Not only did he take liquids and instruction from his corner, the Orthodox rabbinical student sought some divine assistance in the last 10 seconds of each 60-second break of the 12-rounder.

"G-d, please give me strength," was his simple invocation.

Foreman, 29, found enough strength to win a unanimous decision in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Association crown.

The Brooklyn boxer, via Belarus and then Israel, moved to 28-0 since turning pro seven years ago, even though most prognosticators figured he would fall to Santos.

At the reception, Foreman said he turns especially spiritual in the ring, gets "very close to G-d," because "another guy wants to take your head off."

Santos didn't take off Foreman's head, but the new champ did need 18 stitches (of course it was 18) to close a cut over his left eye.

Foreman's spiritual mentor, Rabbi DovBer Pinson, said no other fighter can "balance spirituality and physicality" like Foreman, who he praised as a "gentle lion" breaking a lot of stereotypes about boxers and Jews.

What's next for Foreman?

The fighter said he'd have to consult with his "second rabbi" and promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum. Foreman asked to know the veteran matchmaker's Hebrew name.

"Reuven Moshe ben Shlomo," Arum answered.

Should Foreman ever fight in Israel, Arum already has the bout named: "Next Year in Jerusalem."

Foreman's wife, Leyla, said she remained unusually calm during her husband's fight.

"Most fights I'm very tense," the Hungrian-born former model said. "But this time I had a good feeling. He had done all the training and all the praying right, what more could he do?"

Now eyes are on another observant Orthodox Jewish boxer with a shot at claiming a world champion boxing title, as Brooklyn's Dmitriy Salita prepares to square off against champion Amir Khan in London on Dec. 3.

If Salita manages to defeat the heavily favored Khan in his own backyard, it would make an already great year for Jewish boxing even better.

Salita has said he will wear the Maccabi Haifa Israeli basketball team logo in his world championship bout.

The logo will be featured on the Orthodox Jewish fighter's trunks and robe.

"Dmitriy is a hero in the eyes of the Maccabi Haifa organization and the Jewish community in general," said Jeffrey Rosen, the chairman of Triangle Financial Services, the Florida-based firm that owns Maccabi Haifa, and the team's owner.

Salita said he "was inspired by how involved the team is in the Jewish community with their Haifa Hoops for Kids program, which brings underprivileged and special needs Israeli children to their games."

Salita, a Ukraine native who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., is undefeated in 31 professional fights, including one draw.