Suva-based boxer, Krishnil Mudaliar, better known as the “Cobra,” believes he deserves a shot at a new lightweight title. Mudaliar was earlier the holder of both the super Featherweight and lightweight titles but lost them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mudaliar won the lightweight title in March 2020, beating Junior Farzan Ali at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva, just before all contact sports were put on hold due to the pandemic. He asserted that ex-Boxing Commission of Fiji chairman, Dr Subhash Appana, stripped boxers of their titles if they failed to defend them within a six-month period.
Mudaliar stated that his lightweight title was stripped without explanation. He said all titles from all categories, from bantamweight to heavyweight, were taken away if not defended within three to six months.
The lightweight title is now to be contested in Labasa in the South Pacific Boxing Promotion in August, featuring Ubayd Haider and Saimoni Ratu. Mudaliar voiced his displeasure at the old title being continued and called for a new one so he could defend it.
The 35-year-old boxer urged boxing promoters and the Boxing Commission of Fiji to operate within the sport’s rules. He remarked that it wasn’t fair to strip an active title, making it vacant with no justification. He said that he should be given the opportunity to defend his title against whatever challenger emerges.
Mudaliar’s last fight took place in May this year, where he was defeated by Haider at Prince Charles Park in Nadi during the South Pacific Boxing Promotion.