Sikh-Canadian boxer Sukhdeep Singh Chakria maintained his IBA Intercontinental Middleweight title last Saturday by defeating Mexican journeyman Juan Carlos (The Mole) Raygosa. Chakria headlined the professional boxing card put on by United Boxing Promotions at the CAA Centre in Brampton on Saturday night and the promising middleweight was all business in the ring where he triumphed over Raygosa.

BRAMPTON – Sikh-Canadian boxer Sukhdeep Singh Chakria maintained his IBA Intercontinental Middleweight title last Saturday by defeating Mexican journeyman Juan Carlos (The Mole) Raygosa.

Chakria headlined the professional boxing card put on by United Boxing Promotions at the CAA Centre in Brampton on Saturday night and the promising middleweight was all business in the ring where he triumphed over Raygosa.

Like many boxers, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a huge damper on Chakria’s career. His last bout was way back on Feb.22, 2020, when he earned a unanimous decision over Jamaica’s Richard Holmes. 

COVID-19 has hit boxing as hard as any sport. Gyms were forced to shut down. Sparring partners were almost impossible to come by. Chakria has had no fewer than three fights cancelled since the Holmes fight because of cards being put on ice by COVID. 

But finally, the native of Chakar, in the Indian state of Punjab, got to put his last 22 months of training to the test against Raygosa, 17-18-3. Since turning pro in 2018, Chakria has recorded eight straight wins, three by knockout.

The 29-year-old fighter, who switches between orthodox and southpaw during fights, came to Canada after an excellent amateur career in India, which saw him pile up victories, earnings wins at the 2012 Senior National Championships and 2011 Boxing Super Cup, reported Toronto Sun.

Hailing from a humble agricultural background, Chakria started boxing in 2006 at an academy in his home village and was soon training with the Indian national team.

“Bold and fearless are the words that best describe Sukhdeep,” said Indian team coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu after Chakria emerged on the national scene. “He is very quick on his feet and throws amazing combinations of punches which are enough to unsettle any boxer.”

Since turning pro in Canada and hooking up with Toronto-based trainer Ryan Grant, Chakria has established himself as a rising middleweight star.                                                                      

 “He’s a very great prospect,” said Grant. “He’s maturing as a fighter. He’s really dynamic, very versatile … I don’t want to say flamboyant, but he’s a crowd-pleaser. He walks into the ring with his hands up like he’s already won the fight. But if you know the kid, he doesn’t have an ounce of cockiness in him.

“He’s got all the right attributes to make it to the world level, it’s just a matter for us to get him there,” added Grant.

Chakria’s wish-list as a boxer is to fight for a Canadian title, then go after the Commonwealth crown and, in a few years, get a title shot and win a world championship. In the meantime, the boxing world is hoping that there are no more COVID-19 interruptions. Grant called the layoff between fights brutal for Chakria.

 “It’s incredibly frustrating,” said the trainer. “When the pandemic first hit, they didn’t even want you in the gym. And if you had to be in the gym, you had to be with a certain circle of guys. You couldn’t spar because there weren’t any guys to spar with in the gym, so it was terrible. Thank God things have opened up.”

To his fighter’s credit, Grant said he had no trouble keeping Chakria motivated during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

With Files Courtesy Toronto Sun