Anthony Pettis to Box Neeraj Goyat in India on Jan. 23

Anthony Pettis will face Neeraj Goyat in a six-round boxing match on Jan. 23, 2027, in India. Most Valuable Promotions announced the 154-pound matchup, which will headline "Goyat vs. Pettis: The Indian Uprising," a card presented by IPBL Boxing and sanctioned by the Indian Boxing Council.

The host city has not been finalized. Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Chennai are all under consideration, with a decision expected in November.

Why Pettis Is Taking This Fight

Anthony Pettis has personal motivation tied to his family's history in Indian boxing. His younger brother, Sergio Pettis, lost a unanimous decision to Indian boxer Sabari Jaishankar in Hyderabad in March 2025, and Anthony has talked about wanting to settle that score on the same soil. Speaking about the matchup with Goyat, Pettis said, "I have seen what Indian fighters can do, and Neeraj is the best of them. That is who I want."

Pettis, a former WEC lightweight champion and UFC lightweight champion, has split his two professional boxing outings. He beat Roy Jones Jr. by majority decision in his boxing debut at Gamebred Boxing 4 in April 2023, then dropped a decision to Chris Avila on the Diaz vs. Masvidal boxing card roughly a year later. That loss to Avila is his most recent combat sports appearance before this booking.

Who Is Neeraj Goyat

Neeraj Goyat is a 34-year-old former WBC Asia champion who holds a professional record of 21-4-2 with 9 knockouts and has fought internationally for more than a decade. He signed with Most Valuable Promotions in 2024 and most notably beat Brazilian influencer Whindersson Nunes by unanimous decision on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. This fight brings him back to compete in front of an Indian crowd in what promoters are billing as part of the biggest card in the country's boxing history.

Betting Angle

No official line has been posted yet, but the framing of this fight tells bettors plenty. Pettis is the bigger name and the more accomplished combat sports athlete overall, but he is 1-1 as a boxer and coming off a decision loss to Chris Avila, a fighter without Pettis's MMA pedigree. Goyat is a career boxer with a much deeper résumé in the sport itself and will have the crowd and the canvas on his side. Expect Pettis to open as a modest favorite on name value and UFC history, but sharp bettors will want to see how the six-round distance and the scoring judges in India factor in before trusting a short price. This is a crossover style fight, and those have been unpredictable on the scorecards before.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Anthony Pettis vs. Neeraj Goyat?

Anthony Pettis is scheduled to box Neeraj Goyat on Jan. 23, 2027, in a six-round, 154-pound bout in India.

What is Anthony Pettis's professional boxing record?

Anthony Pettis is 1-1 in professional boxing, with a majority decision win over Roy Jones Jr. in 2023 and a decision loss to Chris Avila in 2024.

What is Neeraj Goyat's boxing record?

Neeraj Goyat is a former WBC Asia champion with a professional record of 21-4-2, including 9 knockouts.