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India Knockout Nights debuted at CGC University Mohali with eight bouts, powered by IIS and Neeraj Goyat, aiming to build a professional boxing ecosystem in India.
(L-R) Mr. Divyanshu Singh, CEO, JSW Sports, Mr. Neeraj Goyat, Co-founder, India Knockout Nights and Ms. Manisha Malhotra, President, Inspire Institute of Sport
The Centre Lawn at CGC University, Mohali, was converted into a vibrant boxing arena as the opening night of India Knockout Nights delivered high-energy action in front of nearly 3000 spectators. The event, powered by the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in collaboration with professional boxer Neeraj Goyat, featured eight competitive bouts across different weight categories and marked a significant step towards establishing a structured professional boxing ecosystem in India, according to a release from IIS.
The evening began on Thursday with a thrilling superfly contest between Shiksha and Jyoti, setting the tone for the night. Shiksha emerged victorious after four intense rounds, keeping the crowd engaged from start to finish. The atmosphere remained electric throughout, with fans on their feet until the final bell.
India Knockout Nights is envisioned as a multi-city professional boxing league that will host regular fight nights, offering Indian boxers consistent competitive exposure across divisions and weight categories while bringing the sport closer to fans in a live, arena-style format. The initiative aims to address a crucial gap in Indian boxing by creating a regular competition circuit, providing athletes with more opportunities to compete, gain experience, and build sustainable professional careers beyond major multi-sport events.
Several prominent dignitaries attended the marquee event, including JSW Sports CEO Divyanshu Singh, IIS President Manisha Malhotra, and former India hockey captain Sardar Singh.
Speaking on the initiative, Manisha Malhotra, President of the Inspire Institute of Sport, said, “It’s amazing to see such a strong crowd turnout and, more importantly, to see young people in India enjoying boxing up close. This is a great learning experience for all of us, and we know we can keep improving this platform. Our aim is to grow boxing through visibility, talent development, and by creating a real career pathway for Indian athletes. This is a small but important step in the right direction.”
Co-founder of India Knockout Nights, Neeraj Goyat, said, “This was the first edition of IKN, so there was a lot of learning. Trust me, this will only grow bigger. The energy of the crowd was overwhelming. I have been dreaming about being part of a movement like this for a long time, and I’m so glad to finally see it take shape.”
JSW Sports CEO Divyanshu Singh added,”What’s exciting about platforms like India Knockout Nights is that they start building a real competition pathway for Indian boxers. Regular competition is critical for athlete development, and initiatives like this can play a big role in helping the sport grow in the country.”
With a strong opening night and encouraging fan response, India Knockout Nights has signalled the start of what aims to be a long-term platform for Indian boxing, focused on competition, entertainment, and athlete development.
Results:
- Deepak Tanwar beat Saksham Singh – Light Heavyweight
- Sandeep Nain vs Ankit Kuar (Tie) – Super Middleweight
- Gurdeep Singh beat Ritesh Bisht – Exhibition
- Shweta beat Nandini – Lightweight
- Ashish Siwach beat Kavi Kumar – Super Featherweight
- Vikas beat Amit Yadav – Welterweight
- Ankit Singh beat Arshdeep Singh – Cruiserweight
- Shiksha beat Jyoti – Superfly
(With inputs from Agencies)
February 27, 2026, 18:17 IST
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