Will India Boxer Shiva Dominate Africa's Kalombo for IBF Int'l Title Win and a Piece of History?

By Carlos Costa

Glory and making history is what Indian super welter Shiva Thakran aims to when he climbs the ring to battle Congolese Knock Out Artist champion “The General” Emmany Kalombo (16-1, 16 KO’s) for the IBF Super Welterweight International Title on Thursday, November 17, at The Galleria Conference & Events in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Should Shiva conquer the day, he’d become the first fighter from India to claim a major title in pro boxing from one of boxing’s four sanctioning bodies.

Will that happen? Will the brave, strong 154-pounder from the City of Gurgaon, near India’s capital New Delhi, defeat the fearsome African slugger to write his name in India’s boxing books?

A number of Indian boxers, such as Mary Kom, Vijender Singh, Laishram Sarita Devi and more have achieved shinning success in amateur boxing, especially during Amateur Boxing World Championships, Asian Games and even in the Olympics.

But Shiva wants to conquer victory an renown in the pro boxing. His immediate focus is on winning not only the coveted major belt, but also a place in the IBF super welterweight world-ranking.

Is Shiva destined to becoming a boxing star for India?

Shiva’s intentions are to ravage the African champion Emmany Kalombo, in the same way he broke down and stopped then unbeaten Malaysian 168-pounder Adli Hafidz (10-1, 6 KO’s) a month ago in Bangkok, Thailand, to capture the vacant WBC Asian Continental Super Middleweight belt.

Fans will find out on November 27 he he could pull the big win off or not, although one truth is crystal clear: there is a huge difference in fighting quality between the African slugger Emmany Kalombo and Shiva’s latest opponent, Adli Hafidz.

Kalombo, trained by Damien Durandt, is by far more a much more skilled, strong and lethal warrior, owner of proven destructive power in both hands.

His devastating power showed off in his impressive round 7 stoppage victory over Kenya’s previously undefeated Rayton Okwiri live on ESPN Africa.

Should one of those explosive blows from Kalombo make impact on Shiva’s chin, the contest could certainly be lights out for the well-trained 27-year-old Indian fighter with dreams of glory.

Therefore, Shiva (16-3-1, 8 KO’s), will not only need colossal punching power to counter-attack Kalombo’s heavy artillery, but also amazing speed, slick defense moves and effective boxing skills.

Does he posses all of that? Will Kalombo’s dangerous, brutal fire power destroy Shiva’s willingness to achieve the riveting success that no other Indian boxer has achieved?

Kalombo vs Shiva’s 12-rounder IBF International Super Welterweight Title battle is promoted in South Africa by promoter Sifiso Shongwe of the Walt Disney Company Africa Proprietary Limited, with the matchmaking effort of Filipino international matchmaker Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotions.

Kalombo vs Shiva November 17 from Johannesburg live on ESPN Africa, a clash that no fan can miss it. May the Best Man Win!

The author, veteran boxing writer Carlos Costa can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and whatsapp +639184538152.