Manchester: Lot of surprise, some skepticism and a few brickbats followed his decision to quit amateur boxing and star Indian pugilist Vijender Singh will look to live upto the unprecedented hype when he makes his eagerly-awaited professional debut against Britain&rsquo;s Sonny Whiting here today.
Also read: <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/with-an-indian-mindset-brit-accent-vijender-singhs-ready-for-pro-debut/16593173" target="_blank">With an Indian mindset, Brit accent, Vijender Singh's ready for pro debut</a>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/oct/10viju-final.jpg" alt="" /> India&rsquo;s Vijender Singh faces off with Sonny Whiting during weigh-in ceremony on the eve of his first professional fight in Manchester yesterday
The 29-year-old, who scripted history as an amateur by becoming India&rsquo;s first Olympic and World Championships medallist, is all set to begin a new chapter in his illustrious boxing career. In his debut middleweight pro bout, the strapping six-footer faces a cocky opponent in Whiting, who has promised to put him &lsquo;through hell&rsquo;. The 26-year-old from Rochester is three-bouts old in the circuit and has a 2-1 win-loss record.
Despite the verbal provocations, Vijender has remained his usual composed self and has promised to answer every threat with his punches in the ring.
&ldquo;I am totally focussed and waiting for the right moment to reply in the ring. I am not at all bothered by his comments. I will reply with my punches,&rdquo; Vijender said on the eve of the bout. Vijender, who signed up with Queensberry Promotions in July, is not the first Indian to enter the professional arena&nbsp;with the likes of Gurcharan Singh and Pradeep Sihag having been a regular in the circuit earlier. However, never before has an Indian boxer&rsquo;s professional debut generated this kind of hype.&nbsp;This can largely be attributed to his equally unprecedented success as an amateur boxer, a highlight of which was becoming the world number one in middleweight at one stage.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/oct/10Sonny-Whiting.jpg" alt="" /> Sonny Whiting
The Haryana-lad would be walking in to a couple of thumping Punjabi songs &mdash; &lsquo;Singh is King&rsquo; and &lsquo;Singh is Bling&rsquo; &mdash; and would look to make sure that the music keep playing at the end of the four round that he will fight today.
&ldquo;I am looking forward to a winning start. I am not under&nbsp;any pressure, I am taking this as a responsibility. My performance in professional boxing will open new hopes for young Indian boxers. My strategy is to go in and hit very hard,&rdquo; he said. Vijender is training under renowned trainer Lee Beard,&nbsp;who is mighty impressed with the Indian&rsquo;s technical knowledge and power.

Vijender Singh determined to ignore Brit Sonny Whiting&rsquo;s pre-bout tall talk; says, &lsquo;I am totally focussed and waiting for the right moment to reply in the ring&rsquo;

Will Vijender 'Singh be king' in pro debut tonight?

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Vijender Singh determined to ignore Brit Sonny Whiting&rsquo;s pre-bout tall talk; says, &lsquo;I am totally focussed and waiting for the right moment to reply in the ring&rsquo;

Will Vijender 'Singh be king' in pro debut tonight?

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Will Vijender 'Singh be king' in pro debut tonight?

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