The Punjab Panthers have done a superb revenge beating Ne Rhinos and will be boxing with the Gujarat Giants in the final of the Big Bout League

The Ne Rhinos defeated the Punjab Panthers in the thirteenth day of the Indian Big Bout Boxing League which was the last match of the Group Stage. The Punjab Panthers used new line-ups in their re-match which was held already in the Knock-Out Stage in the semi-finals and won that important challenge by 5-2. The Punjab Panthers’ revenge means their franchise will be meeting in the finals of the whole League with the Gujarat Giants.

Big Bout is the official name of the Indian Boxing League which is a new program of the Boxing Federation of India which will be closing the busy year of 2019. Boxing Federation of India covered all costs for the boxers including flight tickets, accommodation, meals and local transportation, furthermore strong money prizes for the boxers. The competition period of the League is from December 2 until December 21 which is open for top foreign boxers as well.  

A top female boxer, Astana 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sonia Lather Singh returned to the business in top shape after a few unexpected losses. The 27-year-old boxer moved up to the lightweight (60kg) and used her strength and speed to beat Pwilao Basumatary in their second match within three days. The Punjab Panthers started the match strongly following Lather’s success but Ne Rhinos’ Meenakshi equalized their semi-final following her triumph over Darshana Doot.

Ne Rhinos’ took the lead after the third fight in the semi-finals due Francisco Veron’s amazing game play which was enough to beat Ankit Khatana unanimously at the middleweight (75kg). Uzbekistan’s Timur Ergashev won the heavyweight (91kg) bout for Ne Rhinos but Punjab Panthers’ new replacement Naveen Kumar found his weak points in the fourth contest of their semi-finals.

Uzbekistan’s Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games winner and AIBA Youth World Champion Abdumalik Khalakov is only 19 but he is one of the main future hopes of our Asian continent who defeated ASBC 2018 WSB Boxer of the Year Mohammed Etash Khan in the men’s bantamweight (57kg) once again.

The fourth success for the Punjab Panthers was taken by AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Polipalli Lalitha Prasad who dominated his next fight against Laldin Mawia at the men’s flyweight (52kg). Prasad’s success guaranteed the Punjab Panthers’ final triumph but former Commonwealth Games winner veteran Manoj Kumar was still hungry for the victory at the men’s welterweight (69kg) arranging the clear 5-2 wins for his franchise.

Final Results

Punjab Panthers vs. Ne Rhinos 5-2

Women’s 60kg: Sonia Lather Singh (Punjab) vs. Pwilao Basumatary (Ne) 5-0

Women’s 51kg: Meenakshi (Ne) vs. Darshana Doot (Punjab) 5-0

Men’s 75kg: Francisco Veron (Ne) vs. Mohit Khatana (Punjab) 5-0

Men’s 91kg: Naveen Kumar (Punjab) vs. Timur Ergashev (Ne, UZB) 5-0

Men’s 57kg: Abdumalik Khalakov (Punjab, UZB) vs. Mohammed Etash Khan (Ne) 5-0

Men’s 52kg: Polipalli Lalitha Prasad (Punjab) vs. Laldin Mawia (Ne) 5-0

Men’s 69kg: Manoj Kumar (Punjab) vs. Mohamed Rahil (Ne) 5-0

Don’t forget you can keep up with all of the action, news, results and photos by following ASBC on Facebook and Instagram.
ASBC website: www.asbcnews.org
ASBC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASBC.Boxing/
ASBC Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asbc_official/

Boxing2019 – India Big Bout Boxing League – Day13 – Ne Rhinos vs. Punjab Panthers