Vijender Singh makes US boxing debut

Beijing Olympics bronze medalist and current unbeaten super middleweight contender Vijender Singh has made a debut in the United States boxing after signing a multi-year agreement with Top Rank, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

The 33-year-old, who has fought all but one of his professional bouts in India and England, will make his debut under the Top Rank banner in early 2019.

Reflecting on the same, Singh said, "I am really excited to be on board with Bob Arum and Top Rank. I have always wanted to work with someone who is the best in the business, and I know Top Rank has been the driving force behind boxing's biggest superstars, including Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, and Miguel Cotto. I am eagerly waiting for a date for my U.S. debut to take on the world and keep the Indian flag on the world boxing map fluttering high."

Bob Arum welcomed the Indian boxer into the contract and expressed his intention to make Singh a "big star" in the US.

"Top Rank is very excited to enter into a contract with Vijender. We intend to make him a big star in the United States and look forward to him participating in major events in India, where he is already a major superstar," Bob Arum said.

Singh turned pro in 2015 following an extensive amateur career that made him a mainstream celebrity. As an 18-year-old, he represented his homeland as a light welterweight at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Four years later, at the Beijing Olympics and fighting as a middleweight, Singh captured a bronze medal to become India's first Olympic boxing medalist.

During the 2008 Olympics, he defeated Badou Jack, a current light heavyweight contender, and former two-weight world champion.

Singh went on to capture bronze at the 2009 World Championships (where he defeated current top middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko), gold at the 2010 Asian Games, and qualified for the 2012 Olympics.