Devendro, Bidhuri bag World Series contracts

Wednesday though brought some good news for 22-year old Devendro, who was included in the draft of foreign boxers in the World Series of Boxing. Devendro will play in the 49kg class for the Rafako Hussars Poland team. Joining him in the WSB ranks is 2012 national silver medalist Gaurav Bidhuri, 21, who will represent Italia Thunder in the 52 Kg category. Both boxers have signed two year contracts.

Indian boxers including Akhil Kumar and Mandeep Jangra were initially represented in the WSB as part of an Indian team — Mumbai Fighters — in the 2011 edition. Subsequently Shiva Thapa and Sumit Sangwan represented the Team USA Knockouts in 2013 for two and one bouts respectively. Devendro and Bidhuri are however the first Indians to be signed for season long contracts by international teams.

While it will be the first taste of the WSB for Devendro, Bidhuri has had a previous experience with the event having boxed with the Mumbai Fighters in 2012.

Although he fought just the one bout, he beat hard hitting Russian Vladimir Nikitin, who would go on to win a silver at the World Championships last year. Bidhuri credits the experience to having improved him as a boxer. “I learned to think in the ring. Even when I was under pressure, I learnt how to keep my strategy and stay cool,” he says.

“The last time I took part in the WSB I didn’t get much of a chance but this time both of us have been guaranteed at least six fights which can be extended further,” says Bidhuri who incidentally has Olympic bronze Paddy Barnes (49kg) and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Michael Conlan (56kg) as teammates at the Italia Thunder franchise.

Rio quota places 

With the 2016 Olympics on the horizon, both boxers are now looking to making the most of their stint in the WSB, which offers 43 quota spots for the Rio Games. “At the World Series Boxing you need more willpower because there are five rounds instead of three. You also need to be more aggressive because that is what the judges prefer,” says Bidhuri. Devendro concurs with the assessment. “I will have to work upon my fitness levels to suit that kind of bouts. Speed and stamina will be the key and with the national camp in break now, I will be training here in Pune,” he says.

“Because we don’t get a lot of international tournaments to play, the WSB will give me a chance to compete against top boxers like Paddy Barnes. These bouts will give me a lot of help ahead of Rio Olympics,” says Devendro who lost out in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games to Korea’s Jonghun Shin.

National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu too believes that this experience will help the boxers. “We have missed from WSB for some time and this selection will boost their morale. It will also provide them a chance to earn direct Olympic qualification and also a chance to face some of world’s top ranked boxers consistently,” said Sandhu.