It was the right time to turn pro: Vijender Singh

NEW DELHI: All set for the tougher but more lucrative professional circuit, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh today said he has no regrets about quitting amateur boxing just one year before the Olympics as it was the "right time" to do so.

Without doubt the biggest name in Indian boxing after he became the first to bag an Olympic and World Championship medal, the 29-year-old signed a multi-year agreement with Queensberry Promotions in London today that will see the middleweight fight a minimum of six times in the first year.

"I came here (London) to train basically but the promoters, the trainers and the facilities here were so impressive that I decided that it was the right time to take the professional plunge," Vijender told PTI from London.

"I really liked the set up here and had a chat with my wife (Archana) about going professional. She said 'why not' and that was it. Professional was always on my mind and I felt that these promoters were just perfect for me," he said.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) rules on boxers joining professional leagues other than the ones promoted by AIBA clearly state that they become ineligible for amateur competitions.

"It's not as if I won't be representing the country anymore. I would be doing that but on a different platform," he said.

The strapping six-footer is not the first Indian boxer to go professional but is the biggest star that the country has produced.