BFI appoints Warburton as sub-junior coach

New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on Friday appointed John Warburton as sub-junior coach with an aim to develop the sport at the grassroots level.

Warburton, whose coaching career has spanned nearly four decades, has been actively involved with the sport in England since 1984. He is currently heading boxing at JSW’s Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, Karnataka.

His expertise has played a vital role in the development and progression of Indian pugilists such as Manju Bamboriya, Manisha Moun and Nishant Dev.

“We at BFI are proud to have Warburton to nurture young talent and guide them At BFI it is our mission to not only encourage excellence at the highest level of Indian boxing but also ensure we can have similar levels of training at the grassroots level too and unearth more talents and create a strong talent pool,” said BFI secretary-general Hemanta Kalita.

Warburton’s appointment is part of a strategic partnership between BFI and JSW.

Warburton gained recognition and popularity through his work with the senior men’s England team, where he worked with Olympic and world medallists such as Audley Harrison, Amir Khan, James DeGale, David Haye, and Carl Froch.

Some notable names among his proteges include Callum Smith and Antony Bellew, who have made their mark on the international stage.

Warburton had joined the England national team as a youth development and performance coach in 2010 and since then has contributed significantly in preparing numerous boxers who excelled in the Commonwealth Games, European and World Championships as well as the Olympics.