Our Reporter
Dimapur, Nov. 26 (EMN): The Combat Academy (TCA) has produced five professional fighters to its credit in the persons of Avizo Lanamai, Arsenba Ozukum, Kekhrieneitso Angami, Sarita Rathod and Mairidin Newmai.
While Avizo Lanamai, Arsenba Ozukum, and Kekhrieneitso Angami have fought in the professional category, Sarita Rathod and Mairidin have recently signed professional contract. This was disclosed by the coach of TCA, Khriemelie Metha, during a media briefing on Saturday.
Metha informed how amateur fighters ascend into professional fighters basing on their performances during fight by signing contract with professional companies.
“Amateur fight competition is like a resume where you are building experience. It is during amateur fight where the professional companies will look at you and if they like your style, they will offer you your professional contract and the moment you do a professional bout you will no longer do amateur again but become professional athlete,” he explained.
He shared professional fighters are get paid to fight and even their travel expenses or hospital bills, if injured, were taken care of by the companies.
He updated that the academy would open a new training centre in Sovima village in January 2023. He informed that it would be among the biggest gym in India with cage and full size boxing ring.
He also shared that the Academy is currently sponsoring 13 athletes from Manipur, Meghalaya and one from Maharashtra.
It may be mentioned that on November 18, Lanamai and Ozukum competed at Matrix Fight Night (MFN) in Dubai. While Ozukum withdrew due to an injury, Lanamai won the fight.