28 June,2017 10:32 AM IST | | Rohan Koli
Indian ace promises to send Zulpikar Maimaitiali packing on Aug 5
India's star boxer Vijender Singh has promised to beat the living daylights out of China's Zulpikar Maimaitiali in Battleground Asia, a special fight night, at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Worli on August 5.
The fight will see two titles on the line - Vijender's WBO Asia Pacific Middleweight belt and Zulpikar's WBO Oriental Super Middleweight belt, and is being labelled as Asia's biggest fight.
"Zulpikar is a kid, he's just 22. He's just entered professional boxing and has a lot to learn. He is young and has only fought with new boys. It'll be an easy fight for me. He does not have the impressive record that I have. He's just OK. Boxing is a very brutal sport and I will show him what real boxing is," Vijender told mid-day at a city hotel yesterday on the sidelines of the announcement of the big fight being promoted by Delhi-based IOS Boxing Promotions.
Interestingly, both Vijender and Zulpikar are undefeated in eight professional fights and made their pro debut in the same year (2015). However, the Indian has fought a total of 30 rounds, six more than Zulpikar's 24.
The Chinese fighter was up to the tall talk too. "It's very useless of Vijender to say all this. I will knock him out and break millions of Indian hearts on August 5," he said. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Indian, a 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal-winning boxer, said he feels no pressure of fighting in front of a vociferous home crowd and instead thrives on it. "I'm confident I won't let down my fans in Mumbai," said Vijender, who returns to Manchester tomorrow to continue his preparations with trainer Lee Beard.
India cricket legend Sachin
Tendulkar was yesterday given the first ticket of the fight night that will also see 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medalist Akhil Kumar and Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist Jitender Kumar making their professional debuts.
