Lovlina Borgohain (Photo Source: X) The opening bell for the World Boxing Championships 2025 will sound on Sept 4 at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, not as a call to nostalgia, but as the signal for a new era in the sport’s global story.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For 10 days, more than 550 boxers from more than 65 nations — including 17 Paris Olympics medallists — will step into the ring, each bout a test of skill, nerve and ambition. Every round advancing one boxer, ejecting another, until on Sept 14, the closing bell will be rung and medallists across 20 weight divisions — 10 for men and 10 for women — will be finalised.The 2025 edition is the inaugural one under new global body, World Boxing, founded in 2023 in response to deepening concerns over the previous IBA (International Boxing Association) regime’s governance and Olympic standing. It’ll be the first time men’s and women’s elite events will be played out together. Previously, IBA held the men’s and women’s world championships separately.ALSO READ: Indian women boxers clear genetic sex testing for eligibilityLovlina, Nikhat to lead India’s chargeIndia’s campaign in Liverpool hinges on the prowess of Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg).Lovlina returns to the international stage after Paris 2024, her presence bearing the weight of expectation and past achievement. Known for her defensive genius and tactical patience, Lovlina’s style counters aggression with clever ring movement and sharp jabs. Her steady leadership and experience will anchor the Indian contingent’s campaign.The world championship will also mark the return of Nikhat to the international arena. She enters the 51kg category charged with confidence and a hunger to add another world title to her resume. Zareen’s versatility, from nimble footwork to punch combinations that define the flyweight division, makes her one of the most-watched boxers in women’s boxing. Her relentless attack and tactical adaptability have previously unsettled top-tier rivals. Beyond Lovlina and Nikhat, the Indian squad boasts seasoned Olympians like Pooja Rani (80kg), Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90+kg), and World Cup gold medallists Hitesh Gulia (70kg) and Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), reflecting a blend of experience and new talent across all weight categories. India will have representatives across all 20 (10 men and 10 women) weight divisions.Global flashpointsAs the championship unfurls, one bold storyline reverberates beyond the ropes — the legal battle by Algerian star Imane Khelif against World Boxing’s genetic testing policy. The Olympic gold medallist, previously celebrated for her triumph over adversity, now finds herself barred from the world stage after refusing mandatory sex verification — a ruling she has appealed against in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).World Boxing’s new eligibility regulations require athletes over 18 to undergo a PCR-based genetic test to verify sex, a move intended to ensure fairness but criticized for its invasive, ambiguous approach. Khelif ’s exclusion has reignited fierce debates over gender, privacy and sporting equity.Another flashpoint leading up to the world championship centres around Taiwanese Olympic boxing gold medallist Lin Yu-ting, who has withdrawn from the tournament citing “procrastinating” response from World Boxing to her gender test submission.Federation in a fluxIndian boxing has been as much about politics as it has been about punches. While the administrators tussled, Indian boxers have pursued their goals with unwavering focus.INDIA SQUADWomen: Meenakshi Hooda (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sanju Khatri (60kg), Neeraj Phogat (60kg), Sanamacha Chanu (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), Nupur Sheoran (80+kg).Men: Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Sachin Siwach Jr (60kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), Jugnoo Ahlawat (85kg), Harsh Chaudhary (90kg), Narender Berwal (90+kg).
