Veteran boxer Akhil Kumar said age is just a number and one can adjourn the time before they get old..
"I hear people talk a lot about old and young boxers. I am closing on to 40's now but I don't feel old. I am deeply inspired by Swami Vivekananda's view on youth. That's why I believe one can postpone the time of them getting old. I am not saying you can stay young forever but one can always lead a healthy and strict life to keep the body in proper shape," said the 36-year-old professional boxer on Wednesday.
The former Olympian, who will be back at the ring again to do pro-boxing in the marquee clash of the Hope and Glory boxing tournament, finds no difference when it comes to preparation for an amateur bout or a professional fight.
"I have been preparing for fights for years now. The regime is always the same for me. I don't change it, I work hard when I did amateur and I do the same now for pro-boxing. Of course pro boxing is tougher to fight but when it comes to preparation, you can't drop intensity," said the Faizabad-born pugilist.
Akhil, who also runs a boxing club for young boxers, is distinctively known for his open-guard boxing style says he doesn't push boxers in his club to adapt to his style.
"I don't ask boxers at my school to follow the open guard style boxing like I do. Everyone has their own way. A boxer, with good reaction, willing to take risks can adopt this style. But one needs the willpower and desire for it. I never pushed anybody to take it. It depends on the individual," he said.
Talking about sudden surge in professional boxing in last couple of years, Akhil felt boxing in India is on the right path.
"Professional boxing in India is still at an early stage but looking at the kind of response we have seen so far, makes me think we are on the right path. If you look at countries which have been doing well in the Olympics in boxing are the one with a strong fanbase for professional boxing. I liked the ideas of firms like Hope and Glory to nurture the boxing talent in India and also promote professional boxing at the same time as boxing association can't do anything on its own,"
Hope and Glory tournament will be hosted on February 10th next year at the Talkatora stadium here. It will feature six bouts (four of men and two for women) and will host pugilists from countries such as France, Philippines, Georgia, and Tanzania. From India, apart from Akhil, Olympian Jitender Kumar and WBC Asian Boxing Champion Brijesh Kumar Meena will throw punches.