India’s pro boxer Vijender quietly confident of defeating taller Russian Artysh Lopsan with an effective strategy in tonight’s fight to extend winning streak
India’s pro boxer Vijender Singh (right) and Russia’s Artysh Lopsan during the weigh-in at Panaji yesterday
It’s not often that India’s star professional boxer Vijender Singh is made to feel ‘small’. But on Wednesday, at the weigh-in on the eve of his fight atop the Majestic Pride Casino ship here against Russian Artysh Lopsan, the foreigner dwarfed Vijender given his four-inch height advantage over the Indian.
Vijender stands six-feet tall while Lopsan is six-feet four inches.
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Four inches may seem a small amount in the outside world but in the boxing ring, it could prove to be the difference between victory and defeat. And that’s the reason Vijender, 35, maybe a tad worried, though he didn’t show it.
The boxing ring for the fight being erected atop the Majestic Pride Casino ship. Pic/Ashwin Ferro
“Height is definitely a factor in boxing and my coach [Jai Bhagwan] and I realise that he [Lopsan] is much taller, so we have devised a strategy accordingly. I can’t tell you much about it, obviously,” Vijender, who has a 12-0 all-win record in his pro career till date, said.
‘It’s brain over brawn’
Coach Bhagwan also admitted that the height factor is crucial but insisted that Vijender’s experience should see him sail through yet again, for 13-0. “In professional boxing, there is a term called Distance Intelligence, where a boxer uses his experience and intelligence to stay away from a taller fighter. It’s a case of brain over brawn. Vijender is very good at this. He is not a raw fighter, who will just go in and start punching. Gone are his amateur fighting days when he had to do that to earn points and win a medal. In pro boxing, you have to be smart and patient. Vijender knows exactly how to handle this distance [height] factor. Besides, Vijender also has the advantage of power punches, so once he lands a few good ones, Lopsan will definitely be rattled,” Bhagwan told mid-day.
Lopsan, 26, meanwhile, is just six fights old, with four wins, one draw and one defeat but sounded confident while speaking at the weigh-in.
Lopsan confident too
“The Indian crowd will be in for a shock tomorrow. This may be my biggest fight till date but after tomorrow, I will become a much bigger name in the boxing world,” he said while speaking through an interpreter.
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