The Art of Boxing, the ‘Susegado Strike’ Way

The second edition of ‘Susegado Strike Fight Night 2.0’, the first-of-its-kind boxing extravaganza in Goa aiming to put the state on the boxing map will see three Goa-based professional boxers – Umesh Chavan, Kailas Gauns and Pralhad Panda – take to the ring, and show the audience the incredible discipline and training that goes into making boxing not just a sport, but an art.

To many non-boxers, boxing can seem a fundamentally aggressive sport. However, to professional boxers like Goa-based Umesh Chavan, Kailas Gauns, and Pralhad Panda, boxing is an art — one that requires incredible mental fortitude and physical excellence that come from years of training and rigorous discipline.

According to 28-year-old Umesh Chavan from Mapusa, who has four professional fights under his belt – two wins, one loss and one draw – and will be fighting for the first time as part of the upcoming second edition of Susegado Strike Fight Night 2.0, boxing is a “disciplined, peaceful sport”.

“Many people start boxing without understanding the commitment it requires. Boxing is not about throwing random punches. It isn’t about fighting for fun or whiling away time. It’s about style, technique and strategy, and requires discipline and dedication,” he expressed.

Of Maharashtrian origin, but born and raised in Goa, Umesh also wears multiple hats as a part-time personal trainer, a bouncer at a local restaurant, and a footballer, and brings strengths from each of these roles to his boxing bouts.

“In 2012, when I took up training in football, I also opted to train as a boxer, the latter of which I did at Pedem, Mapusa. What inspired me to take up boxing was that it is a combination of stamina, strength and endurance, and I liked the challenge it offered,” he said.

Umesh currently has a stringent training schedule at the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), Panjim, overseen by coach Nilesh Khanolkar and trainer Praveen, consisting of six to 10 rounds on the punching bag, six rounds of padwork, and six to 12 rounds of sparring, focusing on strength training, cardio and stamina-
building.

“In addition to evening training sessions, I put in a few hours of morning practice. My primary goal is to improve my stamina and endurance. To retain mental toughness and sharpen my focus, I practice yoga, which helps immensely with control and relaxation. I also maintain a simple diet of rice and dal,” Umesh added.

Susegado Strike fellow boxers Pralhad Panda and Kailas Gauns, have accrued several professional titles to their respective names, and will strike out on their second edition of the Goan boxing extravaganza.

30-year-old Kailas Gauns from Chimbel, who began boxing in 2019, discovered boxing because of a passion for fitness. He also used to watch mixed martial arts on television and saw boxing as the ideal outlet for his energy in a disciplined and focused manner.

“My training regimen consists of daily practice sessions – two hours in the ring at the Indoor Stadium in Campal, 30 minutes at home for further training, including three sets of conditioning exercises. I also idolise Mike Tyson’s fighting style and strategies. I’ve learned a lot from his ability to stay focused, control the pace of a fight and use his strengths to dominate his opponents,” said Kailas.

“Since childhood, I wanted to join the army because of the pride I felt for my nation and intense training involved. I also greatly admire boxing icons Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, and Joe Calzaghe, which inspired me to step into the ring. I study their fights and implement their techniques, creating a combination of styles that benefits my performance, depending on the situation,” said Pralhad.

According to Umesh, Kailas and Pralhad, Susegado Strike as a boxing promotion offers the ideal platform for Goan boxers to display their skills and showcase professional boxing in its full glory, and they are raring to exit the ring, champions.