New Delhi : Vijender Singh is hitting the gym hard. He has no time for fun and games. His next professional bout is on February 13 in Liverpool.
“Right now I am looking for a gym to do the routine for today. It’s New Year’s eve so gyms seem to be closed because I guess people want to party. But I will request somebody to let me in for some time,” Vijender said after being turned away by a five-star facility.
“I can’t afford to take it easy. I have to be on my toes because my body cannot do without workout. So let people party, I would be in gym working out,” said the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award winner.
The 30-year-old boxer’s career has been nothing short of sensation. His first two bouts should have been four-round affairs, while the third one was to be a six-round contest. His next bout could continue till the eighth round but India’s first Olympic medalist prefers to keep things short. And sensational.
Vijender has won the Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honor. “Isn’t it thrilling? It’s like blink and you miss it, it’s fun to fight like that. It saves me effort, the longer the bout, more the effort. Who would want to drag things? I give so much in my training that it’s good that the actual contest doesn’t last long,” said the former amateur boxer hailing from Khaluwas.
Although it’s obvious that Vijender’s rivals are more aggressive with words than their punches.
“It’s actually great for me that these guys speak so much before the bout and then I thrash them inside the ring.” Vijender quipped.
Sonny Whiting threatened to paste him to the ground. Samet Hyuseinov promised to break his bones and pack him off to India. Eventually all of them needed to be rescued by the referee when faced with Vijender’s punches.
The biggest psychological boost for Vijender has been the feedback that he has got from fellow boxers in the UK. “The feedback there has been very honest. I get criticized by fellow boxers when they feel that I have gone wrong somewhere. And it has helped me adapt well,” he said.