EXCLUSIVE: Vijender Singh vs Eliasu Sulley: Indian pro boxer unfazed by Sulley’s brilliant knockout record as he prepares for his next fight on August 17

Vijender Singh vs Eliasu Sulley: Vijender Singh interview: India pro boxer is gearing up for his next fight against Eliasu Sulley on August 17. The latter has an impressive unbeaten record, registering knockouts, but Vijender is not thinking too much about it. He is rather interested in ‘ turning the tables around’ when he meets him next week in Jaipur. Follow Vijender Singh vs Eliasu Sulley live updates with InsideSport.IN

Also Read: Vijender Singh to return to action against Ghana’s Sulley on August 17

InsideSport reached out the Indian boxer and here is the excerpt from the email interview on his next bout. The Indian boxer touched upon various points, including his maiden loss to the Russian boxer in his last fight and his preparations for the next bout against the Ghanian Sulley. EXCERPT:

EXCLUSIVE: Vijender Singh interview: Vijender Singh unfazed by Eliasu Sulley’s brilliant knockout record as he prepares for his next fight on August 17

After your maiden loss to Russia’s Lopsan, how motivated are you to get back to winning ways?

The motivation has been there right since the beginning, there can be no competitive sport without motivation. Right now, the biggest motivating factor is to start my streak again, I was quite unhappy to have it broken. The plan is for it to be even longer and hopefully we’ve done enough work that this fight is the beginning of the new streak.

There were a lot of talks after your last fight (loss), but how difficult is it for a pro boxer to go unbeaten like you did in the first 12 fights?

The conversation around the loss was even more because of the first 12 fights but it is just the rule of odds. There would be a fight which would go the other way and that’s what happened but it starts again after this. It is just hard work, dedication and the support of my team that keeps me going fight after fight. Each boxer is different and each time the preparations have to be tweaked based on the boxer I will be facing, so it has its own challenges but it is also very fulfilling when you do get a win in a fight.

3. Coming to your opponent for this month, Eliasu Sulley, he has been making quite a noise. He has won all his bouts via knockout. Does that put you in the backfoot?

Making noise is not new to the sport of professional boxing, it’s all most of the boxers do before a fight. The knockout record does not bother me personally, it only gears me further to turn the tables on to him this time around. I have my own records to speak for myself and we all know it’s about the next fight not the previous ones.

EXCLUSIVE: Vijender Singh interview: Vijender Singh unfazed by Eliasu Sulley’s brilliant knockout record as he prepares for his next fight on August 17

4. How have your preparations been for the fight?

They’re going really well, we have been training for a really long time. My team is right here with me every step of the way and taking care of everything that needs to be done to be completely prepared for the upcoming fight.

5. Anything different in terms of preparation since Sulley is known for knocking out boxers?

We will just have to wait for the fight for that, my team has ideas and we have discussed what we can do to tackle this but yes, we will have to put it into practice and look forward to the outcome.

6. As a pro boxer, can you talk about the maturity levels since you made your debut in 2015 till now?

Each fight has contributed to my growth as a boxer, even before going pro, I’ve had a long career first as an amateur and now as a pro boxer and it has been a continuous process of evolving into the best boxer I can be.

Thank you so much for the best wishes hon Shri @bhupeshbaghel Ji! I will give my best for #TheJungleRumble! It’ll be an entertaining one for everyone, whether they watch it on the screen or in the stadium. Are you ready, Eliasu Sulley? pic.twitter.com/e4d1jiKD3l

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) August 9, 2022

7. Since you spend most of your time in Manchester, how tough does it get to stay away from family?

It is always tough to be away from family, but they are my biggest cheerleaders and they know that during my training time I have to stay away and are always supportive of it. I want my son to look up to me and be proud of what I have done for my country, it keeps motivating me and encouraging me to do my best.

8. How do you see the Indian boxing landscape? Do you see boxers taking up pro boxing as MMA has come up as a lucrative option too?

I want more and more young boys to get inspired and take up the sport. My aim is to promote and inspire as many boys as I can through my career. MMA and pro-boxing are two different skill games, it completely depends on the interest and the choices of each individual, I will always hope to inspire and attract the youth of our country towards professional boxing.

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