NEW DELHI: Neeraj Goyat returns to professional boxing when he takes on Jose Zepeda in a $120,000 bout on March 25 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Goyat last fought in Bangkok against Rachata Khaophimai and won it via a knockout. The event is promoted by one of the biggest professional boxing promoters, Golden Boy Promotions.
Three-time WBC Asia title winner Neeraj Goyat turned professional in 2013 and since then has fought 22 bouts with a record of 17-3 with 7 knockouts (17-3-2 draws).
Goyat is the first Indian boxer to have made it to the WBC world rankings and has won the ‘Honorary Boxer of the Year’ by WBC Asia in 2017.
“From the start my attempt has always been to raise the level of Indian professional boxing and to stamp its authority on the world stage and that Indian boxers are recognized as formidable boxers. Even when I first beat WBA World Champion Xu Can in China, the aim was to raise the level for Indian boxers and let them know that these wins are possible. I hope to inspire and pave the way for the future of professional boxers in India to fight at this level and get opportunities since no one else in the history of our country has fought with the names I have,” said Goyat in a media statement.
“I’m the only boxer from India who has fought 5-6 Mexican boxers as they are considered the most brutal in the world. It is also a learning opportunity and Jose’s record speaks for himself, he has been the WBC World Champion in the past. The fight is being organized by Golden Boy which is the world’s second largest professional boxing promoter and I am looking forward to taking Jose down.” Goyat added.
Goyat's opponent Zepeda is one of the stalwarts in the world of professional boxing with a total of 35 wins from his 40 fights, 27 of them being knockouts.
