Nishant Dev to make Professional Boxing Debut

Indian boxer Nishant Dev has decided to turn professional, joining Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and will make his debut on January 25th.

Nishant Dev to make Professional Boxing Debut f

"It's his decision and the family supports him."

Nishant Dev, an Indian boxing Olympian, has decided to turn professional.

The 24-year-old has signed up with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing with the aim of becoming India’s first professional boxing champion.

He is scheduled to debut at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on January 25 as an undercard in the super middleweight fight between Steve Nelson and Diego Pacheco.

On Instagram, he said, “My goal is to become India’s first-ever world professional boxing champion, and I know I have a whole nation behind me to help me achieve this.

“I enjoyed my time as an amateur boxer and competed at the very highest level in the Olympics and winning a World Championship medal.

“But now, I’m ready for this new chapter in my career.

“The journey to the World Championship starts in Las Vegas on January 25th!”

Former professional boxer Ronald Simms is training the twice national champion in Las Vegas.

This move has surprised many because Nishant has yet to win a major event in boxing.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) officials claimed they were neither consulted nor informed by Nishant of his decision.

 

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They hinted that the uncertainty of boxing in India might have played a role.

The BFI said: “It’s his choice. We don’t endorse it because he is a great talent and a potential Olympic medallist.

“Even though the Olympics is not part of the initial programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, he would have had enough opportunities to win prestigious medals for India.

“That said, IOC is yet to take a final call on boxing’s future for the LA Games.

“Look at the amount of money the government spent on grooming him, and now that he was shaping up nicely for this Olympics cycle, he has decided to walk away.

“I think he made the move a little too early.”

His father backed his son and said: “It’s been a conscious decision on his part.

“He wanted to explore the pro circuit and had been thinking about turning pro for two months.”

“It’s his decision and the family supports him.”

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nishant lost his 71kg quarter-final against Mexico’s Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez.

This was a controversial fight, with many Indians feeling like the judges wrongly ruled against Nishant and denied him the bronze medal.

Although the fight has been scheduled, Nishant’s opponent for his pro debut is yet to be announced.

The fight will be available to watch on DAZN on January 25.

Tavjyot is an English Literature graduate who has a love for all things sports. She enjoys reading, travelling and learning new languages. Her motto is "Embrace Excellence, Embody Greatness".




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