Indian boxing star Vijender Singh will face Alexander Horvath of Hungary in his next professional bout at the Liverpool Echo Arena here on March 12.
The Haryana pugilist, who took bronze in the middleweight (75kg) category at the 2008 Olympics, has won all the three bouts he has fought so far by knockout. Vijender, who made his pro debut last October, has won all the three fights within two rounds.
The 30-year-old will eye another victory over Horvath as he prepares for a homecoming to India in June when he will fight his maiden title bout -- the World Boxing Organisation's (WBO) Asia belt.
Dream to fight in front of my countrymen
Vijender will have no time to rest after the Horvath bout as he has another big fight lined up just three weeks later at the Harrow Sports Centre in London as he builds towards his ground-breaking title opportunity in India.
"It's my absolute dream to fight back home in India in front of my countrymen and women so I won't let Horvath get in my way of that at all," Vijender was quoted as saying in a statement on Thursday.
"I need to continue my unbeaten record and it's important that I put on a commanding performance against Horvath and then next at Harrow to keep on course for my title shot and my homecoming.
"Hovath is a good solid opponent for, maybe he will give me a few new tests, he has done more rounds than me and has a bit more experience, but will that compete with the power that I have and when I start landing my shots I don't believe that he'll be standing around for too long," he added.
First fight of the year
"I'm really excited as this is my first fight of the year and there are big plans ahead so I aim to make a very big statement of intent in Liverpool against Horvath that will show that I'm ready to fight for a title later this year."
Horvath comes into the fight against Vijender with a record of five wins from seven fights. The 20-year-old has the edge in experience with 31 rounds under his belt and has no fear in fighting abroad, having taken bouts in Slovakia and France.
"Three before me have tried and failed to beat Singh so now I will finally end this pretender's hope of winning a title," Horvath said.
"Everyone who has gone into the ring with him seem like they are a rabbit in headlights. I have seen nothing from Singh that worries me or causes any sleepless nights so I'm fully confident going into the fight and ready to knock him out," he added.
"I hope that his chin is ready for the punches that I will be landing on them because for once he will be put under a real test by me."
