Boxer Nishant Dev, who missed out on an Olympic medal at the Paris Olympics after losing a tough quarterfinal against Mexico’s Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez, has decided to quit boxing as a novice and turn professional.
The 24-year-old has signed with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. He will make his debut at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on January 25. His opponent has yet to be announced. This event is headlined by a super middleweight bout between Steve Nelson and Diego Pacheco.
“I’m so excited to join Matchroom Boxing and start my professional career in Las Vegas on January 25th,” Dev wrote on Instagram on Friday.
“My goal is to become India’s first professional boxing world champion and I know I have the entire nation behind me to help me achieve this.” The two-time national champion is coached by former professional boxer Ronald Simms.
“I work hard every day with my coach Ronald Simms. I know that I have the right team and the biggest promoter in the world to ensure that I reach the top of the sport,” he said.
Dev also won a bronze medal in the Light Middleweight category at the 2023 World Championships.
Reflecting on his novice journey, Dev said: “I enjoyed my time as a novice boxer and competed at the highest level in the Olympics and won a world boxing medal. But now, I am ready for this new chapter in my career.
“The journey to the World Championship begins in Las Vegas on January 25th! he added.
Nishant started boxing at the age of 12. At first it was the insistence of his father, who supported his dream of becoming a boxer, but wanted his son to wait a few years before he started training. And then there was a freak accident that set his start back a few years.
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