Goan Boxers Win Big at Susegado Strike Fight Night 2.0; Mapusa’s Pralhad Panda Wins Title Bout
Panaji, March 2025 – Twenty-nine-year-old Goan boxer Pralhad Panda made history by winning the Indian Boxing Council’s (IBC) West Zone championship title, knocking out his Hyderabad-based opponent DN Sai Havish in the first round of the title bout in the featherweight category.
Two other Goan boxers, Kailas Gauns and Umesh Chavan, also registered victories during Goa’s biggest ever boxing showdown, Susegado Strike Fight Night 2.0, which featured 16 boxers across India and Afghanistan, including four Indian women boxers fighting for honors in the boxing ring.
Panda went on the offensive and wasted no time in going for the win, managing to secure a comprehensive knockout in just one minute and six seconds, despite his opponent having a better reach and height advantage.
“It was my very first title fight. I used to dream about winning titles since I was a kid. This is a dream-come-true scenario for me. I have got the best coach in Goa, Pravin Shirodkar, who has been a main pillar for me,” Panda said after winning the title.
The event, held at the International Centre, Goa, at Dona Paula on Friday, was attended by IBC Chief Operations Officer Vivek Raja, among other dignitaries.
In other fights featuring victorious Goan boxers, Chimbel’s Kailas Gauns (30) won unanimously after six rounds of intense action against 18-year-old Nishang Rimo from Arunachal Pradesh in the super flyweight category.
Mapusa’s Umesh Chavan (28) was declared a unanimous winner in the super featherweight category, despite being stretched by his opponent Yumnam Santosh (29) from Manipur over six rounds.
Other notable winners included Haryana’s Raj Sahiba (22), who defeated Lovely Kumari (22) from Punjab by unanimous decision in the super lightweight category.
Madhya Pradesh’s Kamla Roka (29) secured a technical knockout (TKO) against Kerala’s Arundhati Nair (20) in just over a minute of the penultimate round.
Mizoram’s F. Zoramchhana (25) dominated Ayush Singh (20) from Chhattisgarh, winning by third-round TKO.
Haryana’s Sharwan Ranjeet Das (22) delivered a fifth-round knockout against Hyderabad’s Mohammad Junaid (19) in the super flyweight category, sealing a decisive win.
“Susegado Strike Fight Night 2.0 was bigger in scale compared to its first edition. We are proud that Goa hosted its first IBC championship bout in the state, a fact that will help put Goa on the Indian boxing map,” said Luigson Fernandes, founder of Susegado Strike.
“Pralhad has been in the circuit for the last eight years. This is a beginning for him to aim for the India title,” Vivek Raja said.
Speaking about the culture and appreciation of the sport of boxing taking root in Goa, Raja said, “We are hoping that the love for boxing will develop further in Goa.
Susegado Strike has done a fantastic job with Fight Night. They’ve also set up a sense of expectation among boxing fans in Goa who are now waiting for the state to host the next title bout.”
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