread attention after Koyuncu posted inflammatory anti-Israel comments in the days leading up to the bout.

At the official weigh-in before the fight, tensions boiled over. Koyuncu lunged toward Gordon’s throat, and as officials rushed to separate the two, the Turkish fighter managed to land a kick before being restrained. The altercation intensified the spotlight on what had already become a politically charged matchup.

The fight lasted two rounds before it was stopped, awarding Gordon the victory and preserving his undefeated record. Afterward, Gordon delivered a message. “The message to all antisemites is that we are not afraid of anyone in any field, and we will conquer this field,” he said. He also revealed what he whispered to his opponent at the conclusion of the fight: “That he shouldn’t mix politics with sport and that he shouldn’t do it again.”

Gordon acknowledged the pressure he felt leading into the fight. “I had crazy pressure on my shoulders, but we did it. Everything is from God,” he said. “I tried to pray the whole time and stay focused and sharp. Baruch Hashem, we did it.”

The young fighter said the atmosphere surrounding the fight made it especially significant. “There was a lot of pressure on me, especially since it was a Turkish opponent and everyone was watching,” he said.

Speaking to Channel 14, Gordon addressed the visible religious identity he brings into the ring. When asked about representing Judaism on the international stage, he replied: “From my first competition at age 10, I have competed with a kippah and tzitzit, Shema Yisrael and Tehillim. That will not change. There are just more eyes on me now.”

Gordon said he has grown accustomed to hostility online. “It happens all the time. My family also receives them. There were also a few incidents in the crowd that I heard about, and it shocked me. We do what needs to be done.”

As he landed back in Israel, supporters gathered and Israeli flags were visible among those welcoming him home. For Gordon, the fight was more than a professional milestone, but a public affirmation of faith, and a statement that Jewish identity remains part of who he is, even in high-pressure moments.