Anthony Pettis is headed back to the boxing ring. Sherdog, ESPN and MMA Fighting all report that the former UFC lightweight champion will face Neeraj Goyat in a six round boxing match on January 23, 2027, with the bout set to take place in India.

ESPN describes Goyat as India's top professional boxer, and he's coming off a win over Brazilian comedian turned combat sports curiosity Whindersson Nunes, which he picked up in November 2024. For Goyat, sharing the ring with a name like Pettis is a massive step up in profile, even if the sport is boxing rather than the cage.

Bloody Elbow reports the event is co-promoted by Jake Paul and is being billed as the biggest card in Indian history, which lines up with the growing push to stage major combat sports events in the country. Pettis, who according to reporting from Ag Fight is just a few months shy of turning 40, has spent much of his later career bouncing between MMA, bare knuckle boxing and straight boxing exhibitions, and this latest booking keeps that trend going.

For Pettis, a former UFC champion whose name still carries weight more than a decade after he won the title, this is another paycheck opportunity against an opponent with local star power but far less name recognition on the global stage. For Goyat, it's a shot at exposure most Indian boxers never get, fighting in front of what's being pitched as a historic crowd for the sport in his home country.

The booking has already made its way to r/MMA, where fans are discussing Pettis's latest move back into the boxing ring. Expect more details on the card, including any additional bouts, as January 23 gets closer.