In a highly anticipated bout on Friday night, 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul defeated 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight decisively in Paul's favor, with one judge marking it 80-72 and the other two at 79-73. 

Tyson, making his first sanctioned professional appearance in nearly two decades, initiated the fight aggressively, delivering swift punches immediately after the opening bell. However, as the match progressed, he struggled to maintain momentum. Paul capitalized on this, adopting a more assertive approach, though some of his punches lacked precision. Despite these moments, Paul managed to secure the win. 

The fight was originally scheduled for July 20 but was postponed after Tyson experienced a health issue during a flight, leading to treatment for a stomach ulcer. The rescheduled match took place on November 15, marking a significant event in both fighters' careers. 

This victory adds to Paul's growing boxing record, while Tyson's return to the ring, despite the loss, was a notable moment for fans and the boxing community.

Busto Arsizio, Italy (March 11): Indian boxer Nishant Dev continued his impressive form at the first World Olympic Boxing Qualifier, defeating Christos Karatis of Greece 5-0 to secure a spot in the men's 71kg quarterfinals. This win puts him just one victory away from booking his ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Dev, a bronze medalist at the 2023 World Championships, started cautiously but quickly found his rhythm, dominating the fight with effective counter-attacks. He picked up the pace in the closing seconds of the first round to comfortably take it.

The 23-year-old Indian carried his momentum into the second round, showcasing lethal combinations that left Karatis clueless. The Greek boxer even received a standing count after a powerful left hook from Dev. Nishant maintained his dominance throughout, securing a convincing one-sided victory.

Nishant now faces a tough challenge in the quarterfinals against 2021 World Championships silver medalist Omari Jones of the USA tonight. With a win, Dev will not only secure a place in the semifinals but also book his qualification for the Paris Olympics. India has already secured four Olympic quotas for boxing in the women's categories, with Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) all confirmed for Paris 2024.

Busto Arsizio, Italy (March 9): Indian boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin's quest for a 2024 Olympic berth hit a roadblock as he suffered a 0-4 defeat to Ireland's Jude Gallagher in the ongoing World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers here on Saturday.

Hussamuddin, a 30-year-old and two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, entered the competition in the men's 57kg category with a bye in the first round. However, he was unable to overcome the challenge of the 22-year-old Irish boxer, Jude Gallagher, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion.

Nishant Dev Remains India's Last Hope

With Hussamuddin's exit, India's hopes now rest entirely on Nishant Dev. Another World Championship bronze medalist, Dev will compete in the men's 71kg category later on Sunday night. He will be vying for a spot in the round of 16 and a chance to secure an Olympic quota for India.

Highly Competitive Tournament Offers Limited Quotas

The first World Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio is a fiercely contested event with over 590 boxers from around the world battling for a limited number of spots in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The tournament offers only 49 quotas across all weight categories (28 for men and 21 for women). Each weight category has a maximum of four quotas available, with some exceptions.

While India has already secured four Olympic quotas through the performances of Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) at the Asian Games last year, Nishant Dev's performance will be crucial in determining India's final boxing representation at the upcoming Olympics.

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Ashish Raman Sethi has become the first Indian boxer ever to win a Bangla boxing stadium belt. On the fastest knockout of the night, the Indian fighter battled the hard way to conquer the toughest fight of his life in Patong, Thailand and bring glory to the country.

Although a number of legends have contested in the legendary Bangla Boxing Stadium, Ashish set a record by becoming the first Indian fighter to win the title there. 

Notably, the Bangla Boxing Stadium is a prominent Muay Thai arena in Patong Beach, known for hosting real Thai Boxing matches, with real champions fighting for prizes, titles and to improve their rank on the Thai boxing scene.

The Indian has never let international fights stop him from setting multiple illustrious records during his career. The Thai Boxer is highly recognised for taking home the bronze medal at the IFMA competition in 2020 in Korea. As a consequence of Ashish Sethi's victory over Chinese Taipei's Jhao Cyun Ciou to win the medal in the Elite Category, it was the first time the country had got a bronze medal.

"In combat sports, the air always has a certain quality. KickBoxing is a deeply ingrained spiritual path that has always made me feel strong from inside; it is never a demonstration of strength and talent," Ashish was quoted as saying in a media release. 

The fighter had also represented Haryana in Indian cricket.

Talking about switching sports, the boxer said,"My desire has always been to play cricket, and I was preparing for the IPL. I tried out for under-16, under-19, and under-25 teams, but nothing worked out. I had no success in cricket after the age of twenty-two."

"I took a long vacation during that time since I wasn't sure what to do after my cricket career came to an end. I started practising martial arts after I turned 24 or 25, but it was too late," he added.

The Indian also shared more about his journey particularly about an incident that shook him hard.

"When I took part in hardcore muay thai,one of the TOP television Thai boxing leagues in Thailand , I recall that I shattered my jaw in my third match. I had no sensation whatsoever. I had to wait two months to heal with a liquid diet, then eight months, and I was certain I was losing my mind at the time due to a terrible injury," Ashish said. 

Ashish then started learning kickboxing. His local gym provided him with the fundamental training he required. He did, however, believe that he needed to improve his abilities. 

After that, he obtained multiple winning spurs in amateur boxing. The athlete won the 2018 KFI kickboxing national championship. In 2019, he won his first gold medal at the Muay Thai National Championships. Then, he clinched the Asian Muay Thai bronze medal in the 85 kilogrammes division, which led to his World Championship Muay Thai win in 2019.

Now shifting his focus to full time professional fights, Ashish talks about his days dabbling in MMA.

"Being from Haryana, where wrestling is deeply ingrained, it was something that came easy to me, and now my journey has brought me to my first Indian triumph as a boxer, which confirms that I chose my sport well and I will continue to box," he said. 

