Mumbai [India]: Indian knockout king Vijender Singh today arrived in Mumbai for his much-awaited double title fight against WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion Zulpikar Maimaitali at ‘ Battleground Asia.’
He did his first training session in Mumbai with his trainers Lee Beard and John Joyce at the Powerhouse Gym, Juhu.
Vijender started with skipping for warm up, he then followed it up with shadow boxing, moved on to punching pad and then some technical skills under the expert guidance of his trainers.
After training, Vijender said “I am eagerly waiting for Saturday as it’s going to be a perfect 9-0 and for me. It’s fight time, I’m fit and I’m ready. Zulpikar has been talking a lot in the last few days now I will close his mouth and knock him out to win double title fight. I know it’s not an easy fight but I am confident that with my hard work I will win it for my country and our Chinese counterpart will return home empty.”
On his preparations he said, “I am only listening to what my trainer is asking me to do, he know what exactly to I need to do and how do I need to train. I am also following a very strict diet, I am only focussing on my training and diet now.”
Meanwhile, his trainer Lee Beard said, “I tell Vijender to be calm in the ring, yes there are a couple of techniques that we need to change but most important is the mind, we need to keep the mid in control to be able to win.”
On the war of words that is going on, Vijender said, “These are just ways to try and play mind games with your opponent, what eventually happens is in front of the entire nation in the ring.”
Vijender Singh is now training harder and dedicating himself only to controlling his diet and workout regime to be fit for the bout which is scheduled to happen in the next two days. The weigh in will take place on Friday, a day before the bout.
In the mega fight of Asia to be held this Saturday, both the boxers will put their respective WBO titles at stake. Whoever wins the bout takes home his defended title along with his opponent’s title.
China’s undefeated star boxer has eight bouts under his name, same as Vijender. Zulpikar has five knock outs wins and has fought 24 rounds. His last bout was with African boxer Thomas Mashali where he won his current title WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion last year. Zulpikar turned towards professional boxing in April 2015.
Vijender, who remained unbeaten since his debut in professional boxing, has fought eight bouts last one being against former world number one boxer Francis Cheka from Tanzania, where he defended his title.
Vijender clinched his first title in July 2016 against Kerry Hope of Australia, becoming the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Champion. In total, Vijender has fought eight bouts with seven of them being won by Knock-out.
He has 30 rounds under his belt, which gives him a slight edge over his opponent, who has fought 24 rounds till now.(ANI)