READY: Vijender Singh had a stellar amateur career and is now preparing for his first professional bout next month
READY: Vijender Singh had a stellar amateur career and is now preparing for his first professional bout next month

India’s hot shot to face four-rounds at Manchester arena

Francis Warren of Queensberry Promotions and I.O.S Boxing Promotions are delighted to announce that India’s boxing sensation Vijender Singh will make his exciting and long-awaited professional debut on Saturday 10th October at the Manchester Arena, England.

The 29-year-old from Bhiwani, Haryana, who won Bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, begins his pro career on the huge double world title show headlined by Terry Flanagan’s WBO World Lightweight title defence against Diego Magdaleno and Liam Smith’s challenge for the Vacant WBO World Super-Welterweight title against John Thompson.

Singh had a highly decorated amateur career that also includes Silver at the 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games; Bronze at the 2006 Asian Games, 2009 World Amateur Championships and 2010 Commonwealth Games; Gold at the 2010 Asian Games, and was rated the world’s number one amateur middleweight in 2009.

All-action Singh’s first fight will be over four rounds in the middleweight division, against an opponent to be confirmed shortly.  

Singh will be competing in one of the hottest weight classes in world boxing with elite fighters Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders all campaigning at 160lbs and he aims to be in their position one day.

Singh says he can’t wait to get into the ring at Manchester Arena and show the boxing world just what he can do.

“I’m so excited to be making my professional debut at Manchester Arena on Saturday 10th October and to show that India is the new force in professional boxing,” he said.

“Thanks to Francis and everybody at Queensberry Promotions for the very warm welcome and I can’t wait for my fight to be televised on BoxNation.  

“This means so much to me personally and to all my fans back home in India who have supported me all this way and will now follow me on my journey to become the first boxer in India to win a world professional title.  

“Training now as a professional is totally different to my amateur regime and I love the training with Lee Beard who has taught me so much in a short space of time.  

“We are working great together and now I want to put into practice what I have learnt.  I’m still learning all the time and there will be plenty to come from me.  

“I believe that this is going to be a very exciting time.”

Francis Warren from Queensberry Promotions added: “We’ve all worked very hard to get Vijender here and I’m delighted that his professional debut is now confirmed.  

“The Manchester Arena show is a fantastic event for Vijender to make his debut on and it’s headlined with two big world title fights on BoxNation and one day that can be him.  

“I’ve seen how hard he is working with his trainer Lee in the gym and I can’t wait for him to produce the goods on the night to show what I and the team have believed all along, that he has the potential to be a world class boxer.”

Tickets for World War III, featuring the WBO World Lightweight Championship Terry Flanagan v Diego Magdaleno and the Vacant WBO World Super-Welterweight Championship Liam Smith v John Thompson, are priced from £40 to £500.

To buy yours now, visit www.frankwarren.com or phone Manchester Arena on 0844 847 8000.

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will also televise the event exclusively live on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415.

COMPETITION TIME

Win a set of three tickets to see Vijender Singh’s debut by simply answering the following question:

Which year did Vijender Singh win a Bronze Medal at the Olympic Games?

  1. A) 2004
  2. B) 2008
  3. C) 2012

Send your answer (A, B, or C) along with your name, address, and contact number to competitions@asianexpress.co.uk before Saturday 3rd October.