Press Trust of India
Manchester, Sept 29: Star Indian boxer Vijender Singh will square off against rising British pugilist Sonny Whiting in his eagerly-anticipated professional debut scheduled here October 10. Whiting is three bouts old with a 2-1 record.
Vijender stated Tuesday that ‘it won’t be easy’ against Whiting. “I know that my opponent Sonny Whiting will not be an easy first fight. He has already had three bouts so he’ll be prepared. But then, I am also very focussed and determined on what I have to do,” stated the Indian pugilist.
Whiting, who trains under former pro boxer Johnny Greaves, said he is confident of upstaging the celebrated Indian. “I don’t care who is in front of me on the night, they’re going to get beat, plain and simple,” boasted Whiting. “I hear that Singh is a massive superstar in India. Well I’ll be looking to send a brutal message back to his home when I beat him. He’s entering the world of professionals now and I’ll make sure I give him a good welcome,” added the 27-year-old.
However, Vijender laughed away all that Whiting stated. “Let him say what he wants, I don’t like talking much. I prefer to talk through my punches in the ring. That’s my style,” Vijender stated with a hearty laugh.
Confident of a winning start to his pro career, Vijender informed that he does not know much about the 27-year-old Brit but that is not a major concern.
“I will speak to my trainer Lee Beard about it. Lee knows him well, so he will get me ready for facing him. But I also have my own style and I am pretty confident about how I fight,” Vijender asserted. “I have got more than a week to prepare for him I am very sure that I will win this bout.”
The 29-year-old Vijender has based himself in Manchester to train for this fight under renowned coach Lee Beard and has been training alongside stable mates Jack Catterall, Adrian Gonzalez and Jimmy Kelly.
Vijender said he has made requisite changes to his game to be fully ready for the pro circuit. “It is like I’m starting my boxing career all over again. Even though I accomplished so much as an amateur boxer, to begin my professional career I’ve had to start from scratch. It has been a very exciting time though,” stated Vijender. “There have been a lot of changes in my technique which was required for the pro fight.”
