“When you train hard, the fight can be easy”
Now aiming to become a boxing world champion, 24-year-old Karthik Sathish spoke about the ins and outs of the sport, boxing’s growing popularity in India, his experiences in the ring, and more.
Boxing is a one-punch sport—a jab here, a duck there—from being completely unpredictable. Perhaps this unpredictability is what urges the boxers to continue the fight despite all risks and odds.
Karthik Sathish, a Bengaluru-based professional boxer is one such fighter. Sathish who started his journey as a boxer at the age of 11 lives and breathes the sport. His journey in boxing began almost by accident: while playing cricket with his friends, Sathish was introduced to a boxing coach, joined the ring out of curiosity, and never looked back.
In 2009, he won his first national level championship in the sub-junior category. After a decade in amateur boxing, Sathish went on to make a debut in professional boxing in Thailand in 2019. He has boxed at several international professional boxing championships held in different countries like Philippines, Dubai, Sri Lanka and Bangkok. He also recently won at the ‘Battle on Ship’ championship held in Goa in March 2021. Currently, he holds a 7-0 record to his credit and is India’s third-placed professional boxer in the light-weight rankings.
Now aiming to become a world champion, the 24-year-old spoke to The Chakkar on the ins and outs of boxing, his experiences in the ring, the growing popularity of the sport and India, and more. Edited excerpts:
The Chakkar: COVID-19 has disrupted everyone’s lives. Could you tell us how the pandemic has affected boxing in particular?
Sathish: The pandemic has affected all sportspersons alike. Matches have been either postponed or cancelled due to the lockdown and travel ban. Had there been no pandemic, I could have been at the Asian championship. As the gyms are closed, it has become difficult to do proper workout and stay in shape. I used to participate in at least four to five professional matches in a year but due to the pandemic—but I could do only one match last year and one this year. I was supposed to be in Dubai for a world championship in June, but I am not sure if I’d be able to go, as flights are cancelled, and I do not want to go without proper preparation.
“It is better for a boxer to have a financial backup. I used to struggle a lot initially as I didn’t have good sponsors and promoters. I had to skip meals and survive on juice and water on alternate days so that I could save money to send home.”
But the pandemic has also taught a lot too. It gave me time to plan my future.
The Chakkar: Let’s talk about the sport. How can one get into boxing? When should one start learning the sport to become a professional boxer?
Sathish: There is no particular age to start learning to box. But yes, the sooner you start, the better, as it gives you more time to make mistakes and learn from them. I started learning when I was 11-years-old and that helped me gain more knowledge and exposure. I met and played against several players and learned a lot from them. I struggled and failed several times in the initial days of boxing and that helped me get better at the sport. When you train hard, the fight can be easy.
The Chakkar: What is the process for taking the next step—getting from amateur boxing into the professional realm of the sport?
Sathish: If one is interested in boxing, he or she should join a boxing club in their district. Once you start playing well, the district club will shortlist you to play at the state and national level. They’ll help you to register with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), and you can go to play international tournaments. It is best to gain most experience while being an amateur boxer. There is no age limit to get into professional boxing. Professional boxing is mostly organised by private organisations in India. And, it has six rounds, unlike just three in the amateur boxing. I would suggest to play maximum amateur matches as that can give you great exposure and learning, and helps you gain more strength and stamina.
The Chakkar: What are the qualities that one needs to be a good boxer? How can they choose their boxing technique that can best suit them?
Sathish: You need to be a work hard and smart. Hard work isn't enough. Boxing isn’t just a physical game, but also a mental game. You need to understand the strategy of your opponent and plan your move accordingly. With more experience, you improve your skills.
I am good at defence and counter-attack. Anyone can hit a person but it is difficult to miss an attack from the opponent. I see an opportunity and hit back. But I cannot rely on just these techniques. One needs to be good at footwork, attack and also defence.
The Chakkar: American professional boxer Heather Hardy in an interview with The Guardian recently said she was a world champion and yet she could not use boxing as her full-time job, as she had to pay her bills. Do you think boxing in India pay enough to make a comfortable living?
Sathish: You get recognition and pay until you play the sport. But of course, you cannot rely completely on boxing for your financial support. It is difficult to earn by just boxing. You get cash prize in professional boxing championships when you win. But that may not suffice to support you throughout the year.
It is better for a boxer to always have a financial backup. I studied and now, work as a personal fitness trainer as I need to support my family too. My mother was the only breadwinner in the family for a few years and I had to send money home in Chennai. I used to struggle a lot initially as I didn’t have good sponsors and promoters. I remember I had to skip meals and survive on juice and water on alternate days so that I could save some money and send home.
The Chakkar: What are the other challenges that you can face as a boxer?
Sathish: Managing time can be a challenge if you are juggling between work and boxing, while also maintaining a proper diet and nutrition. You need to have a proper schedule and appropriate amount of sleep because rest is very important too.
The Chakkar: Boxing is said to be a ‘one-punch game’, and that one punch can cause serious harm to both you or your opponent. It can lead to coma, severe brain injury and even death. A few months ago, an 18-year-old boxer Rashed Al-Swaisat [from Jordan] succumbed to injuries he sustained during the AIBA Youth World Championships in Poland. Boxing is of course an extremely dangerous sport. So how do you ensure to avoid any accidents? And what is it about boxing that fascinates you so much that despite all risks and dangers, you still get back to the ring?
