Bangladesh are more familiar with amateur boxing, which they have competed in during different games like Olympics, Asian Games, South Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Amateur boxing is fought in different weight categories across three rounds of three minutes each, with a one-minute break between the rounds. Professional boxing, which made the likes of Muhammad Ali household names, has at least four rounds of three minutes each, and can have as many as 12 rounds depending on the experience of the boxers involved.
Other than that, professional boxing does not feature protective headgear, which is compulsory for amateur bouts. Boxers also require a licence to participate in professional bouts, but amateur boxers compete in different competitions under direct supervision of government-affiliated national boxing federations.
Under the supervision of the newly-formed Bangladesh Boxing Foundation (BBF), the recently-concluded professional boxing competition titled ‘Xcel presents South Asian Pro Boxing Fight Night – The Ultimate Glory’ made waves in Bangladesh, with proud Bangladeshis sharing pictures on social networks of boxer Sura Krishna Chakma draped in the red and green flag.
Professional boxing’s journey in Bangladesh started in November, 2020 under the Bangladesh Professional Boxing Society (BPBS), which organised 14 professional boxing competitions that did not garner much media attention.
Before…
