Hyderabad, Feb 3 (PTI) – Former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis is set to visit India for the first time in March as part of the "Road to IPBL" tour, a six-city campaign aimed at promoting combat sports and fostering collaboration between international and domestic talent.
The tour will make stops in Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, building on the excitement generated last August when Pettis faced off against Indian actor and IPBL co-founder Rana Daggubati in Mexico.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the initiative, Pettis stated, "India has an incredible passion for combat sports, and I'm excited to be part of this movement with IPBL. Bringing APFC to India and setting up a fight between my brother and one of India’s top boxing champions is a huge step forward for the sport. I can’t wait to experience the energy of the Indian fans firsthand."
Adding to the momentum, IPBL has officially announced a marquee fight between WBC India Champion Sabari Jaishankar and Sergio Pettis, the former Bellator Bantamweight Champion and younger brother of Anthony Pettis.
Sergio Pettis, an accomplished American mixed martial artist, is currently signed with Bellator MMA, where he previously held the Bellator Bantamweight Championship. Before his stint in Bellator, he made a name for himself in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), emerging as one of the top-ranked fighters in the bantamweight division.
Facing him in the highly anticipated bout is Sabari Jaishankar, India’s premier professional boxer, known for his technical prowess and knockout power. A multiple-time World Boxing Council (WBC) titleholder, Jaishankar has won the WBC India, WBC Australasia, and WBC Middle East Titles.
With India’s combat sports scene rapidly evolving, the "Road to IPBL" tour and the upcoming clash between Sergio Pettis and Sabari Jaishankar are expected to be significant milestones in bolstering the sport’s popularity in the country.
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