Sukhdeep Singh Bhatti and Uisma Lima clash for the vacant IBO World super-welterweight title in Canada
Unbeaten Sukhdeep Singh Bhatti (19-0, 8KO) and once-defeated Uisma Lima (12-1, KO) are all set to clash for the vacant IBO World super-welterweight title on December 12 in Toronto, Canada.
Singh Bhatti and Lima are ranked #12 and #13, respectively in the IBO super-welterweight world ratings.
Ontario-based Indian Singh Bhatti is known as “The Pride of Punjab”, and is the reigning IBF International super-welterweight champion, ranked No.14 with the governing body.
Singh has displayed a mean streak of late in a pair of statement knockout victories against Yaser Yuksel in December 2023, and Gino Godoy in in March 2024 — the latter being a monstrous right-hand which sent Godoy into retirement.
32-year-old Singh provided another memorable night in May 2023, when he stopped Indian rival Sagar Narwat in an ethnic-soaked rivalry at Brampton’s CAA Centre to claim the IBO Asia Pacific super welterweight title.
As the pound-for-pound top Punjab fighter in the world, Singh is buoyed by a large fan base both in Toronto and abroad; soft-spoken and respectful beyond the boxing ring, he transforms into a confident tiger when the bell rings.
Promoted by Tyler Buxton of United Boxing Promotions, Singh faces Lima on the 12th day of December.
Lima is well known to British boxing fans after he gave unbeaten prospect Aaron McKenna a hall of a fight in their 2023 title contest at the York Hall in Bethnal Green. Irishman McKenna won the vacant WBC International middleweight belt after winning unanimously, but he was pushed all the way by the visiting Angolan.
31 from Portugal, Lima was born in Luanda, Angola. In his last fight, he impressively stopped undefeated Hero Matevosyan in the 10th round of a scheduled 12 to win the IBF Inter-Continental super-welterweight title, in April this year.
That ninth career knockout has taken his KO ratio up to a fearsome 75%. Singh’s may be lower at 42%, but he has scored three knockouts in his last five fights.
The championship contest is expected to be a close affair, with either man capable of stopping the other inside the distance, adding to the excitement and anticipation.
The winner will be crowned the 21st IBO World super-welterweight champion in history, and one of four world rulers at the weight, with WBC & WBO Sebastian Fundora, WBA Terence Crawford, and IBF Bakhram Murtazaliev as potential unification clashes in 2025.
Did You Know? The first ever holder of the IBO super-welterweight title was Detroit’s Lonny Beasley when he defeated fellow American Lemark Davis on April 10, 1993, to claim the inaugural championship. Other notable champions since then have included Sergio Martinez, Erislandy Lara, Jarrett Hurd, and Britain’s Sam Eggington.