Max Boxing Promotion & Dancing Yak is all set to stage the semi-finals of Nepal’s first ever professional boxing tournament Champ of the Champions as all four contenders were confident to win during a face-off in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Saroj Sewa is taking on Yadav Thapa and Mani Dangol will be up against Surendra Karki in the 61kg lightweight category semi-finals scheduled for this Saturday at the Gymkhana in Maharajgunj. The champion of the tournament is assured of a cash purse of Rs 200,000 and most importantly an opportunity to train and compete in Belgium Professional Boxing League.

While Karki and Dangol said they wouldn’t get involved in trash talk and show their capability in the ring, Thapa and Sewa exchanged some heated words during before the two faced off. “I have always loved boxing and put all my skills in display in the ring. You are a kid and will help you learn how you fight,” said Thapa.

Sewa replied: “Whom are you calling a kid? I am here to win the belt and will show you who is the real kid. Just mark my words, I am going to knock you down in just two rounds.” Sewa is one of the wild card entrants in the tournament and has impressed in the ring.

Nepal Pro Boxing Commission Chairman Manohar Basnet, also know as Max, said the tournament lays down a big platform for pugilists looking for professional exposure. “This event is just a start for us. We have been in talks with the Belgian Professional Boxing League and if everything go as planned, we will have the winner training in Belgium for three months and compete in the professional league there,” said Basnet during a press conference.

Champ of the Champions will also give away World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian and WBC license. Basnet also said that his company will soon be organizing a selection to send eight Nepali pro boxers in the Super Boxing League of India.

“We have organised this tournament in just one weight category and to complete

the needed quota, we have to do a selection tournament to send our boxers there,” said Basnet.

“We can say that if we can give exposure to our boxers in pro boxing league of India, Nepali boxing will go a long distance. We have talked to the Nepal Boxing Association and we are very hopeful to get the support that we need.