Diwakar Prasad, chosen ahead of Akhil Kumar to fight in the lightweight category for Venkys Mumbai Fighters (VMF), proved more than a handful for Milano Thunder's Juan Herrera, the 2010 South American Games champion from Argentina.
At one point in the five-round bout, Diwakar flapped both hands as if poised for takeoff. “I was trying to provoke him, trying to see if he would come at me,” explained the Indian, following the points victory, a split 2-1 decision.
For an amateur punching without headguards over five rounds and facing rivals intending to hurt, Diwakar's body language and ring craft on WSB debut was amazing.
“I was watching his moves before countering with my own. I didn't want to rush into a situation where my first move failed, then I would be in trouble.” He stepped in for quick punches, used his reach to strike crisp blows and sneaked out of range.
Herrera felt the Indian's sting, now other WSB teams will track television footage to analyse the VMF boxer's approach and technique. Akhil, watching from the ringside at the Balewadi indoor boxing arena, appeared relieved that two teammates had lived up to the expectations of the team management.
“Diwakar and Jasveer did their job,” said the World Cup 2008 bronze medallist and one of the nation's boxing heroes, now focused on getting ready when opportunity knocks in the WSB. Jasveer was the silent performer in light heavyweight, notching up a unanimous points win over Nikolai Grisunins on WSB debut.
Aggressive style
With an aggressive style suited for pro boxing and international experience to match, Akhil is awaiting his chance to fight. He is enthusiastic about an attempt by AIBA, boxing's world body, to do away with headguards and vests in future Olympics Games men's competitions.
AIBA has already set up a medical commission to assess the safety aspects of pro boxing in WSB worldwide, said president Dr. Wu-Ching Kuo, who attended the VMF debut against the Italian team.
Two major decisions in the pipeline are the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) by 2013 and men's pros in Olympics (sans headgear and vests) by the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Akhil remarked: “I am aware of AIBA's move. Boxing without headguards is the real thing. There is no need to worry about safety, because there is not much difference between amateur and pro boxing. You win points by landing punches, even training is similar except the endurance factor. Amateurs fight three rounds for medals in international events, Olympic medals in future may be decided over five rounds.”
Diwakar, World Youth bronze medallist, moved up from the bantamweight category at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to lightweight at the WSB and is proving to be an asset for the Indian franchise. So is Jasveer, a two-time National champion and a success at international competitions (President Cup 2011 in Jakarta, China Cup 2010 in Guiyang). He got the nod ahead of Croatian Marko Calic in Friday's home match against Milano Thunder.
Two wins by Indian amateurs, out of four in the ring at Balewadi (Balbir Singh and Krishan Kumar lost on points) is a huge step forward for Indians in the WSB and later at the Olympic Games.
“Pro boxing in the Olympics will help emerging Indian boxers and also popularise the sport,” said the VMF lightweight champion Diwakar, now a name to be taken with respect and a crowd-puller in the making.
