The inaugural IBC National meet will see boxers Siddharth Varma of Maharashtra and Dilbagh Thakran of Haryana in the Super Welter Weight competing against each other for their maiden title fight in an eight-round contest on July 16.The Indian Boxing Council fight programme is scheduled to take place before the headline fight for World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Championship, which will see Indian boxing superstar Vijender Singh take on former European Middleweight Champion Kerry Hope.The 31-year-old boxer from Pune, Siddarth who made a winning start to his professional boxing career earlier this year by winning two back-to-back Pro fights of 4 rounds each, is now training hard with legendary American coach Joe Clough at the IBC academy in Pune.
Clough, who has trained the likes of former World champion Evander Holyfield besides Jonny Bumphus, Sugar Ray Seales and Rocky Lockridge, among others, is training IBC boxers for the July 16 fight card here which will have nine Indian boxers other than Vijender.Commenting on his first title fight, Siddarth was cited by a spokesperson on Sunday as saying: “I have been in the amateur circuit for a very long time, but this is a whole new story, I have never been fitter than what I am today. This is my first 8 round contest and I spar for over 16 rounds 4 times a week.“I know it’s not going to be an easy fight for me but this is my first shot at a Title and I intend to hurt my opponent.”
His opponent, 27-year-old Haryana talent Dilbagh, a former Commonwealth Championship bronze medallist, also turned pro in April this year by winning his debut fight against Rajneesh Malik at IBC 2 in New Delhi. “My debut at IBC 2 was tough, it was the first time I tasted what Pro boxing was like, I know I have to work much harder on my physical fitness and I am game. I am taller, younger and faster than Siddharth, my punches will have him on the ropes by the 2nd or 3rd round, I will try to finishing him in the 4th round.” said Dilbagh.In the heavy weight division, former India pugilist Naveen Rao from Delhi will make his Pro debut against Sumit Rangi from Haryana, who already has two wins to his name. This would be a six-round contest. Another humdinger in the offing is in the light heavy division which pits Gaganpreet Sharma from Chandigarh against Delhi's Deepak Sheoran who stunned every one with a split decision win against former Railway champion Satish Dhull at IBC 2.