After five KOs, Vijender eyes Asia crown

London, May 1

With yet another knockout win in his kitty, India’s star boxer Vijender Singh said he couldn’t have asked for a better buildup to his much-anticipated homecoming to India next month.

Vijender hammered Frenchman Matiouze Royer in a six-round super-middleweight contest which was stopped in the fifth round. The 30-year-old Indian will be next seen in action on May 13 in Bolton against a yet-to-be-named opponent before heading for India in June.

“We had a solid game-plan and I stuck to it perfectly,” Vijender said after his win. “Royer is a tough opponent and made it difficult for me at times but he couldn’t handle my power and accuracy. I felt in complete control throughout the fight and it’s a shame the ref waved it off, I wanted more.”

“It felt like everything I was throwing was connecting,” Vijender said about the toughest opponent he’s faced since turning pro last year. “I’m feeling stronger with every fight and want to carry on this momentum. I’ve got a huge Indian homecoming to look forward to this summer so it’s vital I get past my next opponent in Bolton.”

Asia belt

Vijender said he cannot wait to be home next month where he will be fighting his maiden title bout — for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia belt — on June 11 against a yet-to-be-named rival. “Winning my fifth bout against an experienced opponent will be helpful for me before my WBO Asia title fight,” he added. “My immediate target is to win sixth fight in a row which is scheduled for 13 May in UK and will be back to training from tomorrow onwards to prepare hard for it.”

“The best part is that I started attacking Royer from the starting of first round and my confidence level was up. With this win my morale is really up and I am confident of doing well in all future fights. My amateur experience is helping me but pro boxing is a totally different game, so I am looking forward to my next bout,” he added. The Haryana lad also lauded his rival for his grit. “He showed he is a good fighter and I respect him for how he performed. But today, I was able to execute my plans better,” he said. — PTI