Vijender�s US debut set for April 12, starts training under Freddie Roach

NEW DELHI, March 6: Indian boxing star Vijender Singh will make his debut in the American professional circuit on April 12 against a yet-to-be-decided opponent and is currently training under Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, who shaped the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Mike Tyson.

Vijender, unbeaten in his 10-bout pro career, will make his US debut at Staples Centre on The Vasiliy Lomachenko-Anthony Crolla undercard. It will be an eight-round contest and his opponent will be announced later.

The 33-year-old Vijender recently relocated his training base to Los Angles where he is training at the Wild Card Boxing Club under Roach, a 2012 International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) inductee, his India promoters IOS Boxing Promotions said in a press release.

In his 32 years as a trainer, Roach is widely regarded as one of the best boxing coaches of all time.

Roach has been mentor to 36 world champions including the likes of Tyson, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, five-time and four-division world champion Miguel Cotto and multiple world champion Oscar de La Hoya. He has also trained former junior welterweight champion Amir Khan.

Vijender�s April 12 bout will stream live in the United States.

�I am thrilled to start my training under such a legendary figure in world boxing,� Vijender said.

�Professional boxing in United States is of the highest level, and I believe Freddie is the right guy to bring the best out of me. I look forward to showing the boxing fans a new and improved Vijender Singh,� he added.

Roach feels India�s first Olympic medallist in boxing has what it takes to be a world champion in the highly competitive US circuit. � PTI