The Return of Iron Fists

Their unique boxing styles won them many medals and fans across the country. India’s two top boxers, Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar, are set to step into the ring as professionals, following in the footsteps of fellow pugilist Vijender Singh.

- Priyanka Sharma

The ring has been his comfort zone for the past 22 years. You could see it in Akhil Kumar’s face as he posed for the photo shoot at the Sehat World fitness centre in Dwarka, New Delhi. The centre has a training ring besides the latest fitness equipment and the 35-year-old boxer, who looks heavier and older, displayed his favourite punches while junior partner Jitender Kumar and a handful of trainees cheered him from the corners.

This is something the duo has been doing of late—posing punches for the media—and they are enjoying the limelight again. Their decision to turn professional has brought the focus back on them. They were the golden boys of Indian boxing back in 2008. The memories of their famous wins against top-ranked pugilists—then World No. 1 Sergey Vodopyanov and Uzbekistan’s Tulashboy Doniyorov, among others—in the 2008 Beijing Olympics have been revived. Their performances created quite a flutter. But the spotlight decisively swung away from them after Vijender Singh made history by bagging the first Olympic medal in the sport for India. The Bhiwani Bomber became the toast of the nation along with Abhinav Bindra, who went two shades better than Vijender’s bronze by claiming gold in the 10m Air Rifle event.