Sathish: There are risks everywhere, just as in boxing. You cannot get into the ring thinking about the risks and possible accidents. Like they say, Darr ke aage jeet hai (beyond fear, lies victory). All you can do is avoid those risks by following the rules in the ring. You need to stay aware throughout the 80 seconds of each round in the competition. You need to stay alert and focus on what your opponent is doing or what you are doing and how you can defend yourself. Accidents and severe injuries are very rare. If the referee feels the game is getting extremely dangerous, he can call the match off. The player can also walk out if he feels a threat to his life. Injuries like nosebleeds and ligament tears are quite common, but when you go back to the ring after recovery and your hand is held up in the air, you feel victorious. That gives a high and is definitely the best boxing moment for me.
The Chakkar: How has the sport evolved over the years?
Sathish: Boxing has changed a lot. It is gaining more recognition now. When I first started off and came back home with gold medals winning the national championships which is equivalent to the Ranji Trophy in cricket, my friends and family would only congratulate me a little. Back then, cricket was all that mattered to them.
But now, with more media covering the sport, there is more awareness. More players, other than Vijender Singh and Mary Kom, are getting the limelight. The sport has become more organised too.
Earlier in 2012, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had banned the BFI due to officers being accused of corruption. It was a very sad state and I remember me and other players being disappointed as we could not wear jersey and represent India at the Youth World Boxing Championships in Bulgaria in 2014. We had to play under the flagship of International Boxing Association (AIBA).
But things have changed now. The field of boxing has become more organised and professional and it’s been evident as India has been producing great boxers now.
The Chakkar: What do you think needs to be done to take boxing to next level in India, by boxers, clubs, sponsors/organisers and government?
“You need to remember that boxing is just a sport or a self-defence mechanism. I was being trained well and I would avoid any street fights by walking away when someone would try to provoke me in the local by-lanes of Chennai where I first started learning boxing.”
Sathish: I think the better, more qualified should be given more opportunities. Opportunities should be given to those who deserve it, and not based on a certain reference or if they come from a well-known boxing club. There is nepotism in boxing as well. I have lost a chance to play at the national level initially because I did not come from a prominent club in Tamil Nadu.
The government should also recognise professional boxing in India. It’s only in Mizoram where the state government supports professional boxing. It should actually be the case in all states.
The Chakkar: Are there enough good coaches for boxing in India?
Sathish: There are good boxing coaches in India, and the ratio of boxing coach and students is also good. I have had the chance to train under some best coaches like Kamal Mujtaba and Ronald Simms. They are aware of the advancements in the sport and made me realise how to study boxing. It is not just about hard work and techniques. You need to study your opponent. When I learn who my opponent will be about 10 days before the match, I sit down and write notes on his techniques and study them to understand how can I fight them. There are many coaches yet who are old-school, and I would request them to upskill themselves in the sport as it would not just help them but also their students.
The Chakkar: India won a record seven gold medals at Youth Boxing World Championships in Poland, and it was Indian women boxers’ best performance at the youth championships. The championship saw an overall participation of eight Indian boxers and seven of them were women. Do you see an equal or more opportunity for Indian women in boxing opening up, especially after this performance?
Sathish: Women’s boxing is really coming up well. India has been producing great women boxers like Laishram Sarita Devi, and Lovlina Borgohain, and of course, Mary Kom. Also, there is equal support for women in boxing, I would say. I haven’t heard or seen any discrimination in boxing, in terms of sponsorships or nutrition or facilities.
The Chakkar: Beyond fighting in the ring itself, what are the other career opportunities one can have in the sport?
Sathish: There are many career opportunities for a boxer apart from the game itself. They can get a government job, say in railways, through sports quota. One can also upskill themselves and become a fitness trainer or a boxing coach.
The Chakkar: Could you tell us about the diet and counselling for a boxer? How important are they? What is a basic diet that a boxer should follow?
Sathish: Counselling and diet are an integral part of the sport. You need to stay mentally strong and be able to control your emotions. You do face lot of challenges in the sport and life. And my sports psychologist helps me do that. You face mood swings, you feel anxious sometimes and at other times, extremely low. So, you need support and also, with experience, you understand better how to handle your anger and other emotions, and be able to focus on the sports. Many think you might get into street fighting if you are a boxer and that can happen too. But you need to remember that boxing is just a sport or a self-defence mechanism. Luckily, I was being trained well and I would avoid any street fights by walking away when someone would try to provoke me in the local by-lanes of Chennai where I first started learning boxing.
Diet is important too. You should avoid junk food completely, especially when you are preparing for a match. I include maximum protein and minerals, and minimum carbs in my diet. I eat raw veggies and green vegetables.
The Chakkar: Boxing has gained popularity as a fitness workout, and you are a trainer too. Could you tell us a bit about boxing as a workout for fitness? How effective is it and how does it help?
Sathish: Boxing is one of the finest fitness exercises. Many fitness enthusiasts are taking up boxing as it is easy to learn and also help conditioning your entire body. It helps you burn calories and burn fat without weightlifting. One needs to just have their fist up and hit forward into the bag or air. It works as a great stress buster too.
The Chakkar: What has boxing taught you?
Sathish: Boxing has taught me discipline and to fight challenges in life. When you get injured in a fight and get back in the ring later, you realise that you matter what you will survive. You can completely relate boxing to your life problems. When the life challenges hit you hard on your face, quite literally, you learn to face and overcome it. It teaches you not to give up.
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Akhila Damodaran is a freelance journalist, content writer and travel blogger based out of Bengaluru. She has about six years of experience in journalism, covering civic issues, education, health, history, food, art and culture, travel and more for national dailies including the The New Indian Express. You can find her on Twitter: @akhila_damodar and Instagram: @akhi_india.
