Nishant Dev was ready for an Olympic boxing medal in Paris in 2024. He was eliminated in the men’s 71kg quarterfinals due to a contentious decision, even though the medal was within touching reach.
Nishant took a risk by entering the professional boxing scene, refusing to allow the setback define him. He discussed how this move is a strategic move for his career and fits with his goal of becoming a world champion—something no Indian boxer has ever accomplished—in an exclusive interview with The Bridge. passages taken from an interview.
You became a professional boxer when Olympic boxing was in doubt, but is a resurgence imminent now that the sport has been guaranteed a spot in the Los Angeles Olympics? Boxing was not going to be an Olympic sport when I turned to pro boxing, but I still had the goal of becoming a world boxing champion—something no Indian boxer has ever accomplished.
I want to leave a legacy for India in this circuit, following in the footsteps of WBC legends like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. One of my main motivations for becoming a professional boxer is to improve my stamina and endurance. I can develop the strength to compete equally well in amateur boxing by competing in longer rounds. As a result, when the Olympic qualifying events take place, I will return to India a year early and make my mark on the Olympic stage.
Is there any difference between the amateur and pro-boxers?
There is a major difference in mentality between Indian boxers and boxers from other countries, like the United States and Europe. I trained with them, therefore I now have a superiority mentality, which has improved my performance. Talking about the training aspects, there is a difference as pro-boxing has comparatively longer bouts, hence, needing more efforts.
You battled endurance issues in the past and we gather that you have put in the work. How is your stamina now in the ring?
I performed well in the Olympics, but I lost my endurance since I lost approximately 7-8 kg through food and nutrient intake, which was insufficient. And when I moved to the United States, dieticians assisted me a nutritional plan, which made a major difference in my performance.
