Neeraj Goyat to face former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in blockbuster India bout on January 23

Indian professional boxing star Neeraj Goyat will take on former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight world champion Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis in a high-profile six-round super welterweight contest on January 23, 2027, with three Indian cities competing to host the much-anticipated showdown.

The bout, scheduled in the 154-pound (69.9kg) weight category, will be presented by IPBL Boxing and sanctioned by the Indian Boxing Council. Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Chennai have emerged as potential venues, with organisers expected to announce the host city and venue in November. The event, titled 'Goyat vs Pettis: The Indian Uprising', is being promoted as a landmark occasion for professional boxing in India.

𝗚𝗼𝘆𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴

The 34-year-old Goyat, who hails from Haryana, has established himself as one of India's leading professional boxers, having competed internationally for more than a decade. He holds a professional record of 21 victories, four defeats and two draws, including nine knockout wins, and enters the contest on a four-fight winning streak.

A former WBC Asia champion, Goyat became the first Indian professional boxer to be ranked by the World Boxing Council. In 2024, he also became the first international fighter to sign with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the American boxing and mixed martial arts promotion founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.

Goyat gained international attention in November 2024 when he defeated Brazilian entertainer Whindersson Nunes on the undercard of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing event, which attracted a global audience through Netflix. His latest victory came in Birmingham in August this year, further extending his winning run ahead of the encounter with Pettis.

Expressing excitement about competing against a globally recognised opponent in front of Indian spectators, Goyat said he had spent much of his career fighting abroad and was eager to headline a major event in his home country.

"I have fought in China, in Thailand, in America and in the UK, and every time I was the Indian on somebody else's card. This time the card is ours," Goyat said.

He thanked MVP and Bidarian for supporting his career and helping bring the contest to India. Acknowledging Pettis' achievements, Goyat said he had waited throughout his career for an opportunity to face an opponent of such stature before a home crowd.

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Pettis, who hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is among the recognised names in mixed martial arts, having won the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) lightweight championship in 2010 and the UFC lightweight world championship in 2013. He defeated Benson Henderson on both occasions to capture the respective titles.

The American fighter holds a professional MMA record of 25 victories and 14 defeats, including 11 knockout wins. Having made his professional debut in January 2007, Pettis will enter the upcoming contest nearly two decades after beginning his combat sports career. The fight will also take place shortly before his 40th birthday.

Pettis has maintained a connection with India's combat sports industry over the past two years and serves as a co-promoter of the Indian Fight League and the Indian Pro Boxing League.

The contest carries personal significance for Pettis, whose younger brother Sergio Pettis, a former Bellator bantamweight world champion, suffered a unanimous decision defeat against India's Sabari Jaishankar during the Road to IPBL 2 event in Hyderabad in March 2025.

Referring to his brother's defeat, Pettis said he was determined to secure victory in India.

"I have seen what Indian fighters can do, and Neeraj is the best of them. That is who I want. I have thought a lot about Sergio's loss. This one is for him, and I am coming to win," he said.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱

The January event will also feature several prominent Indian professional boxers, providing them with an opportunity to compete on a major international platform.

Among those expected to participate are Akshay Chahal of Rohtak, Faizan Anwar of Kolkata, Pavan Kalyan of Hyderabad, Ritesh Singh of Dehradun and Laldinsanga Ramlawt of Mizoram, alongside other leading fighters from across the country.

IPBL Boxing, which is organising the event, has been involved in promoting professional boxing in India for more than a decade. The organisation operates the Indian Pro Boxing League and the BoxingBay fight series, with its events receiving international broadcast exposure.

Actor and producer Rana Daggubati, who is associated with the promotional venture, expressed confidence that the event would help increase the visibility of professional boxing in India.

MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian also welcomed the announcement, saying Goyat's opportunity to headline a major event in India reflected their long-term commitment to developing his international career.

The organisers are expected to announce the final host city, complete fight card, broadcasting arrangements and ticketing details in November. The contest will bring together Goyat's professional boxing experience and Pettis' championship pedigree in mixed martial arts, while providing a prominent platform for Indian fighters seeking greater international recognition.