With Vikas Krishan making the cut for Olympics in the 75kg category, the door is shut on the much celebrated Vijender Singh, who was eyeing qualification to the Rio Games ever since the International Boxing Association (AIBA) allowed professional boxers to compete in the quadrennial showpiece.
'They're trying to make out like Algieri is the next Rocky. But this isn't a movie.'
Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce broke the 40-year-old Pan Am Games 200 metres record on Friday. The twice Olympic 100 metres champion clocked 22.43 seconds to win gold on Friday.
Vijender Singh is determined to keep the record with a world title to boot as he enters the new decade donning multiple hats, including the one of an active politician "with strong opinions". The 34-year-old trailblazing boxer, who delivered India's first Olympic and men's world championship medals in boxing back in 2008 and 2009, has logged an enviable 12-0 record in the professional circuit, which he entered in 2015.
The Indian boxing ace will train at the World famous boxing club 'The Wild Card Boxing Club' in Hollywood CA under legendary coach Freddie Roach -- a 2012 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee.
Diego Corrales retained his world lightweight boxing titles despite being stopped by Jose Luis Castillo in the fourth round.
Manny Pacquiao is more than three weeks out from his next title defence against unbeaten American Chris Algieri but the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight champion is already in devastating form, trainer Freddie Roach says.
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.
The Philippine election commission will decide on Tuesday whether a boxing match between Manny Pacquiao, who is standing in May's vote, and American welterweight champion Timothy Bradley violates polling rules. On May 9, more than 54 million people in the Philippines will vote for a president, vice-president, 300 lawmakers and thousands of local government posts. Pacquiao, who has courted controversy with comments against gays and same-sex marriage, is running for one of 12 vacant seats in the Senate, the upper house of parliament. Pacquiao, a former eight division world champion, said he will make his final ring appearance on April 9 in Las Vegas against Bradley, the reigning WBO welterweight champion. Walden Bello, a former congressman, has asked the election commission to investigate whether the bout gives Pacquiao undue advantage at the polls because of high-profile advertising and publicity surrounding the boxing match.
'Vijender is a power puncher, he is a smart boxer as well.' Lee Beard, Vijender Singh's trainer, highlights why the Indian boxer is the favourite for Saturday's double title clash.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
'I am feeling so nervous. I will be among so many big politicians.' 'It is a big responsibility and I hope I learn every day and do something for the people in whatever way I can.'
'I have not fought in a 10-round fight before, but my training will help me give my best till the end.' 'If I get the opportunity to knock him out early I will go for it.'
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Sports Minister Vijay Goel, on Saturday, met former Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh to discuss the way forward for Indian boxing, which has been severely hampered by administrative wrangling in the past four years.
Filipino Manny Pacquiao has sparked criticism in his country after describing gay couples as 'worse than animals'.
Customers of US cable companies took to social media on Saturday to report problems ordering the pay-per-view (PPV) for the boxing megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, which was expected to smash records.
Samet Hyuseinov has promised to send Vijender Singh back to India 'beaten and broken' come December 19 but the Indian boxing star merely breaks into laughter at the very mention of the threat, saying he would respond in kind inside the ring. Speaking to PTI from Manchester, Vijender (75kg) said he has increased his sparring sessions ahead of his third bout and is focusing on endurance and power. "How do you respond to such threats? I can only laugh, let him say what he feels like. He has all the freedom to say what he wants. But I talk only in the ring and in a language he will understand quite well," the former Olympic World Championships bronze-medallist said.
Former European champion and an experienced Australian boxer Kerry Hope dared India's knockout king Vijender Singh ahead of their WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight championship title to be held in New Delhi on July 16.
WBO Super Middleweight Asia Pacific champion Vijender Singh, who has been unbeaten in the professional circuit, has decided to terminate his agreement with Queensberry Promotions with immediate effect.
Mike Tyson has branded the Amateur International Boxing Association's (AIBA) decision to let professional fighters take part in the 2016 Rio Olympics as "ridiculous" and "foolish".
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.
Worried about the administrative logjam in Indian boxing, recently-crowned WBO Asia Pacific champion Vijender Singh pleaded with the officials to put together a new federation at the earliest for the sake of country's pugilists.
