Amir Khan open to Vijender Singh bout

Mumbai: British professional boxer Amir Khan is open to a fight with Vijender Singh to promote the Super Boxing League in India. Despite having fought top boxers across the globe, the youngest Olympic silver medallist from his country is not averse to taking on Vijender, who is new to the professional boxing circuit, as he believes that it will be a big boost for the sport’s popularity in India.

“I dont mind if Vijender wants it, we want to promote SBL. This league we are bringing to India and this is my league basically, lets us do it,” he said.

Khan also is not one to take any fight lightly. “Every fight is serious for me, whenever you step in the boxing ring, it is war. There is no exhibition fight ever in boxing.

“I have won three world titles in my career, an Olympic medal and 37 fights. Vijender has a good amateur background and is experienced. He has risen in the professional ranking quite quickly and is undergoing good quality training in England.

“Every fight is hard, it won’t be easy. This is boxing, one punch can change things. It will be a big fight. I believe I am a better fighter. But you never know anything can happen. You can’t put your money on one person,” he added.

The Briton however indicated it was not the fight he was looking for as his return bout following a loss to Canelo Alvarez last May.

“My management team in the US is trying to make right moves. I will take time off in Ramadan. I am in the top three in the world anyway, I want to fight boxers in the top 10. Vijender is learning, my fight may be in November-December so there is still lot of time.

“I am 30, at the peak of my career, I have to make right moves, do everything perfect.  I have the right people around and right team that will make everything happen.”

Khan has also not given up hopes of facing his one-time training partner Manny Pacquiao which was proposed but has failed to materialise so far.

“The Pacquiao fight could still happen. It wasn’t me who pulled out, he pulled out and fought an easy fight in Australia, probably for less money whereas the money on the table against me was a lot more. We are friends but if that happens, we have to put friendship aside,” he said.

The boxer is the co-owner of the company that has launched Super Fight league and now Super Boxing League, set to be held from July 7 to August 12, in India but is undeterred by the lack of support from the federations.

“We thought of bringing something new to the table. Boxing is growing fast in India,

“We have eight teams, five fighters in each team and one girl, the points system makes the sport quite exciting. It will all be explosive stuff. We are looking for the next champions and big names in India,” he added.