Indian Boxing Champion Vijender Singh Challenges Floyd Mayweather

Vijender Singh, who recently joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, has thrown down the gauntlet to boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. The Haryana-born boxer took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), posting "Let's fight Floyd Mayweather in India," tagging the undefeated American champion. While many view this challenge as ambitious, Singh's proposal comes in the wake of Jake Paul's impressive victory over Mike Tyson. 

A Champion's Journey

Born on October 29, 1985, in Bhiwani, Haryana, Singh comes from humble beginnings. His father, Mahipal Singh Beniwal, works as a bus driver with Haryana Roadways. Singh's boxing journey began during his college days at the Bhiwani Boxing Club, where he trained under renowned Indian boxing coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu. His dedication led to a historic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making him India's first Olympic boxing medalist.

Professional Career and Public Service

The Haryana government recognized Singh's achievements by appointing him as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Despite turning professional in 2015, he retained his position as DSP Sports. In his most recent professional bout in 2023, Singh demonstrated his prowess by defeating Ghana's Eliasu Sulley in the Jungle Rumble Pro Boxing event held in India.

Current Aspirations and Future Prospects

Singh's challenge to Mayweather, while bold, reflects the changing landscape of professional boxing, where cross-generation and cross-discipline matches are becoming more common. Though details about the potential bout's timing and venue remain unspecified, Singh's initiative has sparked discussions in the boxing community. Mayweather, with his perfect 50-0 professional record, remains one of boxing's most formidable figures, having never tasted defeat in his professional career.