Vijender Singh’s Next Bout Postponed As Promoters Struggle To Find An Opponent

Vijender Singh, the Indian boxing star, has taken the Pro-Boxing world by storm since he turned pro and left his amateur career in June 2015. From his recent bout with the ‘Bad Boy’, Francis Cheka to his first ever clash against Sonny Whiting, a knockout has been the favorite for the Haryana boy and competitors have found it hard to tackle his exceptional combination of power and agility.

The holler that Vijender Singh has sounded in the Pro-Boxing world was so heart-wrenching that now, there is not even a single boxer out there who is willing to keep his teeth on the line against Singh. Vijender Singh’s next bout was scheduled on 1st April but it had to be postponed as his promoters, IOS Boxing Promotions, are struggling to find an opponent for him.

Initially, China’s WBO Oriental champion Zulpikar Maimaitiali was scheduled to take on Vijender Singh on the Ist April Fight-Night in Mumbai but the bout couldn’t materialise as Maimaitiali backed out without specifying any reasons. On this, the 2008 Olympics bronze-medallist said, “I like to take things positively, I am sure Zulpikar has his reasons for not fighting. I am ready to fight whoever is my next opponent, I am preparing for whoever is willing to fight”.

The Vijender-Zulpikar super middleweight clash was to be a double Asian title fight. The WBO Asia-Pacific belt and the WBO Oriental title were to be on the line, and it was a winner-takes-all bout.

Fans are even saying that no matter how great an opponent Vijender Singh faces, it has done it before and will do it again. This is the reason why his opponents are being ‘watchful’ and they don’t want to disappear for the sake of Vijender’s 8-bout unbeaten streak.

IOS Boxing Promotions MD Neerav Tomar said, “Right now we are not able to find a decent opponent for him because of his unbeaten record. Boxers in the region seem to be wary of facing him. He has become this dreaded guy, who nobody wants to face”.

Whatever the case might me, or whether someone will stand up and challenge Vijender Singh as well his unbeaten streak in the future or not, one thing is clear that the 31-year-old has made his country proud and has also given the answer to all those who criticised his move of going Pro.