Click to play videoNew Delhi: Indian boxing is on the upswing with a spot in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) and experts say that with the best of the world in the fray, standard of Indian boxing will go up.
There is a flip side too as the boxers will have to chose between club and country.
But India's best boxers are going to enjoy the limelight a bit more.
Delhi has been made a franchisee for the World Series of Boxing that gets underway from September 2010 and India's top boxers are excited about it.
"The boxers will not only get financial support also get recognition," says Beijing Olympics' bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh.
With the kind of money on offer the boxers who make the cut for the World Series will be financially secure for life. But like all good things; there is a fine print and the boxers cannot represent India in competitions any more as WSB is a professional league and the only exception is the Olympics.
"As far as amateurs are concerned, once they take part in this boxing championship then they are only eligible to take part in Olympics and Olympics-qualifying tournaments. They cannot participate in other amateurs’ games like Asian Games or Commonwealth Games," clarifies Colonel PKM Raja, Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) Secretary General.
But what will happen if a boxer prefers the limelight to the daily grind of India camps with almost no facilities?
"Boxers must play for a certain number of years before we allow them to come to WSB. It is not that a raw boxer of 17-18 years will be permitted," adds Colonel Raja.
So the likes of Akhil Kumar and Vijender have a tough choice to make. But while they decide over their next move, the sport is sure to experience an unprecedented facelift.
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