I am fitter and stronger than I have been in a while, very well prepared for my next bout: Vijender Singh | Boxing News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Star Indian boxer Vijender Singh suffered his maiden defeat, in a 13-professional-bout career so far, when Russia’s Artysh Lopsan defeated the 2008 Beijing Olympics medallist by technical knockout at the Majestic Pride Casino in Goa in March last year.
One of Indian boxing’s biggest poster boys, who has an Olympic bronze medal to his name, is now geared up for this 14th professional bout and he doesn’t want to carry the baggage of the maiden defeat of his pro career into his next bout. The Bhiwani star will face the reigning national West Africa Boxing Union champion Ghana’s Eliasu Sulley on August 17 in Raipur.
Vijender’s pro boxing dominance has been evident since he turned pro in 2015. He has hit the ring 13 times and emerged victorious on 12 occasions, including 8 wins by knockouts.
Ahead of his 14th pro bout Vijender spoke to TimesofIndia.com about his professional career so far, his defeat last year, Indian boxers’ show at the recently concluded CWG 2022 and much more…

Vijender Singh and Ghana’s Eliasu Sulley (Image credit: TOI special arrangement)
On Aug 17, you will fight Ghana’s Eliasu Sulley. How prepared are you?
I’m very well prepared for this fight; my team has been working very hard with me for the past 19 months and this fight will be a culmination of all that hard work. We have reviewed everything that we know about him (Sulley) and are raring to go. I know he has a good knockout record and is looking to capitalise on that but I am ready. I am fitter and stronger than I have been in a while and this long hiatus has only given me an advantage for the next fight.
Was your morale dented after the defeat to Russia’s Artysh Lopsan last year?
No one likes to lose and especially not in a competitive sport. Mistakes were made and that fight was lost but I also see it as a learning experience because there was a lot that I did take away from the fight. So yes, to answer the question, my morale was affected but it’s all part of being an athlete and we have managed to turn that around and I am extremely motivated once again.
What went wrong in that bout last year?
One of the biggest factors that resulted in the loss was the fact that I competed without my team being present at the event. We underestimated the effect that would have on the outcome of the fight but the results did show the difference. But luckily, we reset and we have learnt from our mistakes and we are positive that something like that will not happen again.

Vijender Singh(Image credit: TOI special arrangement)
How would you rate the Indian boxers’ show at CWG 2022? Who impressed you the most and why?
Very happy that the Indian boxers finished second on the (boxing) medal tally at the CWG. But we did have a little bit of a mixed bag in terms of results, very excited to see what the future holds for Jasmine (Lamboriya) and Nitu (Ghanghas) and Rohit Tokas in the men’s category. At the same time, I was also disappointed with the performances of Lovlina (Borgohain) and Shiva Thapa. The overall showing (by Indian boxers at CWG 2022) was solid with some deep runs in their individual campaigns and it indicates an extremely bright future for Indian boxing.
Amit Panghal was favourite to win an Olympic medal in Tokyo last year but his early exit came as a shock for everyone. How important is the gold medal he won at the CWG for his Olympic hopes?
It is definitely very good for his confidence going into the next Olympic cycle. The Commonwealth Games definitely have some very formidable names in the draw and it helps in improving skills and in getting matches under your belt at a high level. All this experience really counts at the Olympic stage, everyone always complains that inexperience leads to further pressure and affects performance. The CWG run (will) ensure the boxers are prepared for the highest level.
Your advice for Amit Panghal…
Trust the training and the team that has made sure he can compete at the highest level and be the favourite as well. He just needs to convert (his chances) and probably the pressure (he felt) was reflected in his result in Tokyo but I am sure that he will be ready for the next one and has every possible chance of getting that medal at the next Olympics.
Nitu Ghanghas is another boxer from Bhiwani. She won a gold at the CWG too. You also tweeted about her. Your take on what the future might hold for her…
Her future is extremely bright and this (CWG gold) is definitely just a stepping stone to a very long and illustrious career if she continues in the same manner. It is a very different kind of positive feeling when you see someone from your hometown performing at the international level. She is putting Bhiwani back on the map in amateur boxing and I am happy with her technical prowess.

Amit Panghal and Nitu Ghanghas
Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain suffered an early exit from the CWG and said “want to focus on upcoming Olympics, CWG is ‘not important for her’, since she was competing in a non-Olympic weight category. Your take on that…
Every tournament is important for an amateur boxer on the way to the biggest stage of all which is the Olympics. They are all tournaments that can help you garner experience through the journey, but each boxer and each athlete has different approaches to the biggest goal which is to win a medal at the Olympics and this could be her approach. If she does win that medal in Paris, it will prove to be another way that works but we will have to wait and watch. For me personally, each tournament was equally important.
India have won three Olympic medals in boxing so far and they have all been bronze – you won the first in 2008, Mary Kom won a bronze in 2012 and then Lovlina picked up a bronze in Tokyo last year. Which boxers in the current crop can you think go on to change the colour of the Olympic medal?
If we take into account the most recent showing at not just the CWG but the World championships as well as the overall performances over the last year there are definitely a couple of names that stand out. Amit Panghal, Nikhat Zareen and of course Lovlina who will be looking to better her own medal colour. But you never know, depending on the qualifications, the contingent can prove to have dark horses who can also deliver for the country. It has been known to happen at the Games.
There are many athletes who perform well at the CWG, Asian Games, and World Championships, but fail at the Olympics. Can this be put down to Olympic pressure?
The Olympic Games are a different ball game altogether, it is not wrong to say that athletes can succumb to Olympic pressure and we have seen it happen time and again as well. It all boils down to so many variables, the preparation, the performances that lead up to the games and a lot of the times it could be the expectations that are pinned on the athlete as well. But it is doable, the pressure can be managed well if you have the right team around you.