"After my jaw break, I was able to win eight out of fourteen professional fights. I understand that every fighter faces challenges, but I enjoy proving that I was born for this," Ashish concluded. 

Lausanne, March 30 (IANS) The sport of boxing faces the prospect of being dropped from the sports programme of next year's Olympic Games in Paris if a free and fair qualification programme could not be held if required technical officials, referees and judges could not be arranged after the International Boxing Association (IBA) threatened officials with strict action if officiated in the IOC conducted the programme.

Though IOC spokesperson Mark Adam refused to speculate regarding the fate of boxing at Paris 2024 or the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, he did say that the IOC would not be able to go ahead with the sport if a free and fair qualification process could not be conducted because of the threat by IBA.

He said the IOC is currently going ahead with its qualification programme as per which the first qualifying event for Europe will be held in Poland in June as per schedule. The IOC has invited boxing judges, referees and other technical officials to confirm their participation in the qualification tournaments, Mark Adam said as of how they can't give the exact number of officials that have sent in their confirmation.

On Wednesday, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) discussed the situation of the International Boxing Association (IBA), including a letter received from the IBA on March 27, and also the reported threat by it to judges and referees not get involved with the events conducted by IOC.

In a letter sent to the IBA president Kremlev on Wednesday, the IOC refuted the allegations contained in IBA's letter in particular those relating to the integrity of the process.

In the letter, also shared with the National Olympic Committees, the IOC EB said: "Pursuant to the Olympic Charter, the IOC Executive Board and the IOC President delegate to the IOC Director General and the IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer the following powers:

"to analyse all the elements available, in particular the Expert Reports, and determine whether there are still major concerns regarding IBA's practice and activities;

"in the event that there are still major concerns regarding IBA's practice and activities, pursuant to the Olympic Charter, to take the following actions:

"notify IBA of the points of potential non-compliance and IBA's right to be heard in writing;

"prepare a comprehensive report regarding IBA's practice and activities based on all available elements (including without limitation the Expert Reports and IBA's response) to be presented at the next IOC Executive Board meeting," the IOC informed in a release on Wednesday.

The IOC also said that it reserves all its rights in this regard and will again review the situation in its next Executive Board meeting.

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) India's boxing sensation Nikhat Zareen defeated Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam 5-0 in the final to win her second Women's World Championships gold medal, here on Sunday.

Nikhat started her bout in attacking mode. She didn't let Thi Tam to settle and landed a rally of punches to win the first round 5-0.

The second round also went in favour of the Indian.

Third round was a tough one, as Thi Tam gave her all but she was given a count when Nikhay punched her on her face. Thi Tam, too, managed to land one punch on Nikhat which stunned the entire stadoum.

The referee gave a count to Nikhat. The match continued and the Indian proved a little ahead in the round and was declared winner.

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) With a flourishing career in the youth category, the 22-year-old Nitu Ghanghas is one of the quickest boxers in her category. On Saturday, she scripted history as the Haryana girl won the gold medal for India at the IBA Women's World Boxing Championship, here.

Below is her profile:

• Nitu (48 kg)
• Date of Birth: 19-10-2000
• Place of Birth: Bhiwani, Haryana
• Style: Southpaw

Dynamic and instrumental inside the ring, the Haryana pugilist marked her arrival by winning the gold medal at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Guwahati in 2017. She showed her prowess on the big stage once more by winning the gold medal at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Budapest in 2018.

Coming from a conservative family, there was little scope that she could enter the world of sports. But her father had other plans: he wanted her to become a boxer.

However, Nitu's father Jai Bhagwan had to go against the wishes of the entire family to make that happen; he also had to take leave from his office (a Chandigarh Vidhan Sabha employee) for three long years. It meant that the family went through a severe financial crisis. That only prompted Nitu to put her heart and soul into boxing and emerge a winner.

She slowly rose through the ranks at the district level until she caught the eye of renowned boxing coach Jagdish Singh, the tough taskmaster who helped Vijender Singh win the Beijing Olympic bronze medal.

Nitu's skills and techniques were quickly honed and she went on to represent the State and won her first Nationals in 2015. Since then, she has never looked back.

In 2022, she won the gold medal at Strandja Memorial tournament before finishing in the quarter-finals of World Championships in Turkey in May. She dominated all her bouts and won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

On Saturday, she won a gold medal at the 2023 IBA World Boxing Championship in Delhi.

Achievements:

• 2023: Gold at World Championships, Delhi
• 2022: Gold at Commonwealth Games, Birmingham
• 2022: Gold at Strandja Memorial tournament, Bulgaria
• 2021: Gold at Senior National Championship, Bhopal
• 2018: Youth Women World Championships, Budapest, Hungary: Gold
• 2018: Golden Glove of Vojvodina Youth Men & Women Boxing Tournament; Serbia: Gold
• 2018: Youth Women Nationals; Rohtak: Gold
• 2018: Asian Youth Championships; Bangkok: Gold
• 2017: Women's Youth World Boxing Championships; Guwahati: Gold
• 2017: Balkan Youth International Boxing Championship; Sofia, Bulgaria: Gold
• 2016: Youth Women Nationals: Bronze

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) India's Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) clinched the Women's World Boxing Championship gold after beating Lutsaikhan Altansetseg of Mongolia 5-0 in the finals at the jam-packed IG Stadium, here on Saturday.

The two boxers started proceeding on attacking note. However, it was the Indian, who landed her punches well on the Mongolian's face resulting in Nitu winning the first round 5-0.

The second round was close enough but Nitu managed to keep the lead 3-2.

In the third round, the Indian gave her all and bagged the championship gold with some smart display of boxing.

Throughout the tournament, Nitu played some remarkable games. She had three consecutive Referee Stops Contest (RSC) wins under her belt in the competition.