Sponsors make their way into the ring with the Mumbai Fighters

Sponsors make their way into the ring with the Mumbai Fighters

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MUMBAI: Mumbai Fighters, the Indian boxing team at the World Series of Boxing, has roped in poultry manufacturing brand Venkys as the naming rights sponsor.

The team was formed in September and their first opponents were Milano Thunder of Italy.

VH Group chairperson Anuradha Desai said, "At Venkys, sports have always been a major part of our strategy to ensure that not only do the athletes sportspersons focus on their job, but also to associate with a healthy way of living. This is the first global boxing league and the first and only Indian team in this global league: and for a brand like ours, this seemed like a perfect fit."

Youth fashion brand Provogue is a sponsor and will be dressing up the boxers in their casual and formal wear, hosting a fashion show and upping the profile of the Fighters.

Provogue India deputy MD Salil Chaturvedi said, "We are very excited at the prospect of associating Provogue with the Mumbai Fighters. Globally we have observed that boxing is entertaining, fun and has the glamour. Hence, as a brand we see it as a worthy Association."

Transstadia MD, CEO Udit Sheth said, "We are honoured to have two market leaders in their respective fields who have confirmed our faith in this sports property which we are sure will build over a period of time. Venkys have long been associated with sport and with them coming on board we are sure that the Fighters brand would create the necessary buzz from a marketing perspective".

"It is important for our people in India to see that boxers represent the ultimate in good health and fitness. Combine that with the entertainment and glamour quotient boxing enjoys globally, this is the platform that Provogue have been sharp to recognize. Their clothing will embellish our boxers and the brand substantially."

ESPN Star Sports had earlier come on board as the broadcast partner for the team. Radio Mirchi is the music partner while Showworks is the event solutions partner.

Transstadia said that in a market dominated by cricket, the WSB property has taken its first step to show that Indian domestic boxing packaged with the right amount of exposure will find takers from a marketing perspective.

The USP of the property, the company said, remains in the fact that WSB is one of the few sports leagues in the world that is truly transcontinental in nature.

The Fighters would be pitting their fists and punches against teams from Milan (Italy), Moscow (Russia), Astana (Kazakhstan), Los Angeles (US) and the latest entrant, a franchise from Bangkok.