Split Between A Cross And A Jab

See him strut around on television, with his now-trademark pose of gloved arms framing his face. Vijender Singh바카라�s pun­ches tell a tale바카라�the Olympic bronze medallist has won all nine bouts that he has fought as a pro- boxer in a little over a year. His latest victory, over Chinese No. 1 Zulpikar Maimaitiali this month, fetched him both the WBO Asia Pacific Super Midd­leweight and the WBO Oriental Super Middleweight belts. There was, however, a not-so-encouraging side to 바카라�Battleground Asia바카라� on August 5, the day Vijender won his 10-round double title fight in Mumbai. Six other Indians바카라�including pro-boxing debutants and 2008 Olympic quarter-finalists Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar바카라�also won their bouts. But all the hype was only around Vijender.

A partisan media reported in glowing terms 31-year-old Vijender바카라�s well-des­erved triumph, and largely ignored the other winners바카라�they are perhaps not deemed marketable. The handsome Vijender continues to be the most sought after Indian boxer, while the others play second fiddle, despite performing ext­remely well at the amateur level바카라�and even in the pro arena. A good example is 26-year-old Neeraj Goyat, who made his pro debut in 2011바카라�four years before Vijender바카라�and has fought 13 bouts so far, registering nine wins, including the successful defence of his WBC Asia Wel­terweight belt on August 5. But not many outside the boxing circuit know of his achievements. Even Akhil Kumar (junior weltereight), Jitender Kumar (lightweight), Kuldeep Dhanda (lightweight), Pardeep Kharera (welterweight), and Dharmender Grewal (cruiserweight) won their non-title bouts on the same day as Virender바카라�s big game, but were just ignored.

That is the flip side of pro-boxing in India. It is riding solely on the back of the talismanic Vijender, the showman who bid goodbye to his Olympic dreams after London 2012 and turned pro in 2015. Another reason is that pro-boxing promoters are a fragmented lot, with many trying to make a quick buck by organising small shows. Neerav Tomar, CEO & MD of IOS Sports and Enter­tainment, the company that has signed the likes of Vijender, Akhil and Jitender, agrees. 바카라�The market is being built. I don바카라�t know how it will work if all join hands, because our earlier attempt didn바카라�t succeed. The problem is many boxers are looking at short-term gains,바카라� he says. Vijender too is aware of this, but is fine with the scattered promoters. 바카라�They cannot come together; you can바카라�t put two swords in one case. They can organise shows, but should always put boxers바카라� interests above anything else. There are very few people in the Indian sports industry who keep athletes바카라� benefits in mind,바카라� Vijender tells Outlook. He advises boxers to sign only with reliable companies with in-depth knowledge of the field and that they must always get their contracts vetted by lawyers. He then discloses his ambitious plan: 바카라�I will soon launch my own company, Vijender Singh Promotions, and will sign the talented for pro-boxing. They will train at my academy. If all goes well, pro-boxing will spread further in India.바카라�

Vijender was probably encouraged by the huge response he has received since turning pro. 바카라�Two boxers who were also at the 2008 Olympics, Akhil and Jitender, were nowhere aftterwards, but as soon I turned pro, they too joined바카라�and now there바카라�s a long queue,바카라� says Vijender, looking back at the last one year. Int­er­estingly, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), the officially recognised body that organises amateur boxing, also feels all can coexist. 바카라�Pro-boxing is like a filmi world; one needs to get a licence to org­anise bouts. Personally, I would like people to come together. If not, they can coexist. I believe in the adage 바카라�live and let live바카라�,바카라� says Jay Kowli, secretary-general of BFI and a former boxer.

One of many pro-boxing promoters is the India Boxing Council (IBC), which was launched in 2015 by P.K. Mura­li­dharan Raja, a former secretary of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF), the predecessor of the BFI. Raja, whose plan of conducting bouts in different Indian cities hasn바카라�t materialised, is now in favour of all promoters coming under one banner. 바카라�A few months ago, I even met BFI president Ajay Singh with a proposal (that they join hands with IBC). But I haven바카라�t heard from the BFI,바카라� he says. But Vijender warns of some promoters who are just fly-by-night. 바카라�A lot of greedy people have come into it. They feel there is a lot of money to be made in pro-boxing. But my aim will be to see that boxers who sweat and bleed in the ring should be happy,바카라� he avers.

Raja feels there is no market for pro-boxing at the moment. 바카라�Promoters cash in on a few big names like Vij­en­der바카라�s.... We tell sponsors to first help us build a product, like cricket, and then expect returns,바카라� he says. On the other hand, long-standing chief national coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu feels India has a good market for pro-boxing. 바카라�If professionals organise it well, it can go far, I바카라�m very confident about that. But Vijender alone can바카라�t sell it; if needed, boxers from abroad will have to be brought in. At present, these bodies are fighting amongst themselves. If the BFI itself gets into pro-boxing, it would be a positive step,바카라� says the chief coach of Elite Team India (women).

Well, the BFI is indeed planning a pro-league, and its secretary Kowli says it could be a reality by the end of the year. 바카라�It would cater to a large number of boxers. And we will apply the strict safety rules of the AIBA (International Boxing Association) and good governance,바카라� he emphasises. BFI started planning after the AIBA decided last year to allow professionals to compete at the Olympics. It opened a new avenue for boxers, including Akhil, and many amateurs in India have since turned professionals. 바카라�The reason to join pro-boxing is my desire to box, whether it is Olympic style or pro, which will be there till my body allows me,바카라� says 36-year-old Akhil. 바카라�Also, pro-boxing will open the window for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. AIBA has opened that window for pro-boxers.바카라�

Vijender welcomes the BFI move to organise the league. 바카라�When so many com­panies are organising pro-boxing, let there be another one, if that benefits boxers...the main concern should be that boxers should get good money and their lifestyle should improve. Speaking from experience, a boxer has to work a lot bes­ides training; I바카라�ve to go to media and sell my shows, only then people come to watch me,바카라� he says, adding that it바카라�s up to the youth to take pro-boxing forward. 바카라�I바카라�m aware that a lot needs to be done. Cricket is more popular, it is well organised.... The start has been good, and now it바카라�s up to young boxers, how far they take it forward,바카라� says Vijender.

But Indian boxers are not turning pro at the right time, points out veteran coach T.L. Gupta, who says it바카라�s a tough transition. 바카라�Pro-boxing is very tough and making a comeback to it is still tougher. Even legends like Muhammad Ali, Floyd Patt­erson, George Foreman and Evander Holyfield found it tough on their comebacks. Fig­h­ting continuous bouts is a must. You cannot win an international medal, then take a long break. Akhil and Jitender, who have staged comebacks, will have to maintain their weights as well,바카라� he warns.

Akhil and Jitender, 29, are also close friends of Vijender. But will they be able to emulate the handsome Haryanvi? It also remains to be seen if the much talked about Vijender-Amir Khan bout takes place. Vijender says he바카라�s keen to fight the British boxer of Pakistan origin. 바카라�Why not? Hundred per cent it바카라�ll happen; very soon it바카라�ll happen. It바카라�s going to be amazing and it will be the 바카라�Fight of the Century바카라� and people will love it because Amir is a good boxer and my friend. And, he has been a world champion, of course,바카라� he says. That fight is some months away, and it may not exactly be reliving the days of Mike Tyson at the height of his powers, but it seems a world reputation is within the tantalising reach of Vijender.