It’s tough, but I made it, want to go further: Boxer Sura Krishna

In pursuit of his passion from a very young age, boxer Sura Krishna Chakma made headlines around Bangladesh as he was crowned champion in the lightweight division of the recently-concluded 'Xcel presents South Asian Pro Boxing Fight Night - The Ultimate Glory', the first international professional boxing tournament held in the country earlier this week. The boxer from Rangamati's Juraichhari defeated the Nepali champion, who had previously fought two bouts, winning both. He shared his journey of becoming a professional boxer with The Daily Star's Ashfaq Ul Mushfiq. The excerpts are below:

The Daily Star (DS): What were the things you learned initially after first starting as a boxer in BKSP?

Sura Krishna Chakma (SKC): It starts with the basics. We were taught the fundamentals. Offensively, you have moves like jabs, cross punches, uppercuts and hooks. Alongside that, we had to learn to defend, how to slip and roll. Gradually, as we move to the next level, we prepare for matches. But the main focus is always the basics.

DS: You continued boxing alongside your studies. How did you form that habit?

SKC: As a student of BKSP, I formed this habit from a very young age. We had to wake up early in the morning and all the athletes would have breakfast together. Then we went to morning training sessions. Afterwards, we went to classes and then practiced again in the afternoon or evening. We sometimes had classes at night. So before you know it, days and weeks just pass by. At my university, my teachers helped me a lot when I was away for the national-team camps so that I could sit for exams and finish my degrees.

DS: How was your experience at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow? What were the differences in levels and facilities there?

SKC: Of course, there were noticeable differences in the levels and facilities. In my first time, I faced an opponent from New Zealand who had experience of over 20 international bouts. Despite the result not going my way, I had a very close contest with him. Back then we had a coach from Ukraine and he was very good. He trained me very well and enabled me to have a good fight.

DS: What is Sura Krishna Chakma's daily routine?

SKC: When I am in a national camp, my routine starts with waking up around 6:00am. After breakfast, I go to the gym and train. After lunch, we have training sessions in the afternoon. Even on my days off, when I'm not in the camp, I wake up very early. This is a habit I formed from a young age. I try to keep myself active and fit. I play football with my friends at university. I don't stay up late either.

DS: Do you have any pre-match rituals?

SKC: Yes, I listen to music because it helps me focus and get pumped up before fights. I always listen to songs from the boxing movies like Rocky, Southpaw, and Creed. The song "Eye of the Tiger" from Survivors was my anthem. There is a song by a Chakma band that I listen to before every match. When I went to Nepal to take part in a professional fight against an Indian boxer, I listened to our national anthem.

DS: People who follow their passions instead of opting for regular jobs usually encounter a lot of naysayers. When you decided to chase your passion for boxing, which is not a prominent sport in Bangladesh, did you encounter such people?

SKC: My family members have always inspired me since I was young, but there were always some people who would say otherwise. Even in BKSP, there were a few people who would tell me there is no point to boxing because there was not a future in it nor financial security. But I always had confidence in myself and believed in my dreams. I kept working hard and followed my passion. It's true that, in terms of result, I've started to get some success. But in terms of finances, I'm still struggling a lot. It's difficult to maintain fitness and continue training in return for the amount I have earned. If it was a different sport like cricket or football, the same amount of success would have brought me a lot more money.

DS: Who is your favourite boxer? Do you follow anyone's style?

SKC: I don't have a favourite specifically. Growing up, I've always heard about Muhammad Ali, who was not only a great boxer but also a great human being off the ring. He is considered one of the greatest sportspersons of all time. I follow all the great boxers like Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and many more and try to capture the best from them according to what fits my style.

DS: Where do you see yourself in the future?

SKC: The dream has always been to be in the world championship. I want to work hard and go as far as possible. It's difficult, but I have made it this far and I want to go further.