Zulpikar Maimaitiali trains in Mumbai for the first time ahead of ‘Battleground Asia’

08/03/2017

WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion Zulpikar Maimaitiali, arrived in Mumbai late on Wednesday evening and had his first training session in India today, with the media looking on at the Sea Princess Gym in Mumbai. Maimaitiali takes on Vijender Singh on Saturday.

After the training session, Zulpikar moved on to speak to media, on his preparations he said, “I am very well prepared to face Vijender in the ring, I am confident of my body, my techniques and my mental calmness.”

On fighting for the first time in India he said, “There is no special feeling, I am here just to prove myself. It doesn’t matter which country I am in I know I have to get inside the ring give my 100 percent and emerge as a winner.”

“I think it’s an advantage to be a southpaw boxer, I know there are many great southpaw boxers who have been great I the field of boxing, I hope I can continue the legacy,” said Zulpikar on him being a Southpaw boxer.

Zulpikar’s trainer Julian Howell said, “With the right kind of training and is Zulpikar is taken good care of, I know Zulpikar will become the next World Champion. I am confident of him.”

On talking about his opponent Zulpikar, “First of all I will meet more tougher opponents than Vijender. Vijender is only one of the many, and this is a calculated move to fight Vijender, to prepare myself for other champions, this is the first step.”

Talking about professional boxing in China, “If I win this bout against Vijender, who is the hero of India, I will go back to my country with pride. Pro-boxing in my country is not so popular, if I win I will be able to promote pro-boxing and motivate youngsters in my country to come forward and pick up pro boxing as a sport.”

His trainer commenting on Vijender as a challenger, “I don’t think Vijender knows Zulpikar as much as he thinks he does. It will be a surprise for him on Saturday.”

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