Sura Krishna Chakma is the first professional boxer from Bangladesh, according to boxrec. Kazi Shahadat Hossain had a single pro fight in the late 1980s but there are questions regarding its official recognition. Sura Krishna won all his three pro bouts he has participated in so far. He recently came into the limelight after clinching lightweight title in a tri-nation pro boxing competition in Dhaka. The 28-year old spoke with Dhaka Tribune about his journey in the sport.
How did you start?
I got admitted to Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan in 2007 and started my boxing there. Before that boxing was totally an unknown game to me. I first gave trial for football at BKSP but couldn’t pass.
Why choose boxing?
I liked martial arts during my childhood and watched movies on karate – Bruce Lee, Jet Lee, and stuffs like that. I found BKSP has no karate but boxing. Then I chose boxing. This time I passed the trial.
What did boxing mean to you at the beginning?
My parents wanted me to study well in good environment. BKSP has reputation for both sports and studies. That is why they got me admitted there. But I had no idea that I would become a good boxer.
What did you want then?
I was very young. I was reading in seventh grade. I wanted to play any game as I like sports. I found it good doing both studies and playing.
Did you like playing boxing at that time?
I enjoyed. Although it was unknown game to me, I had curiosity. I learned that this is not an easy game. Boxing is not popular in Bangladesh. When I compared boxing with cricket or football, I felt trivial. I felt inferiority complex about boxing. As boxing has no future, majority students felt the same way.
How did you overcome this inferiority complex?
BKSP certificate has values. I thought If I’m good at education I’ll be able to be in a good position. So I focused on studies. I also played regularly as I had practice in the morning and evening. I was not doing well but when I was in intermediate level, I won my first medal in 2009. It was silver. I first played in senior level in 2011. I beat a boxer from Bangladesh Army in the Victory Day event. I sat for my HSC exams in 2013. Bangladesh Games was held in the same year. I played for Bangladesh Railway and won gold for the first time in senior level. It created a buzz. The man I beat in the first round was a South Asian Games gold-medalist in 2010.
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How did you beat him?
I had HSC exam on that day. I can still remember. Rana Plaza tragedy took place on the same day. I was staying at a hotel in Gulistan. The roads were blocked. It was tough attending the exam and hurrying for the game. I was tired too. Everybody knows my opponent. But I beat him. I played defensively. I was good in defence and he lost in counter.
How much was the impact after triumphing in Bangladesh Games?
The main impact began after that because I was called up to the national team for the first time (2014). I trained for six months under Ukrainian coach Alexander Guriyenko. Then I went to Scotland for Commonwealth Games.
How was the Commonwealth Games?
It was a knockout game. If I lose, I’m out. It was my debut fight in international stage. I was up against Chad Mileness of New Zealand who had experience of playing 72 international matches. I put up a close fight before losing the game. It was a good experience. I got support from the people of my country.
How has this experience helped you?
In 2015, British-Bangladeshi boxer Ali Zeko came to Bangladesh. He held a talent hunt event throughout the country and decided to pick five top boxers to take them to London. I was selected from the trial. I went to London for six months. I was trained in professional boxing.
Was it the beginning of your pro boxing career?
Yes. After I went there, I realized what professional boxing means. The difference is huge compared to Bangladesh regarding training facilities and the life of a boxer. My dreams got bigger. I started dreaming of becoming world champion and Olympic medalist. But things changed after I returned to Bangladesh because we do not have enough facility, no support for boxers, and no sponsors. Federation didn’t want me to go to London. I didn’t listen.
Why did the federation ask you not to go?
The federation wanted to do their own selection. But Ali Zeko wanted to do his own. After I returned from London the federation banned me for two years, 2016-17.
What did you do during your ban?
I was studying in University of Dhaka. I focused on studies. But I regularly practice boxing at university gym with no partner. I trained alone. In 2018, Ali Zeko told me to go to India and train there for six months. I went to India for professional boxing.
Where were you in India?
In Haryana. I went there through Ali Zeko. The training camp was under World Boxing Council. I participated in two fights there and won both of them. It was my professional boxing debut. I became the first professional boxer from Bangladesh.
How did you know that you became the first professional boxer from Bangladesh?
I learned it from boxrec.com. All professional boxers in the world have their profile there. When I became professional boxer, I was the only Bangladeshi there. It’s a legal site for pro boxers. I also know who is involved in boxing. Nobody started professional boxing before me.
What about Kazi Shahadat Hossain who played professional boxing in the 1980s?
Shahadat sir went to Japan to play professional boxing but it was not official. It was not included in boxrec. If it was official, it would have been recorded in boxrec. It’s matter of recognition. Officially, according to boxrec, I’m the first professional boxer from Bangladesh.
Did winning fights in India boost your confidence?
Yes, because I got good opportunities after winning in India. I got called up for the national camp again. Then I participated in the SAG in Nepal in 2019 and won bronze there.
Where do you want to see yourself in future?
Of course, in a good position. I want to improve my ranking but facility in Bangladesh is not good to move ahead. Boxing is expensive. I need to do regular training with good nutrition and food. I need at least Tk 20,000 per month. But where can I get this money? There is no salary in national team. How is it possible? You can’t do boxing with the money from your own pocket. If I get facility, I can participate in World Championship in future. If I don’t get support, how can I progress?
Where do you get your support?
I’m in Bangladesh Ansar team so I got some wages from there. It’s around Tk 15,000. It’s not enough. If we get financial backup, we would progress further. We need financial assurance and sponsor.
Who or what is your inspiration?
I didn’t get inspiration all of a sudden. I came from an ethnic community. I’m representing the country and the indigenous people. It works like inspiration to me.
