Olympian and World bronze medallist Nishant Dev turns over with Matchroom
Indian Olympian Nishant Dev has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom and will make his professional debut at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas on Saturday January 25, live worldwide on DAZN.
Dev represented his country with great success in the amateurs, with his quarter-final appearance at the 2024 Paris games following a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in the Light-Middleweight division for the two-time Indian National champion.
The 24 year old is trained in Las Vegas by Ronald Simms and news on his first foe in a professional ring will follow, with the talented southpaw itching to take the first step on his journey to the top in the paid code.
“I’m very excited to be joining Matchroom and beginning my professional career in Las Vegas on January 25,” said Dev, who will start life in the pro game at Jr. Middleweight.
“My goal is to become India’s first ever world professional boxing champion and I know I have a whole nation behind me to help me achieve this
“I’m working hard every day with my trainer Ronald Simms, I know I have the right team behind me and the biggest promoter in the world to ensure that I reach the very top in the sport.
“I enjoyed my time as an amateur boxer and competed at the very highest level in the Olympics and winning a World Championship medal, but now I’m ready for this new chapter in my career. The journey to the World Championship starts in Las Vegas on January 25!”
“We’re delighted to welcome Nishant to the team,” said Hearn. “I think Nishant’s signing could be a game-changer for both Matchroom and for boxing in India.
“Nishant has all the tools to become a major player in the sport and a big star back home, and with the backing of Matchroom and DAZN, this young man will have every opportunity to make it, starting with a pro debut in Las Vegas.”
Dev’s pro debut is part of a huge day of action live on DAZN, with Matchroom holding stacked cards in Nottingham, England and in Las Vegas, headlined by star talents Dalton Smith and Diego Pacheco respectively.
Sheffield ace Smith faces Frenchman Walid Ouizza for the European and WBC Silver Super-Lightweight titles, before attention switches across the pound to Sin City, where Super-Middleweight sensation Pacheco takes on unbeaten Omaha man Steven Nelson.
Cuban Olympic gold medal man Andy Cruz continues his assault on the Lightweight division when he meets Omar Salcido with the IBF International and WBA Continental Latin-American titles on the line, while Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado finally gets to make his Matchroom debut, and the unbeaten Super-Lightweight threat takes on former two-time World champion Jose Pedraza.
A host of Matchroom’s young talents feature on the card, with the DAZN broadcast kicked off by Leonardo Rubalcava stepping through the ropes for the tenth time as a pro and taking on Californian Israel Mercado over eight rounds at 140lbs.
Debutant Dev headlines the Before the Bell action, which is led by another new Matchroom signing, Zaquin Moses, fighting in his second pro bout and unbeaten Lightweight Harley Mederos meeting Arturo de Isla over six in Mederos’ first fight since signing a propositional deal with Matchroom.
