World Boxing Association sanctions maiden pro fight night in India

NEW DELHI: In a massive fillip to the still nascent professional boxing scene in India, the country will host its maiden WBA-sanctioned fight card here tomorrow under the aegis of the Indian Boxing Council.

The six bouts to be held at the Sri Fort Sports Complex, will be all-Indian affairs featuring national-level boxers with officials from the World Boxing Association ( WBA) supervising the fights which will be conducted by the Indian Boxing Council (IBC).

WBA is one of the four international bodies which sanction title bouts in professional boxing.

The four-round contests will feature Siddharth Varma (super welterweight), Sukhwinder (cruiserweight), Manoj Grewal (heavyweight) and Sumit Rangi (heavyweight) who have had national careers over the last 10 years in addition.

"India is going to become a great country in the professional circuit. We are mighty impressed with how the IBC is moving forward in promoting professional boxing," WBA's Regional development Adviser Stanley Christodoulou told PTI.

Christodoulou was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. He was the first man to referee world title fights in all 17 weight categories, and the third to oversee 100 world title bouts.