The inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool has quickly become more than just a global showcase of skill it has emerged as the proving ground for nations preparing for the next Olympic cycle.
For India, Day 3 of the competition stood out as a pivotal juncture, with five boxers ranging from proven world champions to ambitious debutants stepping into the ring under intense scrutiny. This was no ordinary day for Indian boxing. It was a crossroads where the experience of Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain met the aspirations of Hitesh Gulia, Sanju, and Sachin Siwach. Their bouts carried implications that stretched far beyond Liverpool, directly influencing India’s trajectory towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The 2025 edition in Liverpool is the first unified men’s and women’s championship under the governance of World Boxing, the federation formed in 2023 after the collapse of the IBA. With 550 boxers from 65 countries, including 17 Olympic medallists from Paris 2024, the competition is not just about medals but about establishing credibility in a sport that is rebuilding its global trust.
For India, the tournament marks a significant alignment with the new body. A 20-member contingent, featuring athletes across all weight divisions, arrived in England on the back of impressive runs at the World Boxing Cup in Brazil and Kazakhstan. Their performances in Liverpool were to be read not just as fights, but as statements of intent in this new era.
Spotlight on Day 3: Five Critical Bouts
Nikhat Zareen vs Jennifer Lozano (Women’s 51kg, Round of 32)
For two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen, Liverpool was about redemption. After her premature Paris 2024 exit, the Hyderabadi pugilist sought to prove her hunger and reaffirm her dominance. Her opponent, Jennifer Lozano of the USA, just 22, entered with a solid southpaw style and a history of resilience. The tactical duel centered on Nikhat’s high-volume orthodox attack against Lozano’s defensive counters. A strong performance here would silence questions about her form and strengthen her case for a third world title.
Lovlina Borgohain vs Busra Isildar (Women’s 75kg, Round of 16)
Lovlina Borgohain, reigning World Champion and Olympic bronze medallist, embodies tactical patience and defensive precision. Liverpool marked her first true test since Paris 2024, with Busra Isildar of Turkey standing across the ring. Isildar brought recent fight experience, which could test Lovlina’s rhythm after a long competitive break. For Lovlina, the challenge lay in shaking off any ring rust and setting the tone for another deep run in her weight class.
Hitesh Gulia vs Robert Finn (Men’s 70kg, Round of 32)
Few young Indian boxers have generated as much buzz as Hitesh Gulia, who made headlines earlier this year by securing India’s first-ever World Boxing Cup gold medal. But critics noted that his Cup final came via a walkover, placing added importance on his clash in Liverpool. Facing him was the Netherlands’ Robert Finn, a promising contender with recent wins in the tournament. For Gulia, this fight was about legitimacy a chance to prove his gold was no accident and to establish himself as a long-term medal hope.
Sanju vs Aneta Rygielska (Women’s 60kg, Round of 32)
Among India’s newcomers, Sanju carried perhaps the most intriguing storyline. With national medals and a strong Thailand Open campaign behind her, she entered the championships aiming to transition from domestic star to global contender.
Her opponent, Aneta Rygielska of Poland, brought nearly a decade of international experience, including European Championship medals. The bout represented the classic test of a rising talent vs seasoned veteran, with Sanju’s tactical discipline pitted against Rygielska’s ring wisdom.
Sachin Siwach vs Jacob Cassar (Men’s 60kg, Round of 32)
Perhaps the most exciting matchup of the day featured Sachin Siwach, a former Youth World Champion, against Australia’s prodigy Jacob Cassar. At just 18, Cassar boasted an elite record of 46 wins, 5 losses, and an unbeaten streak of 37 bouts from 2018 to 2024.
For Siwach, who won bronze at the 2025 World Cup, this fight was more than progression—it was about proving he remains India’s brightest prospect in a division stacked with talent. Both boxers represented the next generation, making this a true battle of futures.
The championships unfolded against a charged backdrop. In August 2025, World Boxing introduced its Sex Eligibility Policy, mandating genetic testing for all female athletes above 18. The rule led to the exclusion of stars like Paris Olympic champion Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, sparking debates over fairness and discrimination. For Indian boxers like Nikhat and Lovlina, compliance with the rule was a prerequisite. Their participation underlined India’s stance of aligning with the federation’s governance, even amid global controversy.
Implications for Indian Boxing
The outcomes of Day 3 carried implications at multiple levels:
- Momentum: Wins by senior champions would inspire the squad and solidify India’s presence in later rounds.
- Validation of Youth: Victories for Gulia, Sanju, or Siwach would mark a successful handover to the next generation.
- Olympic Roadmap: Performances here will directly shape team selection and funding priorities for the Los Angeles 2028 cycle.
Whether through dominance or defeat, each fight provided coaches and administrators with critical data on where India’s program truly stands.
Day 3 of the World Boxing Championships was not just about advancing brackets. It symbolized a meeting of eras—the seasoned brilliance of Nikhat and Lovlina tested alongside the aspirations of Gulia, Sanju, and Siwach. In Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, India’s boxers fought for more than individual glory. They carried the weight of a nation’s transition into a new governance framework, the urgency of staying relevant on the world stage, and the hope of turning promise into podiums by 2028.
The results may still be awaited, but one fact is undeniable: Indian boxing is at the cusp of a defining transformation, and Day 3 was its first true litmus test in this new era.
