G Rajaraman
It does not matter to Neeraj Goyat that mainstream media does not pay as much attention to his boxing as it did to his role in rescuing stranded Indians in Ukraine last year or his forays as an actor, trainer and choreographer in the world of films, including in the much talked about RRR. He has his focus on putting in his best effort to extend his win-loss record later this week.
With a 17-3 record in his professional boxing career, he is on his way to the Mexican city of Guadalajara where he will take on American Jose Zepeda in a 10-round bout on March 25.
The Indian has won his last eight bouts since losing to Sergio Daniel Moreno in Mexico. And is confident that he has prepared well for his fight with the Mexican-born Jose Zepeda. He is aware that his rival was knocked out by his American compatriot Regis Prograis in his most recent pro fight, a clash for the WBC Light Welterweight title.
Will it be toughest bout yet, considering the American southpaw has a 35-3 record since turning pro in 2009? “We will know only during the bout. I am aware that Jose Zepeda is a WBC Silver Light Welterweight Champion and that he has been a WBO title holder, but I have always said, we will know who the better boxer on a given day only after we step into the ring,” he says.
Clearly, Neeraj Goyat is not given to a vain boast. “I know I have prepared well. I know that I will be fighting a southpaw and all my sparring partners in the past couple of months have been left-handers,” he says. “The internet helps me prepare for my bouts but it all boils down to how well one fights on that particular day.”
Preparing for his flights halfway around the world to Guadalajara, Neeraj Goyat says travelling long distances does not affect him. “There are hardly any fight promoters in our country, and I am grateful for the chance to be playing a sport that I so love,” he says, pointing out that the the distances do not matter as much as the opportunities in Mexico or Canada or China.
“I believe I have a strong defence, and use my head movement to my advantage,” he says when asked to identify his own strong point. “Watching videos of Mike Tyson’s bouts have inspired me. Besides, I believe my endurance is a strength too. Watching the Rocky series of movies has made me train hard. I have worked on my fitness to fight for 12 rounds in my pro bouts,” he says.
Neeraj Goyat pauses to remind himself that even during his days at the prestigious Army Sports Institute in Pune he would spar two rounds each with several partners to develop his staying power. Though he quit the Army in 2013, he recently returned to ASI as part of his training and met former National Coach BI Fernandes of Cuba there.
“I have a good life back home in Yamunanagar, spending time with my parents or training in and around the farmhouse that I have built. I love going on 12km runs or swimming in River Yamuna to develop endurance,” he says, revealing that he was training even during the Covd-19 caused lockdown and its aftermath.
He enjoys being able to interact with fans around his professional bouts. “The circle grows as one spends close to a week in a city and gets to interact with many people. I love the greater interaction with fans that pro boxing encourages,” he says.
“Though I believe I would be celebrated if I were an American, I am okay with my sport not being so well known in a cricket-obsessed country,” he shrugs. “Talking of Americans, I must say that if we learn our basics early and right, I will rate myself higher than the 7 or 8 that I do now on a scale of 10,” he says, candidly accepting that the fundamentals must be instilled better in India.
And yes, while he also has a more than a toehold in the film industry as an actor, trainer and choreographer, he is working towards giving back to the sport that has given him an identity of his own, even if he has missed out on the experience of representing India in the multi-discipline Games. “I was too young in 2010 and missed the bus later,” he says.
He earned himself two shots at making it to the 2016 Olympic Games. He beat Greek boxer Dimitrios Tsagkrakos 3-0 in the Welterweight (69kg) class in APB and WSB Olympic qualifier in Vargas, Venezuela in July that year. However, he lost 0-3 to Germany’s Arajik Marutjan in the semifinals and Spain’s Youba Sissokho in the box-off for the third spot.
“I guess it was not in my destiny. I would run into boxers who went on to win the competitions. Perhaps, it was fate nudging me towards a pro career,” he says, his tone being rather matter of fact and not wistful or lamenting. “I know that it does not make me a bad boxer. And I will find ways to contribute to the Indian boxing scene.”
Neeraj now runs an NGO to assist young boxers with their training and a sports, media, entertainment and management company with Vikas Krishan Yadav. He used his Ukrainian boxing contacts to help rescue stranded Indians when Russia declared war on Ukraine a year ago, showing that his heart was in the right place.