Paris Olympian Nishant Dev, now 23, grew up in Karnal city, dreaming of becoming a professional boxer after watching legends like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson on YouTube. His passion for boxing was fueled further by his uncle’s stories of professional bouts from Germany. Despite a tough quarterfinal loss at the Paris Olympics, Nishant insists his decision to turn pro was long in the making.
He signed with Matchroom Boxing just six months after the Olympics and won his debut bout against Alton Wiggins in January. His journey has been supported by his coach Ronald Simms, who first scouted Nishant for JSW Sports when he was just 15. Simms, who trained Nishant for five years, continues to mentor him.
Obsessed with boxing from a young age, Nishant trained with coach Surender Chauhan at Karnal’s Karan Stadium. He would mimic moves of legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., with the iconic ‘Ali Shuffle’ being his favorite. His aggressive, attacking style as a southpaw is inspired by Jake LaMotta rather than Mayweather’s defensive brilliance.
The young boxer now trains in the U.S. with a dedicated five-member team led by Simms. Despite the switch to professional boxing, Nishant hasn’t ruled out competing in future Olympic games. His focus, however, remains on building a legacy in pro boxing and inspiring the next generation of Indian boxers.
