Vijender Singh reveals turning professional was his life’s toughest decision

The Haryana boxer’s reputation was severely hurt four years back in 2013 when his name came up after Punjab police recovered heroin worth Rs. 130 crore, from NRI Anoop Singh Kahlon’s house in Zirakpur. A car used by Vijender’s wife was found near the house and police had stated that the boxer had bought heroin for personal consumption on 12 different occasions from Kahlon.

Despite Vijender maintaining his innocence throughout the episode, his name was finally cleared only after being given an “all-clean” certificate by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). It resulted in him missing many national trials and consequently the Asian Championships. Though he made a comeback in the Commonwealth Games in 2014, he could manage only a silver medal after going down to England's Antony Fowler by unanimous decision.

“If these controversies had not happened, I would not have been what I am today," he said. "They taught me to look beyond the mirror and decide what is right. Akal badam khanesenahiathi, thokarkhaneseathihain (Intelligence comes from wounds and not almonds)," said Vijender in an interview with TNN.

A year later in October 2015, Vijender announced his decision to turn professional and defeated his first opponent Sonny Whiting by TKO. And the boxer revealed how difficult it was to change the course of his career.

“There were too many things that had to be sorted… That was the toughest so far. There were so many things to prove," said Vijender.

Vijender has won nine fights so far, seven of them by knockouts and two by decisions. It is in July last year that Vijender had defeated Australia’s Kerry Hope for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight. Earlier this year, WBO announced that Singh has moved up to 10th spot in the rankings.