BoxRec

Eddie Hearn announces ‘game changer’ signing of Olympian Nishant Dev

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing have announced the signing of 2024 Olympian Nishant Dev.

Dev, a 24-year-old from India, claimed bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but he lost in the quarterfinals of the Paris Games to Mexico’s Marco Verde.

Victory over Verde would have won Dev at least a bronze, but he lost a majority decision.

Now, however, Dev is set to spearhead Hearn’s attempts to grow the sport in another new territory.

“Boom! This could be a game-changer,” Hearn posted with an announcement of the signing on social media. “Welcome to the team Amateur standout and 2024 Olympian Nishant Dev.”

Dev will make his debut at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on January 25 on the bill topped by the super middleweight clash between Steve Nelson and Diego Pacheco, and featuring the next bouts of lightweight Andy Cruz and junior welterweight Ernesto Mercado, who will meet Omar Salcido Gamez and Jose Pedraza, respectively.

Dev is being managed by Ireland’s influential Brian Peters, who has added to a roster that already includes Katie Taylor, Raymond Ford, Teremoana Jnr, Beatriz Ferreria and Sandy Ryan.

Peters believes Dev, who is being trained by former pro Ronald Simms in Las Vegas, could become India’s first boxing superstar.

“I’m very excited to be joining Matchroom and beginning my professional career in Las Vegas on January 25,” Dev said.

“My goal is to become India's first-ever world professional boxing champion, and I know I have a whole nation behind me to help me achieve this.

“I'm working hard every day with my trainer Ronald Simms. I know I have the right team behind me and the biggest promoter in the world to ensure that I reach the very top in the sport.

“I enjoyed my time as an amateur boxer and competed at the very highest level in the Olympics and [won] a World Championship medal, but now I'm ready for this new chapter in my career. The journey to the world championship starts in Las Vegas on January 25.”

If Eddie could unlock the Indian market, it would be a hell of an achievement. Looking forward to seeing how he progresses.

The Indians at the World youths (The USA one) were brilliant. The super heavy gave my guy Atang a hell of a fight in the semi and another battered a multi titled American kid.

Game changer?

Coco wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 07:06Game changer?

Hope it goes better than their Japan expedition....

Does game changer mean having a go in another country?

Coco wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 07:17 Does game changer mean having a go in another country?

Maybe. Remember all the abuse Fwank got when he said him, Fury and Spencer Brown had done a game changing deal with Turki? There was uproar on here for weeks when they said the Ngannou fight was the start of something special.

Commonwealth Gold medalist and Dundee's own Sam Hickey first on the card I believe, 2nd pro fight, going in against a 3-1 Lewis Howells which makes a change from the usual 4-79-5 Bulgarian forklift driver, I'm expecting big things from Hickey, seen him countless times in the ams and he was always destined for success, he won a shut out on his debut but I'd imagine the neutrals would've found it pretty forgettable but hopefully Howells comes to win tonight

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 08:50 Commonwealth Gold medalist and Dundee's own Sam Hickey first on the card I believe, 2nd pro fight, going in against a 3-1 Lewis Howells which makes a change from the usual 4-79-5 Bulgarian forklift driver, I'm expecting big things from Hickey, seen him countless times in the ams and he was always destined for success, he won a shut out on his debut but I'd imagine the neutrals would've found it pretty forgettable but hopefully Howells comes to win tonight

which card? tonight's card? wrong thread

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 09:02

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Jan 2025, 08:50 Commonwealth Gold medalist and Dundee's own Sam Hickey first on the card I believe, 2nd pro fight, going in against a 3-1 Lewis Howells which makes a change from the usual 4-79-5 Bulgarian forklift driver, I'm expecting big things from Hickey, seen him countless times in the ams and he was always destined for success, he won a shut out on his debut but I'd imagine the neutrals would've found it pretty forgettable but hopefully Howells comes to win tonight

which card? tonight's card? wrong thread

Haha ffs yeh

Lets hope it works out better than when Frank signed Indian 'superstar' Vijender Singh

Or Haider Ali

Nishant Dev hoping to lead the way for India with an eventual title

Junior middleweight Nishant Dev knows he is one of many, which is partly why it would be so meaningful for him to be the first.

Born in Karnal, India, and having fought at the 2024 Olympic Games, Dev is no stranger to representing his home country on the world stage. He is now 5-0 (3 KOs) after turning professional in January 2025. Most recently, he stopped Ally Mbukwa in December, and this Saturday he will take on Juan Carlos Guerra Jnr at The Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

Heading into his sophomore year, Dev is motivated to leave home again and train with coach Ronald Simms, fueled by the dream of becoming the first boxing world titleholder from India.

“Every country has a world champion – they have good professional boxers,” Dev told BS. “When I see my country, we have so many boxers. We have 1.4 billion people who live in India, but nobody is a world champion. I feel like I should step up and show the world that I can be a world champion.”

In Saturday’s bout, the 25-year-old southpaw Dev will face Guerra, a 30-year-old from Chicago who was stopped by prospect Art Barrera Jnr in May. But Guerra, 6-2-1 (2 KOs), also holds a solid win over Nico Ali Walsh.

In addition to facing respectable opposition for arguably the first time as a pro, Dev will be making his first eight-round fight.

“I have been in the ring for so many years; it is all about your skills and how you put the performance in the ring,” Dev said. “I am going to show my good skills in those eight rounds.”

He knows what is at stake. He hasn’t yet had the fights that could define a grander legacy, but early on, Dev is passing the eye test. Now he has to attempt to do what great future titleholders do: fend off worthy challengers looking to revive their careers, while he attempts to jump-start his own.

“It is so much pressure, it gives me the motivation,” Dev said. “It motivates me to show [the people who support me] that there is this one guy who came from India who had the potential to win a world title.”

Anyone catch his fight this weekend?

Very short one I might add.

Thoughts on him now?

Mostly has been fighting on the US cards

I did and was impressed with him, very respectful chap too