I know Vijender Singh's weakness: Zulpikar Maimaitiali

Zulpikar Maimaitiali

Potential edge-of-the-seat ringside action laced with some pre-emtive patriotic emotion has built up Battleground Asia. WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Champion Vijender Singh will take on WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion Zulpikar Maimaitiali at Worli's NSCI stadium on August 5 and this event promises to be almost like a Bollywood blockbuster.

The double-title battle pits India's best boxer against China's No 1. And an upset Vijender's recent promise to beat the living daylights out of his international rival given the ongoing Indo-China border tension, has further incensed his Chinese rival. Now, in an interview with mid-day, Maimaitiali, 23, engages in some trash talk ahead of his life's biggest fight till date.

Vijender Singh

All eight pro boxers, who have fought against Vijender till date, had said that they would knock him out but they have all failed. You're saying the same thing. Why should people take you seriously?
The others have all failed because they did not train as hard as I am training. I am putting in 10 hours of training every day to ensure I can knock Vijender out within the first three rounds. I am putting in everything I can. I have to win Vijender's belt. And frankly, it's fine if people don't take me seriously. They will see for themselves in the ring. I am much younger than him and I am sure I have more power and stamina.

Vijender has said that he's more pumped up to fight you given the ongoing Indo-China border tension. Your comment?
This is something I don't want to comment on. I don't follow political happenings. I am only concentrating on my boxing.

Have you analysed Vijender's strengths and weaknesses? What are they?
Yes, my team has watched videos of all his fights. My team has analysed every single aspect - Vijender's strong and weak points - and we have a strategy in place. I cannot tell you what that is, but I can assure you that we have determined his weakness, and on D-Day I will work him around that. Vijender will be surprised when I land my punches. He has said that I'm a kid. He doesn't realise that I am his toughest opponent till date.

Does being a southpaw give you an advantage considering the last time Vijender fought against a left-hander (Kerry Hope), he was stretched to full 10 rounds?
It's he who will need to alter his technique, not me. I have nothing to worry about. The pressure will be on Vijender. He can't afford to lose at this age and that too against a "kid" like me.

You and Vijender have fought an equal number of pro bouts (8) but Vijender has more experience than you in number of rounds (30 vs 24). Does that give him an advantage?
If Vijender thinks that fighting just a couple of more rounds than me, will help him win, then he can be happy with that thought. He only fought six rounds more than me and in professional boxing that doesn't mean anything. Let's not forget that both of us have a no-loss record on the pro circuit and both have a high knockout ratio. So, the difference of a few rounds won't matter and you will see that when I go on to beat him in front of his home fans.

Speaking of home fans, Mumbai's NSCI Stadium will be a full house on August 5. How do you plan to tackle the crowd's boos and jeers when you fight the favourite?
Fighting abroad is not new to me. I have fought many fights outside my country. So fighting in front of an entirely new crowd or in front of an opposition crowd does not bother me. And though I respect the audience, the Indian crowd can cheer as much as they want for their favourite boxer, I can't wait to see what they do when Vijender gets punched on his face.