INSPIRE INSTITUTE OF SPORT (IIS) has launched India Knockout Nights (IKN), a professional boxing platform aimed at giving Indian boxers greater visibility, structured competitive opportunities and a sustainable career pathway.
Leading the launch was Neeraj Goyat, widely regarded as the face of professional boxing in India for his trailblazing appearances on international fight cards. Goyat now steps into a new role, spearheading efforts to open doors for emerging talent in the sport. He was joined by professional boxer Nishant Dev and Indian MMA star Anshul Jubli, highlighting the camaraderie across India’s combat sports ecosystem.
IKN has been conceived as a structured, multi-city professional boxing league that will stage regular fight nights featuring Indian talent across various weight categories and divisions. The first season of India Knockout Nights will be streamed live on YouTube via Goyat’s official channel.
Goyat said, “I’ve lived the journey of an Indian professional boxer; seen the struggles, the uncertainty, the lack of platforms. India Knockout Nights is something I deeply believe in because it gives fighters a fair shot. This is about building a platform where talent doesn’t get lost.”
IIS president Manisha Malhotra commented, “IIS was built on a simple belief – Indian athletes, when given world-class support, can compete with the very best in the world. Our work has always gone beyond training; we focus on building complete athlete ecosystems with access to coaching, sports science, recovery, mentorship, and international exposure. Over the years, we’ve invested deeply in nurturing talent from grassroots to elite levels. But for a sport to truly grow, athletes also need structured, high-quality competitive platforms. India Knockout Nights is a natural extension of our philosophy, creating visibility, consistency, and a professional pathway for boxers. We meet young athletes every day who have immense hunger but limited opportunities. When they see a credible future in the sport, their commitment rises to another level. If we want champions tomorrow, we have to build strong systems today. This platform is a step toward that larger vision for Indian boxing.”
