UBO Challenger: Shiva Thakran

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MARCH 13, 2024 / BY BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

Before that he had lost a close decision to undefeated Ping Tai Ng in Hong Kong for a WBC regional title, so when he faced Idd Pialari in his home-town, Bagamoyo in Tanzania, fighting in his opponents back-yard was not a new experience for him.

Pialari was 23-3-1 and Thakran only 6-2, so the Tanzanian was a clear favourite. But just as he did in Hong Kong, Thakran gave the home-man a tough battle in front of a hostile crowd, before losing a unanimous decision (93-97, 92-98, 91-99).

Having lost his first two championship opportunities, it was back to the drawing board for Thakran. It would be almost five years before he got another chance to become a champion, but during that period he went 9-0-1 in India.

He was a decisive underdog again when he travelled to Bangkok, Thailand to face undefeated former UBO world Middleweight champion Adli Hafidz from Malaysia for the vacant WBC Asian Continental Super Middleweight title.

Arguably three weight classes higher than the division he should be fighting in, Thakran pulled off a major upset as he won by eight round technical knockout.

Despite securing the biggest victory of his career and finally winning a title, he decided to move down in weight for his next fight, a challenge for the IBF International Super Welterweight title against champion Emmany Kalombo (16-1) in South Africa three months later.

Thakran lost, returned with a victory before losing to Brit Troy Coleman in another WBC title fight at Middleweight last August, back in Bangkok. His most recent fight, last December, was a win back in India, and at only twenty-eight and with a record of 18-5-1 (9), he has plenty to offer still.