Vijender Singh's WBO Asia title bout in India gets delayed

Indian boxing sensation Vijender Singh's much-awaited WBO Asia title bout, scheduled to take place in New Delhi, has been postponed owing to logistical reasons, the Press Trust of India reported on Saturday. Fret not, however, as the fight does not stand cancelled.

Vijender, who recorded his sixth pro boxing win on Saturday as he dismissed Poland's Andrzej Soldra in round three of their super middleweight fight in Bolton with a TKO victory, was originally scheduled to take on an undecided opponent for the WBO title on June 11. The fight will now take place in July; the date is not yet announced.

The fight may have been postponed, but will this provoke the 30-year-old boxer to take a break from his normal routine? "No," says the pugilist who hails from the Bhiwani district of Haryana.

"I am really looking forward to the India bout, it is going to be a huge moment for me to step inside the ring in front of my home fans. And that is why I am not going to take any break from training because I want to be at my best," Vijender said. "It is technically not good either to take a break as the body has to remain in rhythm."

It needs to be seen now whether the former Olympics bronze medallist in amateur boxing opts for a seventh fight as a pro now, as the title fight has been delayed. In the meantime, however, Vijender would be in India to celebrate his wedding anniversary on May 17. Vijender married Archana Singh in 2011.

"Even while I am in India, there won't be a proper break, I would be training daily because I cannot be completely away from training. I would be celebrating my wedding anniversary on May 17 there before I come back to Manchester to continue my preparation for the India bout," the pro boxer continued.

"I would have loved to train at home for this bout but facilities are better in Manchester, so I will have to head back," he added.