Set to compete in his first ever title bout (WBO Asia title) in five days time, Vijender Singh remains relaxed and calm on the prospect of facing Australia’s Kerry Hope.
The boxer from Haryana says, “It’s no big deal for me and I am taking it as just another stepping stone in the circuit.”
“Saturday’s fight will not be the end for me even if I lose which I know that I won’t. 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,” added the pro-boxer.
Vijender is up against Hope, who is 30 bouts old in eth arena, of which he has won 23, two of them were knockouts.
The Welsh-born Hope, who immigrated to Australia, was also a WBC middleweight champion and has moved a division to super middleweight to take on 2008 Olympic bronze medallist.
Asked about his thoughts on Hope, India’s first Olympic and World Championships medallist said he prefers to focus on himself.
“We are just doing our training. I am not bothered about what he might be doing. I am just focused on myself,” the crowd favourite said.
“I don’t think anybody needs to talk big, because ultimately the punch does the talking. If an opponent says something nasty and even if I talk back with something nastier, that hardly makes a difference to the result inside the ring. On Saturday, I will show him what I am. So I prefer to talk in the ring because only there everyone would know who is best or better,” he explained.
Singh, who is unbeaten in the professional arena, has won all his bouts via knockouts. Eyeing a seven win in what is meant to be a 10-round contest, Singh said his approach to contest is no different from the one he had for his previous bouts.
“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,” Vijender said.
‘Excited to fight him’
Vijender’s opponent for his WBO Asia title, Kerry Hope is looking forward to fight against Singh.
He says, “I am very excited to fight against him. My training is going good and I am in good shape and at the peak of my career. We have done all that is needed. I wish to cause huge upset on Saturday night.”
When asked if he is feeling the pressure of facing Vijender amid thousands of Indian supporters, Hope replied, “There is nothing called pressure. I know what my ability is and it doesn’t matter to me where the fight is. In the ring, it will be just me and him.” In a recent interview, Vijender’s coach lee Beard said, “It will be another knockout win for Vijender. When asked about this, Kerry was witty in his reply and said instantaneously, “Was his coach drunk when he said that.”