Vijender, who is promoted by IOS Boxing Promotions, is the reigning WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight champion and is expected to defend his title for a second time next month after the IPL.
Saturday's heavily anticipated welterweight showdown between undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena is expected to be the richest prize fight of all time.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) might have allowed professional boxers to compete in the Olympics but India's biggest pro star Vijender Singh will not be seen in the Rio de Janeiro Games as he hasn't been left with any time or chance to make the cut. In a landmark decision, AIBA today threw the Olympic doors open for professional boxers after an extraordinary congress in Lausanne, Switzerland voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move. The decision has, however, been met with a mixed response with some like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis calling it "foolish" and "preposterous" while others like Amir Khan welcoming the step. In India, AIBA's decision brought the focus on Olympic medallist Vijender, who turned professional last year. The 30-year-old, a former amateur world No.1 in middleweight, is enjoying an unbeaten run in his pro career and is scheduled to fight for the WBO Asia title belt on July 16 in the national capital.
Indian boxing star Vijender Singh's rampaging winning streak remained intact as he carved out a sixth successive knockout victory by battering Poland's Andrzej Soldra on Friday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
'Boxing is a sport and sometimes one punch can make a difference.'
Following his 10th straight win on the pro circuit, Indian boxing's poster boy Vijender Singh has set his eyes next on winning the Commonwealth and World Championship title.
He is no longer a part the amateur boxing circuit but concerned about the shambolic state of its administration in India, professional star Vijender Singh took up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting.
With just a week to go for mega double title defence fight, African champion Ernest Amuzu threatened to stop India's boxing sensation Vijender Singh and end his unbeaten run in the pro circuit.
Manny Pacquiao's camp today slammed the officials after the Filipino great lost his World Boxing Organisation welterweight title in a controversial unanimous decision to Australia's Jeff Horn.
There was no stopping Indian boxing star Vijender Singh as he notched up his fourth successive knockout professional win by pummelling Hungary's Alexander Horvath in under three rounds in Liverpool on Saturday night. Vijender had little trouble outpunching his opponent, who failed to get up after being thrown off balance by his body blows in the third round of the six-round contest of the middlewight (75kg) category late last night. "I don't know what happened to him, I think he was looking to get out by making an excuse. It's a good start to the year for me. I am happy to register another knockout win. I think this is a great start for me looking ahead to my WBO Asia title bout in India (on June 11) this year," Vijender said after the bout. "My target is to win the Asia title in front of my home crowd and looking forward to register two more knockout wins in April before I play in India," he added. The 30-year-old Indian, who went into the contest on the back of three successive knockout triumphs, continued to be a cut above his rivals, who talk big but deliver little inside the ring.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) may have thrown the Olympic door open for professional boxers but it is unlikely that Indian star Vijender Singh would be able to grab the opportunity even though he is keen to make it. Professional boxers would be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games in August in Rio de Janeiro provided the decision is ratified at the AIBA Extraordinary Congress on June 1 when the proposal would be put to vote. The plan is to allow pro boxers qualify for Rio via the AIBA-affiliated World Series of Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) event. Both these events, originally scheduled for May, could be pushed back to last week of June to give national federations enough time to send their entries. "If given a chance, I would definitely try to qualify for the Olympics. Who would want to miss an opportunity if it is there," Vijneder told PTI from Manchester where he is training for his next pro fight on March 12 in Liverpool. However, the question is whether there is any realistic opportunity for him to give it a shot. The 30-year-old middleweight's schedule is sorted till June 11 when he will make his pro debut in India by fighting for his maiden title -- the WBO Asia belt.
Vijender Singh will defend his WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title against Francis Cheka in New Delhi on December 17.
India's Rashid Khan produced a strong back nine performance to win the Chiangmai Golf Classic by one shot for his second Asian Tour title on Sunday.
'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'
A summary of sports events and persons in the news on Saturday.
Unstoppable thus far in his fledgling pro career, Indian boxing star Vijender Singh takes on Poland's Andrzej Soldra in his first eight-round professional fight in Bolton on Friday.
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