Vijender Singh heads to Liverpool, excited to fight in the city of his heroes

Vijender Singh, who has been undefeated so far the professional boxing circuit since his pro debut in 2015, , is excited about his first bout of 2016, not so much because of his opponent or anything, but because of the place where it takes place. The 2008 Olympic bronze medallist is a big fan of the iconic Liverpudlian band, The Beatles.

On February 13, the boxer would be seen at the Liverpool Echo Arena, where he would look to continue his magnificent run which so far has accounted for three knock-out wins from as many matches, in the birthplace of his idols, the Beatles.

While boxers generally look up to past legends like Muhammad Ali or Floyd Mayweather for inspiration, the Indian says that the music band used to be his guiding light.

“When I turned professional in England I hoped that I would one day fight in Liverpool and fight at the birthplace of my heroes, now that dream will come true on February 13,” he said.

“I love the Beatles music since I was a child back home and my parents are big fans of their music and I believe that my grandparents went to see them when they came to India in the late 1960s so growing up I remember all the hits Hey Jude, Yesterday, All You Need Is Love, Let It Be, Penny Lane, Here Comes The Sun, I love it all!”

Talking about his association with the rock band instead of the men inside the ring, the 30-year old said, “I admired boxing legends like Ali and Sugar Ray growing up, but they were never really my heroes.”

“The Beatles, however, were the centre of my life growing up, I wanted to be a rock star! We’ll I’m rocking opponents in the ring now!”

Singh is slated to fight six rounds in an international contest against an opponent yet to be announced, thereby beginning his 2016 campaign in knockout style.

“I ended the year in great style and now I’m looking to begin it in the same fashion by knocking out whoever is put in front of me,” said the man who defeated all of his previous opponents within three rounds.

“This is an important year for me to continue developing and getting in more ring experience, but I’m looking to bring the excitement as well.”

In his last bout on December 19, the Indian knocked out experienced opponent Samet Hyuseinov, who had already notched 68 rounds of boxing in 14 professional fights.