Indian boxer Vijender Singh is pretty confident about his upcoming bout against Australian Kerry Hope this Saturday. Kerry is far more experienced than his Indian counterpart and has won 23 bouts of the 30 he fought. Vijender’s British trainer Lee Beard has admitted that the India has been sparring 12-rounds three days a week for the last 12 months and believes he is up for the fight. The Brit feels that Vijender’s accuracy added with his power would likely make him win the bout via knockout.
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As per reports of the Indian Express, Vijender Singh is confident of winning his seventh professional bout. “I won all my six bouts, the seventh is coming up one year into the circuit. So I am a pro now, I am feeling like a pro now,” said the Olympic silver medallist.
He feels that Saturday’s fight is going to be like any other and is not taking special preparations for it. When asked about the matter he added, “Saturday’s fight is not a be all or end all fight for me. It’s being built up like a big, big fight but for me it’s like any other fight. Get inside the ring, win it, come back and focus on the next. I have a lot to do, this fight is like one more step in my career. I don’t think it’s a big deal for me. For me ok, it’s a job, get done with it.”
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On being asked about Vijender’s physical condition, trainer Lee Beard said, “Hope is a southpaw and Vijender has been sparring southpaws. He spars for four rounds each with three different boxers. He gets steadily tired while they stay fresh. It’s not easy. It takes a lot of mental strength and a lot of skill to take these rounds. The bell rings and he has to get up and get on with it. Each guy of the guys he faces has more power than what he is going to face against Hope. Each guy is technically better than what he will be facing.”
Vijender admitted that he is quite happy with the “underdog” tag he has. The Indian has won all the 6 previous bouts he fought and is eyeing for a perfect seven. A win in the upcoming fight at the WBO Asia would give him an opportunity to break into the top-15 of the WBO rankings.
