It takes winners to sell a sport. In July this year, Indian pro boxing found its redeemer in Vijender Singh. The weigh-in, stare down and trash-talk ahead of his victory on home turf against Australias Kerry Hope, lent it character and swagger. A defeat could have possibly changed the dynamics. Irrevocably.Feeding off the success, the pro dream now stands on the cusp of turning into a bigger eventuality for Indian boxers. With Olympians Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar being the latest to join the pro circuit, five more Indian boxers, it is learnt, will follow suit within the next fortnight.Terming it a natural progression for amateur boxers, Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS) CEO and managing director Neerav Tomar, India promoters of the reigning WBO Asia Pacific champion Vijender Singh, says that the idea is to create a complete ecosystem for pro boxing in the country. The concept is modelled on the idea of star fighters, says Tomar, To have Vijender, whos the biggest name in Indian boxing and now Akhil and Jitender on board, is an indicator of the potential pro boxing has in India.Set to contest as undercards in Vijender Singhs next fight night in India by the end of this year, Akhil and Jitender, Tomar feels, are names who can bring in the numbers. Its great that all three of us who were at the Beijing Games are now coming together in the pro circuit, says Akhil, It will be a new experience for me and Im really excited.Having won the Commonwealth Games bantamweight gold medal in 2006, Akhil, 35, lost in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Games two years later and was last seen in action at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Jitender, 28, on the other hand, hasnt stepped into a competitive ring since 2010-11. Both, however, beat some strong opponents at the 2008 Games before their eventual loss.A great step in the Indian boxing sphere by @IOSBoxing, @Akhilkumarboxer and @imboxerjitender turn pro!- Mary Kom (@MangteC) 26 October 2016The financial lucre attached to joining the pro ranks is undeniable. With a steadily increasing number of boxers taking the pro route, the world boxing parent body, AIBA, as a workaround, floated its own pro boxing competition - APB - which allows boxers to turn pro while remaining under the patronage of their respective national federations and staying eligible to participate in continental championships. The economics involved in the APB though scarcely match up to even a fraction offered by global leagues. Currently, non APB pro boxers are not allowed to participate in Asian or Commonwealth Games. This year though, in a major step, the AIBA made provision for pro boxers to participate at the Olympics through qualifiers.?Akhil, known to have an open-guarded stance, says his style and preparation would differ largely from that of his amateur days. The gloves are smaller (8 ounce instead of 10 ounce used in amateur boxing) which makes the punches harder, faster and more penetrative, says Akhil, Boxers like Sugar Ray Leonard and Amir Khan have been successful on the pro circuit despite their open stance style. So that gives me hope. Only once training sessions begin would I get a clearer idea of how I can condition my style to suit a pro fight.Observing that Akhil should go conservative in the first few fights to build on confidence, Tomar says hes certain of most Indian boxers eventually making the pro switch. In terms of stardom, money, recognition and the worldwide opportunity to keep fighting on a regular basis, its unparalleled. Pro boxing is a promoter-driven sport. Its a lot like producing a film, he says.A pro boxer begins with four-round bouts which incrementally rise with experience, with the upper limit being 12 rounds. Boxers are paid on per fight basis with their opponents being decided upon and contracts inked and signed well in advance by promoters. Matchmaking is, in fact, one of the most strategic and carefully weighed decisions taken by promoters, the idea being to underscore their fighters star status and ensure an unbeaten record.Well before Vijender, Indias V Devarajan, a World Cup bronze medallist,?made a foray into professional boxing in the 90s; an experience the 42 year-old recalls with a measure of fondness and a tinge of hurt. Terming it a positive trend, Devarajan adds that the pro culture would help build a distinct brand, identity and following for the sport. I moved to England to turn pro and realized that it was a whole different world from amateur boxing. Sparring with pro boxers while an amateur helped me improve my footwork since theyre hard hitters, he says, Money is all that matters in the pro circuit. The boxers welfare isnt a major priority for managers. I suffered some pretty serious injuries but wasnt even enquired about. As long as youre winning its great, once you lose, youre as good as a race horse with a broken leg, waiting to be shot.Agreeing that a lot was pinned on the outcome of Vijenders July bout in New Delhi this year, Tomar says its important for the Beijing Olympics bronze medalist, whos won six of his seven bouts so far by Knock Outs, to extend his winning streak for the interest in pro boxing in the country to peak.We are riding on one mans superstardom. DaMarcus Beasley Jersey . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. Tim Ream Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. http://www.usasoccerauthority.com/timothy-weah-usa-jersey/ .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Juan Agudelo Jersey . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. John Brooks USA Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For most Big Ten Conference football teams, a step-down game is one to put in the win column.After being blown out by now No. 8 Washington in Chris Ashs coaching debut at Rutgers, its hard to know what to expect when the Scarlet Knights face Howard on Saturday.Rutgers did not play well in dropping a 48-13 decision to the Huskies. They trailed 24-0 after the first quarter, 34-3 at the half and 48-3 after three quarters.Howard will be playing its second straight Big Ten foe. It opened with a 52-13 loss to Maryland in a game it trailed 42-0 after three quarters.Howard gives us as a program another opportunity to go out and show that were improving, and weve got to go out and compete to show that we came back from last Saturday, Ash said.Since taking the Rutgers job, Ash has insisted that rebuilding the program isnt solely about wins and losses.What drives me is to get a team of individuals, coaches and players to go out and try to perform to our potential, he said. Did that happen Saturday? No, it did not, and thats what Im really disappointed about. Do I hope we win every game? Absolutely, and thats what we want and thats what everybody wants, but at the end of the day -- at the start of it, I want us to be a program that goes out and performs to our full potential every chance that we get.Howard coach Gary Harrell said his team had chances against Maryland early and did not make the plays.You have to play better and you limit the mistakes if you want to get the results that you ultimately want, Harrell said of playing teams in a higher category.LAVIANO IN CHARGEChris Laviano won the starting job as Rutgers quarterback and thats not changing after an up-and-down performance against Washington.dddddddddddd.Ash stressed that Laviano has to protect the ball better. He put it in jeopardy while running and again when he was under a pass rush.He put the ball in harms way, and he needs to get that fixed, Ash said. Thats a big deal. We talked a lot about that in the decision making process to name Chris the starter. Chris has earned the right to be the starter here based on what hes done from spring and summer and through training camp, but he needs to protect the football.GOOD STARTHoward receiver Kyle Anthony was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rookie of the week. The 6-foot-3 freshman from Miramar, Fla. caught a game-high 7 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Maryland. Two of his other receptions went for first downs.LAST DANCEThis will be the final game between Rutgers and Howard for the foreseeable future. The Big Ten Conference frowns on its football teams playing against FCS opponents, and Rutgers will no longer play the Bison. Its last game against an FCS team will be next season versus Morgan State.Rutgers has won each of the previous four games against Howard by a combined 165-39 margin. All games have been played in Piscataway, with the last one ending in a 38-25 win.PRESIDENTIAL MEETINGPresident Barack Obama spoke at three college commencements last spring: Air Force, Rutgers and Howard.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '