Nepal Professional Boxing Commission (NPBC) on Monday officially announced Manish Dangol as the winner of the Champ of Champions—a 61kg lightweight category event that witnessed the country’s first ever professional boxing.

In coordination with NPBC, Dancing Yak and Max Boxing Promotion had come up with the event that began on May 20 last year involving 16 boxers from across the country in the weight division. Dangol was scheduled to meet Saroj Sewa in an April 6 final that was expected to go down to the wire. But Sewa left for South Korea for foreign employment two days before the final paving way for Dangol to become the unanimous champion. Along with the lightweight belt, Dangol also earned Rs 200,000 in prize money. 

“It would have been really wonderful had we been able to fight for this belt. But unfortunately he (Sewa) had his obligations and needed to leave the country. I would still take this (belt),” said Dangol after receiving the champion’s belt. The lightweight title, however, can still fetch Dangol maximum opportunities provided he gets the exposure as promised by NPBC.

Ahead of the semi-finals of the tournament, NPBC Chairman Manohar Basnet, also known as Max, had said the champion of the tournament will get a chance to train and compete in Belgian Professional League (BPL). Basnet stuck with his promise to manage the opportunity for Dangol. “I have been doing my every bit to get him linked with BPL. Its very tough to get all the plans executed. All I can do for the time being is do my best to set a good platform for him (Dangol) by establishing good contact with others,” said Basnet, a professional boxer himself. 

NPBC also made the lightweight belt match open for other organisers. “If any other organisation wants to do this event, they have to take NPBC permission first and they require  to pay Rs 100,000 to the winner,”  informed Basnet.