PANAJI
Goan boxers Kailas Gauns and Pralhad Panda came up trumps at the Susegado Strike Fight Night, knocking out their respective opponents at Goa's first major boxing extravaganza, held at Dona Paula.
Chimbel’s 30-year-old boxer, Kailas Gauns, coming strong off the blocks vanquished his opponent Sanjay S from Tamil Nadu with a technical knockout (TKO) in the very first round at the much awaited ‘Fight Night.’ Gauns, a Mike Tyson-idolising school dropout, stunned the audience in his debut fight with his aggressive blitz, winning the contest in a mere 1.50 seconds in the first round itself, making light work of Sanjay’s defences in the super flyweight category.
Mapusa's Pralhad Panda had to be more patient in the ring, before eventually defeating his opponent, Radhivarman from Tamil Nadu in the first round of the match, with a TKO in the featherweight category. Pralhad, 28, works as a personal trainer and was preparing with vigour for the contest over the last few months.
The Fight Night spread over a high-energy late evening of punches and precision, as the professional boxers, drawn from various parts of the country, including two from Goa, battled for honour and victory at the International Centre Goa at Dona Paula. The event featured six intense bouts spread across weight categories and gender.
The Goan contenders, Kailas and Pralhad Panda from Mapusa, put up spirited performances, as did other competitors from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, who competed across weight divisions ranging from feather to cruiserweight (52 kgs to over 90 kgs). Two female boxers were also in participation at the event, further underscoring the inclusive spirit of the event.
