2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Vikas Krishnan to turn pro, confirms ongoing talks with Top Rank Promotions

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One of the best amateur boxers in India, Vikas Krishnan Yadav has finally confirmed that he is turning pro next year and is in talks with legendary promoter Bob Arum who is the co-founder of Top Rank Promotions.

Vikas, who fights at middleweight category won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, will leave for the United States in December to fulfill his long-standing dream of turning pro.

I have just returned from the US and I am all set to sign a deal with Top Rank Promotions which will look after my professional career,” he said on the sidelines of industry body FICCI’s 8th Global Sports Summit on Thursday.

It was a long-standing dream and it became reality after the world body (AIBA) allowed professional boxers to take part in the Olympics and Asian Games. The professional circuit will provide me best training and competitions,” he said.

 

Vikas Krishnan has a terrific amateur pedigree, he won a gold medal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. He also won a gold medal in the Asian Games which took place in the same year in China in the lightweight category.

All through the year I will ply my trade in professional circuit and return to amateur only six months before any major international event,” he added.

Now, it would be easier for me to compete against amateur boxers as I already will have the experience of facing professional heavyweights. This is will keep me in good stead.

“I will be fearless in the amateur circuit now because in the professional circuit it is all about spilling the blood of your opponents or knocking them down,” he said.

Vikas said once the deal is finalized, he will be based in New Jersey where his training will start in January next year.

He has represented India in two consecutive Olympic games in London and Rio. In the London Olympics, he was eliminated in the preliminary round to current IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. He has cruised into the round of 16 in Boxing 75 kg category at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

He has won a Bronze Medal at the 2014 Asian Games held at Incheon, South Korea.  In Asian games 2018, he won bronze. He had to withdraw because of a serious eye injury. He is the first Indian to win 3 medals in Asian games.

Vikas has made a better choice going with Hall of Fame promoter, Bob Arum. He has promoted the legends of the sports by the likes of Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez, Miguel Cotto and right now he is promoting two of the best fighters of the planet in Terence Crawford and Vasyl Lomachenko.

Bob Arum has last year signed a 7-year broadcast deal with ESPN. The agreement, brokered by CAA on behalf of Top Rank, will yield 54 events per year as well as a full offering of exclusive shoulder programming, classic fights, and studio content.

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