American heavyweight Paul Koon is finally getting an opportunity to display his talent before Indian audience when he steps into the ring against Javier Torres of Los Angeles Matadors in the World Series Boxing 2011 fourth round match on Friday night at T-Box arena, Inorbit Mall, Mumbai.
He missed Venky's Mumbai Fighters debut in WSB due to a sparring injury and was not selected for an away tie against Dynamo Moscow.
Two Indians — bantamweight Jitender Kumar and light heavyweight Siddharth Varma — form part of the five-member VMF line-up named for the fourth round tie against the fearsome Los Angeles Matadors (two wins, one loss).
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Both had tasted WSB action away tie in Perm, Russia against Dynamo Moscow and lost on points.
Jitender faces Argentine boxer Fernando Martinez and Siddarth meets American Eric Fowler.
World Cup Boxing 2008 bronze medallist, Jitender's Friday's fight against the five-time Argentina National bantamweight champion is only his second pro bout.
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Jitender feels the WSB as the best thing for Indian boxing. “We train to fight five rounds, share boxing insights with foreign boxers like Paul Koon, my roommate. We can later represent India as an amateur boxer in international competitions where bouts are restricted to three rounds.
“WSB toughened us and exposed us to pro methods when sparring is done over seven or eight rounds.”
VMF is placed fifth (four points) after three rounds in the six-team Group A, losing to Milano Thunder and Dynamo Moscow and getting a walkover from Bangkok Elephants. Los Angeles Matadors defeated Astana Arlans of Kazakhstan 3-2 and Dynamo Moscow 4-1 in home matches staged at Music Box Theatre, Hollywood. The only defeat was against Milano Thunder 1-4.
WSB's first bout in Mumbai will be staged in a mall parking lot, using T-Box stadium construction system. Developed by M-T AG, Switzerland, a mobile sporting arena is built using galvanised steel girders instead of brick-and-mortar.
Match-ups: Bantamweight: Jitender Kumar (VMF) vs Fernando Martinez (LAM). Lightweight: Siddharth Varma (VMF) vs Eric Fowler (LAM). Middleweight: Patrick Gallagher (VMF) vs Russell Lamour (LAM). Light heavy: Marko Cilic (VMF) vs Levan Guledani (LAM). Heavyweight: Paul Koon (VMF) vs Javier Torres (LAM).