Chennai among three cities shortlisted to host Neeraj Goyat-Anthony Pettis boxing clash

Neeraj Goyat will face former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis next year, with the host city set to be announced in November. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Chennai is among three Indian cities being considered to host a professional boxing bout between Neeraj Goyat and former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis on January 23, 2027, the organisers announced on Wednesday.

Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam are the other potential host cities, with the final venue expected to be announced in November.

The six-round super welterweight contest, to be fought at 154 pounds, will headline an event titled ‘Goyat vs Pettis: The Indian Uprising’. It will be presented by IPBL Boxing and sanctioned by the Indian Boxing Council.

Goyat has a professional record of 21 wins, four losses and two draws, including nine knockout victories. The Haryana boxer became the first Indian to enter the World Boxing Council rankings and is a former WBC Asia champion.

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In 2024, he became the first international boxer to sign with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. He subsequently defeated Brazilian influencer Whindersson Nunes on the undercard of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight in November that year.

Goyat, who has competed in several countries during his professional career, welcomed the opportunity to headline a boxing event in India.

“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.

Pettis claimed the WEC lightweight title in 2010 before winning the UFC lightweight championship in 2013.

The American has also competed in professional boxing, defeating former world champion Roy Jones Jr. by majority decision in April 2023 before losing to Chris Avila by unanimous decision in July 2024.

Pettis has been involved in developing professional boxing in India as a co-promoter of the Indian Pro Boxing League. His younger brother, Sergio Pettis, lost a six-round boxing contest to India’s Sabari Jaishankar in Hyderabad in March 2025.

The undercard is expected to feature Indian boxers Akshay Chahal, Faizan Anwar, Pavan Kalyan, Ritesh Singh and Laldinsanga Ramlawt, among others.