Francis Warren: Vijender Singh Homecoming Plans Underway

By Elliot Foster

Vijender Singh is set to return to the ring next month but plans are already underway for his homecoming.

The Indian sensation, who has raced to three fights undefeated since making his debut last October, will feature as part of the undercard to an all-North West world title clash, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

Singh (3-0, 3 KOs), 30, will box on the undercard of Terry Flanagan’s WBO lightweight title defence against Derry Mathews on February 13 at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena.

He’s impressed in all of his fights to date, with 20 million viewers tuning in for his debut at the Manchester Arena before a further five million viewers were glued to their sets for his last outing.

And as a result of the popularity, his promoter Francis Warren has confirmed that Queensberry Promotions will take him back to India for a home country showcase this summer.

But first, Singh will box, as mentioned, in Liverpool before featuring in London, at the Copper Box Arena, on March 12.

“Plans are underway [for the homecoming of Vijender],” Warren told media at the ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ press conference in Liverpool yesterday.

“The first [fight in India] will be [at a venue with an attendance of] between 10,000 and 12,000 and then we have something huge around September or October.

“It’s going to be something that’s never been done before. It’s going to be crazy. Lots of people are interested in boxing [in India] now [and that is mainly down to Vijender’s popularity.”

Singh, whose most recent outing was the week before Christmas when he stopped Samet Hyuseinov inside two rounds, recently signed a “major” deal with Star TV in India, with the channel broadcasting five of his fights.

Warren, who signed the amateur star in June last year, continued in his appraisal of the Delhi native.

He said: “He’s making big waves and improving on a daily basis. Vijender is the flagbearer for Indian boxing, he’s taken a huge step to putting his country on the boxing map by coming over here.

“But what we will do in India this year is going to be big news.”