Vijender, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, has signed up with popular British boxing promoter Francis Warren in the UK.
Vijender Singh's UK-based promoter Francis Warren tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian that he can't wait to see the Indian boxing sensation get a chance to challenge for the World title.
Elated and exhausted in equal measure after being crowned the WBO Asia Pacific champion, Indian boxing star Vijender Singh says he will savour the triumph for a while before looking at the possibility of a showdown with Pakistan-origin British star Amir Khan, who is keen for a face-off with him.
Former European champion Kerry Hope was on Monday unveiled as Indian boxing star Vijender Singh's opponent for the eagerly-anticipated WBO Asia title bout to be held on July 16 in New Delhi.
After becoming the first Indian to win a pro title, Vijender Singh said the real journey starts for him now in his quest to become the World champion in the professional circuit.
Vijender Singh might say that he would give Olympic qualification a shot after doors were thrown open for professional boxers but his UK-based promoter Francis Warren, on Monday, made it clear that India's biggest star simply does not have the time left to try for a Rio ticket.
'I have boxed at the amateur level for 15, 16 years and won every medal possible at the world level. I represented India in three Olympics, for 12 years, and that is not an easy thing. I am hoping to replicate my success in pro boxing.'
What a year Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, Saina Nehwal, Vijender Singh and Anirban Lahiri had!
'A few months ago, everybody was saying, "Why isn't Vijender taking part in the Olympics?"' 'This is not like going to Haryana or Delhi that you just take a ticket and reach there.' 'Going to the Olympics is not easy'
'If a person whom Vijender had thrashed earlier is now a World champion, why can't Vijender be champion now too?'
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