Antony "Pépe" Varghese Becomes First Indian Actor to Receive Professional Boxing License

LockerRoom Team

26 Jan 2025

Malayalam film actor Antony "Pépe" Varghese made history on January 22 by becoming the first Indian actor to receive a professional boxing license from the Kerala Boxing Council (KBC), which is affiliated with the Indian Boxing Council (IBC) and, in turn, the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Varghese, widely recognized for his roles in Malayalam cinema, was officially presented with his boxing license during a ceremony at the Ernakulam Press Club. The event was attended by KBC President Joyi George and Secretary Wajid Sait. The actor expressed his enthusiasm for starting this new journey in professional sports.

The 24-year-old actor is set to make his professional boxing debut on January 26, 2025, at the Lulu Mall in Edappally, Kochi. His opponent will be Achu Baby John, a film producer and the producer of the upcoming movie Daveed. This highly anticipated match will be for a title belt recognized by the Kerala Boxing Council, marking a milestone in both Varghese's boxing and cinematic careers.

As the first actor to receive a professional boxing license under the auspices of the IBC and WBC, Varghese’s entry into the sport is seen as a major step in popularizing boxing in India. Fans from both the film and sports communities are eagerly anticipating the match, which promises to be a thrilling event.