Vijender Singh is an unbeaten Indian super-middleweight boxer who hails from the Bhiwani district. He’s currently unbeaten in 9 fights, winning all 9 with 7 by the way of knockout. He currently holds the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight and the WBO Oriental Super Middleweight titles. Traditionally, the only weight class that ever mattered was the Heavyweight; but boxing has enjoy a rejuvenation, in all weight categories. This is underlined by the coverage the sport enjoys on television and on all respected bookmakers like Unibet.

Singh hit the headlines just recently though for offering to return the WBO Oriental Super Middleweight belt, the question is, why?

Singh’s opponent on Saturday was Zulpikar Maimaitiali and he hails from China. Since June there have been tensions between India and China over the proposed extension of a border road through a plateau between Donglang in China and Doklam in India. China wants to see the border road extended whilst Bhutan, backed by India, are against the idea. This has created a major dispute between the adjoining nations.

India feels if the road is extended it will give China more access to a corridor known as “chickens neck.” This would give them access to seven north-eastern states. There’s currently a stand-off between the nations with neither side willing to back down. So Singh saw the opportunity to try and ease tensions by offering back the belt he had just won from his Chinese counterpart.

Singh had beaten Maimaitiali in a 10 round fight by unanimous decision in India when he made the offer after dedicating his convincing victory to “India-China friendship.” However, it is not known as to whether Maimaitiali accepted the offer or indeed found it to be slightly insulting. Singh is still the registered holder of the WBO Oriental Super Middleweight belt as it stands. Singh said that the offer to return the belt was one of peace.

India currently have troops stationed at the border and China is demanding that they are removed so that they can press ahead with their extension plans. India have so far refused to back down and after Singh’s victory over Maimaitiali he asked for the Chinese not to go to the border.

The actual stand-off started when the Chinese made headway towards the border, an area that Bhutan believes is theirs. This led to a military stand-off with around 300 troops from both sides meeting at the plateau. There has been no progress so far but Singh saw his offer to return the belt as a message that the current conflict need not take place, asking China to stand down in the process.

With the situation currently unchanged and China wanting to press ahead it will be interesting to see the outcome, especially with Singh’s offer to Maimaitiali. Will the he accept the belt back as his own or will he allow Singh to keep it? After all it is rightfully Singh’s.