Nishant Dev, the 24-year-old Olympian from a small village in India, has already carved a unique path in the boxing world. As the fourth Indian to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Dev achieved a major milestone by advancing to the Round of 16 in the men’s welterweight (71kg) category. But sadly for the young Southpaw, he lost to Mexico’s Marco Verde by a 1-4 decision. Nevertheless, Dev put the disappointment aside and made headlines when his leap of faith to reach out to Matchroom head honcho Eddie Hearn directly worked, and he was signed to a professional contract by the British promotion at the beginning of 2025.

The 24-year-old is now preparing to enter his first professional bout against Alton Wiggins on the undercard of Diego Pacheco vs. Steve Nelson tomorrow at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. With this Dev has not only become the first Indian to sign with Matchroom Boxing but also the first Indian to make his professional boxing debut in the US. Ahead of the bout, Dev sat down for an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports and recalled his one and only direct interaction with Eddie Hearn

Eddie Hearn was following Nishant Dev’s Olympic journey closely

During the interview, the host Andrew Whitelaw asked Nishant Dev about his experience meeting the British promoter and the latter’s grand plans for him. The Karnal, Haryana native revealed that he had met the promoter only once, but it was a wholesome interaction. “He really likes me. I have met once, and he was a very kind person,” recounted Dev. The 24-year-old also appreciated the way Hearn offered his full support and appreciated the latter’s dedication towards boxing. “He really supports. He really likes the boxer and boxing people,” claimed Nishant Dev, talking about the excitement the promoter has for the sport.

For the 2023 IBA World Championship bronze medalist, signing with Matchroom was a dream come true. However, he was even more surprised when he spoke to Hearn and learned that the 45-year-old was paying close attention to his Olympic run. As a result, all it took was a direct message on Instagram, and voilà, Dev was part of the Matchroom stable. “I tell him about me. ‘I’m from India and I’ve been in Olympics’. So he really, he was like so excited. And it just happened with the Matchroom and when he post like, boom, game changer for this Indian guy to sign with Matchroom,” recalled Dev proudly.

Nishant Dev’s partnership with Matchroom began with a bold move. Instead of waiting for an opportunity, he took the initiative to message Eddie Hearn directly on Instagram—a daring approach for a young Indian that paid off in a big way.

A leap of faith that paid off

After signing with Matchroom, during a conversation with Sportstar, Nishant Dev revealed that his first conversation with Eddie Hearn happened on Instagram. According to the 24-year-old, he bravely dropped a text to Hearn on social media and surprisingly got an immediate response. Recalling the messages, Dev revealed, “He told me he had been interested in working with me for a long time. He understood that although I didn’t win a medal, I had fought well at the Olympics.” 

The Matchroom head honcho had watched Dev’s 2024 Olympic quarterfinal match as well as his qualifier bout against USA’s Omari Jones. Even though the Indian fighter lost both matches, what he showed during the fight was enough to catch Eddie Hearn’s attention. Now, Dev is set to leave his Olympic setbacks behind as he enters the professional ring for the first time. His debut will be a six-round super welterweight contest against Alton Wiggins on a major Matchroom card.

Nishant Dev’s upcoming fight is more than just a milestone in his career; it’s a defining moment for Indian boxing on the global stage. For Eddie Hearn, the decision to sign Dev represents a leap of faith, investing in an unproven but promising prospect. In his exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Dev expressed gratitude for the opportunity and excitement for the journey ahead. So, let’s hope it continues that way.

What are your views on Nishant Dev’s first interaction with Eddie Hearn? Do you think he has what it takes to excel on the big stage? Let us know your thoughts down below.