Neeraj Goyat to face Anthony Pettis in historic boxing match in India

Indian professional boxer Neeraj Goyat is scheduled to face former UFC lightweight world champion Anthony Pettis in a six-round super welterweight match on January 23, 2027. The bout is presented by the Indian Pro Boxing League (IPBL) and sanctioned by the Indian Boxing Council.

Potential host cities for the event include Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai, with the specific venue expected to be announced in November. Goyat, a former WBC Asia champion and the first Indian boxer ranked by the World Boxing Council, enters the fight on a four-bout winning streak. Pettis, a former WEC and UFC champion, brings extensive mixed martial arts experience to the contest.

Goyat, who signed with the American promotion Most Valuable Promotions in 2024, expressed his enthusiasm for competing on home soil, noting that he has previously fought in China, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.