The World Boxing Cup is the first tournament since World Boxing’s provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in February.
Lakshya Chahar’s World Boxing Cup 2025 campaign began with a 0-5 defeat to Brazil’s Wanderley Pereira in the first 80kg event.
Chahar, the current national light heavyweight champion, faced a strong opponent in Pereira, a 2023 World Championship silver medalist and Paris Olympian. Pereira dominated Chahar in the ring, with all but one judge giving him 30 points. The Brazilian finished with a near-perfect score of 149 out of 150, while Chahar received 135.
zThis setback represents India’s difficult start to the World Boxing Cup, the first tournament since World Boxing was granted provisional accreditation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in February, ahead of its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It also serves as the first major international competition for Indian boxers fighting in the newly introduced weight classes.
