Upstaging The World No 1

22-year-old Nutlai Lalbiakkima from Mizoram made headlines when he bested Hasanboy Dusmatov in the boxing ring.

There are boxers who train with the latest equipment and under the best mentors/ trainers money can afford and then there are boxers, like Nutlai Lalbiakkima, who have to make do with what they have. Born to humble parents who put food on the table by selling fish, Lalbiakkima shocked the world when he beat Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov. Many in the boxing world had never heard of his name before that match, but he did the unthinkable to ensure he stayed in public memory for a long time to come. What is even more surprising than his win, is the road that led up to the win.

Lalbiakkima comes from a humble family that consists of his mother, father, younger brother and younger sister. When he was younger, he had hopes of becoming a footballer but dreams of becoming a boxer started to take shape when he became a fan of LPS Pro Fight, a popular TV show in Mizoram. The show aired in 2009 when he was only 13 years old. Thereafter he started training and was selected by the Mizoram Regional Sports Authority Centre in 2011. His initial training was unlike other boxers, as he couldn’t afford proper equipment, he had to use stones in place of dumbbells. It is this fighting spirit that has got the boxing fraternity talking about this young boxer who is climbing the ladder of success as a result of sheer hard work and tenacity. In an exclusive interview, we find out more about him and his plans.

Tell us a little about yourself

I am the eldest in the family. My parents, who are in Mizoram now, sell fish for a living. I studied from Class I to X in Little Diamond English School in my village, and after the tenth standard, I went to Aizawl for training. I continued my studies, 10+2, through open schooling.