New Delhi: Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh turned professional by signing a multi-year promotional agreement with Queensberry Promotions through IOS Sports & Entertainment on Monday that will see the talented middleweight fight a minimum of six times in the first year as he looks to herald in a new era for Asian boxing..
The announcement for this lucrative deal was signed at a star-studded media conference jointly organized by Neerav Tomar, MD & CEO IOS Sports & Entertainment, India’s leading Sports & Entertainment Group and Francis Warren of Queensberry Promotions in London.
A thrilled Vijender Singh said, “I'm excited to turn pro and looking forward to the new chapter of my life. I want to train hard and perform for my country at the global level. IOS will be managing my pro boxing career along with Queensbury Promotions with broadcaster BoxNation. My immediate goal will be to work hard and make a good boxing record in the next year or so.”
Speaking on the landmark deal Neerav Tomar, MD & CEO of IOS Sports & Entertainment said “It's an historic moment for Indian boxing with Vijender turning Pro. He's a top fighter and is extremely motivated to train hard and perform. I have known Francis for over five years and we have been in discussions for a long time to bring the sport of Pro boxing to India and finally we will be introducing it soon in a big way with Vijender.”
He further added “Indian boxers have huge potential to be world beaters and Vijender will be the flag bearer for a nation of over billion people.
IOS Sports & Entertainment has a long standing history and has been a pioneer in promoting boxing talent and stars in India. Vijender’s early career was managed by IOS and in the last four years, IOS has successfully promoted and managed MC Mary Kom exclusively. Mary Kom is the classic story of a woman boxer beating all odds from the remote north eastern part of the country to the Olympic arena which was then followed by a 100 crore plus biopic and a best selling biography. Boxing and IOS go hand in hand and now IOS and Vijender Singh are back together with a historic moment to put India on the World boxing map. IOS also plans to set up professional boxing in India and will announce its plans shortly.
Francis Warren, son of the International Boxing Hall of Fame promoter, commented, “I’m very excited to have brought such a talented and determined individual over to the UK and can't wait to see what Vijender is capable of doing in the professional ranks after achieving so much as an amateur,”
“After spending the past week with him in Manchester, there is no doubt in my mind that he has what it takes to be a very successful professional boxer, not only due to his undoubted natural talent, but also due to his drive and focus. He has a clear idea of what he wants to achieve and I am over the moon that he will be doing that with Queensberry Promotions and BoxNation.”
Queensberry has to its credit of promoting over 40 professional boxers including 20 Champions and boasts of names like Hamed, Bruno, Tyson, Calzaghe, Benn, Collins, Eubank, Khan and Hatton.
Arguably one of India’s most successful amateur boxers ever, a sensational career has seen Vijender win Silver at the 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games; Bronze at the 2006 Asian Games, 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2009 World Amateur Championships and 2010 Commonwealth Games; Gold at the 2010 Asian Games, and rated as the world’s number one middleweight in 2009.
His Bronze medal victory in Beijing was a landmark event in India’s rich sporting history as it was the nation’s first ever boxing medal in the Games and he is credited for the incredible surge in boxing’s popularity in his home country since.
The 29-year-old from Bhiwani, a state in Haryana, India, will now base himself in Manchester, England, under renowned trainer Lee Beard, who has previously worked with British boxing legend Ricky Hatton.
Vijender Singh will train alongside a top stable of boxers with Beard currently guiding the WBO International and European Light-Welterweight Champion Jack Catterall, Former Commonwealth Light-Middleweight Champion Jamie Cox, and top up-and-coming prospects Adrian Gonzalez, Joe Costello and Raza Hamza.
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