India's professional boxing star Vijender Singh, who is currently undeafeted, justifies the hype ahead of Saturday's WBO Asia title battle against Kerry Hope in Delhi
Vijender Singh
India's boxing star Vijender Singh has won many plaudits across his impressive boxing career — having succeeded at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games — unfurling the tri-colour proudly.
Vijender Singh. Pic/Getty Images
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Come Saturday, July 16, Vijender will be attempting to do the same again. In his seventh fight since turning professional last year, and having knocked out all six of his previous opponents en route, the Bhiwani boxer is confident he can re-write history when he takes on Australian Kerry Hope for the WBO Asia title in a 10-rounder for the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight championship title at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in Delhi.
"Indian (amateur) boxing is in turmoil with no proper federation since the London Olympics. The sport is suffering and so are our boxers. We had eight entries in boxing at London 2012, but only three Indians have managed to qualify for the Rio Olympics. That's the reason I feel this bout is perfectly timed. If I win here, it will will open doors for more boxers to take the professional route which is a promising avenue for us Indian fighters, who are so hardworking. I believe this bout can change Indian boxing for good and it's a huge responsibility on my shoulders," Vijender told mid-day yesterday.
The Beijing Olympics bronze-winning Middleweight fighter is so focused on his own performance on Saturday, that he refuses to dwell much on his opponent Hope, a 34-year-old Welsh-born former WBC middleweight champion. "Whatever his credentials may be, it doesn't matter to me. When I enter the ring, I have to simply do what I know best — punch hard.
"I've heard he's an Australian champion but I'm also India's champion, right," said the 30-year-old Haryanvi. Vijender also has an emotional reason to do well on Saturday. "Muhammad Ali's death (June 3) was like a personal loss to me because he's the reason I took to boxing. This title bout is my first fight since Ali's death and I hope I can make it count for his sake," he signed off.
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