Vijender Singh, fighting like a pro

When Vijender Singh decided to take the uncharted road of professional boxing, little did he know about the ups, downs, twists and turns that would be thrown at him.

It's been almost two years since he first entered the ring as a pro boxer in October 2015, and Vijender's ridden through the highs as well as the lows.

And as he gears up for his first fight in 2017 as well as his maiden one in Mumbai on August 5 against China's Zulpikar Maimaitiali, neither does the 31-year-old wish to boast about the hits, nor rue the misses.

"I have a simple theory: upar wala jo karta hai, rab jo karta hai, changa hi karta hai (Whatever God does, it's for the good). It's a Punjabi saying. I don't analyse things too much," Vijender tells DNA from Manchester, where he is training a week ahead of the bout.

Vijender hit fifth gear in his pro career right from the word go, winning all his three bouts in 2015 either via knockout or technical knockout. The following year was about continuing his cruise, with Vijender coming out triumphant in five fights while winning the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title as well as retaining it in December 2016.

But that's when he started encountering roadblocks.

That fight in the last month of last year has been his last. He hasn't walked up to the ring, felt the adrenaline rush, knocked down opponents in 2017, for Vijender wasn't getting any title fighters.

The worrying signs grew in May, when he terminated his contract with his global promoters – Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions – due to lack of fights and failed financial negotiations.

The partnership got its second life last week, and Vijender will be back in the ring on Saturday.

He might be back on track, but not once did those speed breakers threaten to slow Vijender's hunger down.

"There are lots of distractions in the career that I've chosen, but I always believe that my job is to do boxing. That's it. I know my focus point. Sometimes, the promoters are not there, sometimes other things are not there. I don't care about all these things," Vijender says.

"If a fight is not meant to happen, it will not happen. That's not a problem for me. Maybe it will happen after a month, or two months, or a year. If someone wants to come into my team and join me, most welcome. If someone wants to leave me and my team, no problem with that too. My job is to do boxing, that's it. I don't care about any other thing," he adds.

Seldom has Vijender cared about other things, anyway. When the 2008 Games bronze medallist chose to give up on his Olympic hopes by turning pro in 2015, he faced brickbats from multiple quarters.

Two years on, Vijender believes he has silenced everyone who questioned his unconventional route.

"When I turned pro, lots of people criticised me, lots of people abused me, lots of people said crazy things about me. But now, the same people have come to my side. They say, 'you did the right thing'," he says.

There's a tinge of pride in his voice when he talks about being the face of change when it comes to pro boxing in the country.

"It's been nice. If you see my undercard (for the Mumbai fight), there are a lot of amateur guys who are fighting to make a name in their pro career. So, I feel happy that I've done something good for the country, inspired some people," he says.

"If you see, there are now three-four other companies who are promoting professional boxing in India. It's getting up. But it's just the beginning, and we still have to achieve a lot of things," he adds.

Much like his own professional career.

Come Saturday, Vijender will fight for a 9-0 win-loss record in pro boxing. And looking back, more than those eight victories over two years, Vijender is happier about the mental space he is in at this stage of his career as well as life.

"I'm happy. I'm happy with what I'm doing right now. I'm happy I can live with my family. I'm a complete family man. Yes, I miss India sometimes when I'm training. But I'm staying away for my country, so that I can bring India into the global professional boxing map," Vijender says

DID YOU KNOW?

Vijender Singh last fought in December 2017 when he defended the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight against Francis Cheka