Vijendera Singh vs Francis Cheka: 8th consecutive win of Indian Golden-boy

Vijendera Singh vs Francis Cheka: 8th consecutive win of Indian Golden-boy

Trailblazer always sets examples for their challengers- this is what Vijendra singh has done in their boxing career. Although India has huge fan following for Cricket but when it comes to boxing a name- vijendra singh continually hovers in our minds because his past performances never disappointed us whether it was professional boxing or in Olymipic.

An alteration from winning an Olympic bronze medal to professional boxing has proved his unmatched swag.

Vijendra, who has won seventh profession combat in a row but everyone, knows warriors like challenges this is what happened when he defeated Australian Kerry Hopes in July this year in New Delhi, after crossing this stumbling block he takes on the Intercontinental Super Middleweight champion Francis Cheka on December 17 at the Thyagraj stadium in the national captital. For this combat he had trained himself very hard in Manchester for the next opponent and this helped a lot in boosting up his confidence.

On asking about his past experiences with another opponents like kerry, Vijendra answered in original tone-“I’m a professional boxer and I have experience and my country India is with me. As I had knuckled my previous opponents as my one punch will be enough for Francis cheka,”he said.

Vijendra, who holds the WBO Asia Pacific super middle weight title- his recent performance is a presentation for his bright future and which has also prompted his rivalry Former WBF world champion Cheka to dig at him.

A stadium full of Indian flag instigated a mutated power in the hands of Vijendra whose punches affected the body as well as the soul of Cheka. Cheka who is known for playing mind game and vocal in the ring had proved to be wiped out because the cheering for Indian Golden boy had muted the opponent’s vocal out there.

Having a professional career span of 17 years now and also have his name is counted with other big names like Paul Smith, Matthew Macklin and Fedor Chudinov. Cheka is a veteran of 43 fights and has 32 wins, 17 of them coming by way of knock-outs. But these numbers will not bog down Vijendra, who dismisses his opponent claims and achievement with   nonchalance.

“I will try to continue my winning chase. I have a 7-0 record and I am sure it will be 8-0. I have trained hard and worked a lot on my techniques. All I want to say that I am ready.

Stadium was full with the chant of –Viju-Viju Viju. For the support and cheering up celebrity as well as politicians was there like- Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Kirren Rijju but the presence of Ram-Dev baba stole the show among them. And then Cheka enters in to the ring,do an African sway, and then petroleum jelly was applied by his Tanazanian crew. Vijendra is famous for his upper cuts and slowly dominates and never try to be in haste. Finally the Indian hero enters- stadium was full with the chants-‘vee=jeeennn-darrr-“vii-jee-nn-derr” and then the hood was removed.

The Tanzanian national anthem began with a few Tanzanians in the crowd getting into the mood. The Indian anthem had the crowds singing along. This was a fight they had been waiting for and nationalistic fervor added to the occasion. Saina Nehwal, who reached the quarterfinals at the Beijing Olympics when Vijender picked up a bronze, tweeted: “We know you can do it once again. Don’t show any mercy!”

Both the boxers were in their corners as their men bellowed last-second instructions.

It was time for the boxers to extort some fear as the fans screamed for the fight to begin. At the bell, the boxers didn’t charge in but circled each a few feet from each other. Vijender, enjoying a height advantage 183 to Cheka’s 179 still had his guard on as the African crouched low, trying to find an opening. They circled like birds of prey – for the screaming fans at the Thyagraj stadium, there was only one prey – Cheka.

Cheka had won 32 of the 43 bouts in his career. Experience was on his side, even though he had never won outside the African continent. The second round began as the mist cleared around Cheka’s head. Shaking his head he came into the middle of the ring and began his crouch, a slightly unorthodox approach when fighting an opponent known for his reach and safety-first tactics. Vijender kept circling him as his corner yelled ‘go in.’ Cheka swung and missed, Vijender deftly stepping away before coming in with another right to the African’s head before Cheka thought it prudent to go into a clinch. The crowd bayed – VIIJEENDEERR.

Something told Vijender before the start of the third round that Cheka isn’t going to come out and trade punches or relax his guard. Cheka’s gum shield was loose and in that moment for a micro-second, the African tottered. Vijender pointed to the referee; most thought he was pointing to the loose gum shield. The referee took one look at Cheka and declared the fight over. The fans hadn’t even settled down and the African who promised so much through his words was ready to fly back. Vijender’s pre-fight prediction “I will put him down with one punch" had come true.

In fact, going back to the changing room was more of a challenge. Vijender had to wade through the crowd; some held onto him, touched him and one fan hugged and didn’t let go till he was forcibly pried out.

After the bout, Vijender said, “I did fall for all that Cheka was saying in the media. A few people in my group did ask me to be careful. But after the first round, I had his measure and then I sorted him out.” In fact, in the middle of the second round, after landing one straight to the face, Vijender did a bit of show-boating, one leg tucked behind the other as he gleefully smiled at Cheka. The crowd roared.

It was Vijender’s eighth consecutive win in professional boxing and second at home; also his seventh knockout in eight bouts. “Two months of training in Manchester has done me good,” said the Indian champion, "I am happy and I believe in punch-power.”

Vijender dedicated his win to the martyred Indian soldiers. His next bout and opponent should be up in six months’ time, probably taking place in China or Dubai. The word ‘biopic’ was thrown in as Vijender smiled. “I keep on repeating ‘Picture abhi baaki hain mere dost’. It’s not the end for me right now, and when I retire that would be the time for a biopic to be made on me. So, I don’t think so, it’s the right time as I haven’t ended my career now.”