NEW DELHI: The Indian Boxing Council, a licensing body for the country's professional boxers, has been inducted into the World Boxing Organisation with voting rights in the WBO's annual convention at Puerto Rico.
IBC President Brig. PKM Raja attended the meet in which the Indian body was welcomed into the fold by WBO founder Chairman Luis Batista Salas.
"I am extremely delighted that Indian Boxing Council has been formally welcomed into the WBO fold. This paves the way for Indian Boxers to participate in WBO Events and be eligible to compete for WBO Asia Pacific as well as WBO World Titles," Brig. Raja told PTI over phone.
"It was a momentous occasion for me as President of IBC, when many prominent Boxing Promoters from Asia, Europe, America and Africa congratulated me immediately after the WBO
announcement and expressed their keen interest to join hands with Indian Boxing Council for the promotion of Professional Boxing in India," he added.
The convention was also attended by Neerav Tomar, Managing Director and CEO of Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS), which is the India promoter of star boxer Vijender Singh. Vijender is the reigning WBO Asia-Pacific super middleweight champion.
Tomar spoke about his grand plans regarding pro boxing in India at the 29th WBO Annual Convention at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"First of all, I would like to thank WBO for making us their regional promoters in India. IOS Boxing Promotions has grand plans for professional boxing in India, with Vijender being the face of sport in the region.
"We have already organised a highly successful fight night in July, wherein Vijender won the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight belt and have plans of organising many such night in the coming months. Furthermore, we have multiple pro boxing projects in the pipeline for the Asia-Pacific region that will be announced in due course," he said.