Vijender Singh, the first boxer from India (and still the only male) to win a medal in the Olympics, spoke to The Telegraph from Manchester before boarding a flight on the way back home for the Big Fight against China's Zulpikar Maimaitiali.
Extremely courteous, Vijender was also very patient and took questions for around 25 minutes.
Excerpts...
Q As a pro, seven of your eight wins have come via knockouts, a record that has made you the Knockout King...
A (Laughs) Sir, I haven't given myself any label. Labels come from the media and maybe fans... My job is to give off my best in the ring, not think about labels.
Opponents have been reluctant to face you. Even the King of Asia bout against Maimaitiali got delayed...
I can't say why some were reluctant. Maimaitiali, I believe, had backed out of the April 1 bout on technical grounds. Now that everything is settled for August 5 (bout to be telecast on Sony Pictures Networks channels), fans can expect a grand show in Mumbai.
Today, how are you looking at the bout against Maimaitiali?
Main confident hoon... I've trained well in Manchester. Of late, the emphasis has been on weight management and fine-tuning technique.
Have you faced Maimaitiali before?
No, but I've watched Maimaitiali's fights on YouTube.
How do you rate Maimaitiali?
It's not for me to either praise or discredit anybody. All I'll say is that I'm confident.
The bout will take place at a time of considerable tension between India and China... Would that be a factor in more frenzied crowd support for you?
One hundred per cent... Bilkul... We Indians are very emotional and I do expect massive support... In fact, some friends from England, Switzerland and a few other countries are planning to travel to Mumbai.
But fighting at home is bound to create pressure too...
I see it as an advantage only. Boxing is a participative sport and those in the ring do need the support of fans. I look forward to that as it helps me land punches on the opponent. If I don't, he will kill me.
The winner will retain his title in addition to claiming that of his opponent. An added incentive, surely...
Definitely. Mumbai won't be witnessing just another fight. While I'm the WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight champion, Maimaitiali holds the WBO Oriental super middleweight title. It will be wonderful if I get to hold two titles, instead of one.
So far, which has been the most satisfying knockout?
My fifth bout as a professional, against a Frenchman.
Matiouze Royer, in London?
Yes... I'm not good with remembering names, but I certainly remember the nationality. I won on a technical knockout.
Why not any other bout?
Because my coach (Lee Beard) rated the Frenchman highly... He'd drilled it into me that he was very good. So, I was even more determined to win.
Does the coach have a big influence on you?
I've been training with Lee for the past couple of years and, so far, we've had a successful run.
What made you choose Manchester as your home outside India?
Lee is an Englishman... The training facilities and the general environment in Manchester are good... Look, in India, there are many distractions. Too many calls and many requests. In Manchester, I can train in a focused manner.
Are you, by the way, a Man U fan?
I'm a fan of football, not of any one club. I have, of course, watched Man U matches... Even those of Arsenal and Man City... Football is really big in England.
Am curious... How do you prepare on the day of a bout? Do you cut yourself off from the rest of the world? Meditate or listen to music? Or, something else?
Main har cheez karta hoon... I don't take calls and limit my interactions to family and, maybe, very close friends. Otherwise, I'm focused exclusively on taking to the ring in the evening.
How much of boxing actually is mental?
Boxing is a mental, not a physical, sport. Yeh dimaag ka khel hai. It's with a reason that the mind sits on the rest of the body... The mind dictates how the body reacts.
What about the luck factor?
The luck element is there, but more important is the timing (of punches)... Most important is confidence.
Is amateur boxing more competitive than at the professional level?
There's competition everywhere... Nobody offers you wins on a platter. So, whether as an amateur or a professional, you have to earn every win.
What are the qualities a boxer aspiring to be at the top must have?
Mental toughness, supreme confidence, the ability to perform at his optimum level in every bout.
Who has been your role model?
My Dadaji (paternal grandfather) Dariyo Singh, who retired as a subedar-major... He was a boxer and, on retirement, brought home his gloves... Those gloves fascinated me and, gradually, got me hooked to boxing.
Later on?
Quite a few boxers internationally, but I would not like to take names.
Favourite sportsmen or sportswomen?
I am a lover of sport and have quite a few favourites... Many from India... Sachin Tendular Paaji, Virender Sehwag, (Mahendra Singh) Dhonisaab, Bhaichung Bhutia... I must add Shahid Afridi's name... Jab woh connect karta tha, to kya shots hote thae.
Some questions of a personal nature... How much did the Beijing Olympics bronze alter your life?
Changed everything... Nobody knew of Vijender Singh before I got the medal, but life took a 360-degree turn on August 22, 2008. I'm indebted to the Beijing Olympics.
You're 31. Can we expect another medal from you in the Olympics?
Duniya ummeed pe kayam hai... Let there be hope... Let us see.
Are you superstitious?
One becomes superstitious when one is scared! Darr se superstitions to aa hi jate hain.
Who do you think of on entering the ring?
Uparwale ka main naam leta hoon.
Does your wife Archana watch your bouts?
No... No... She's the religious type, is busy with prayers.
Finally... Given the risks involved, haven't you ever been scared?
(Passionately) Sir, darr ke aage jeet hoti hai... One has to conquer any fear which may be there... One has to stay in the moment, think only of the bout, not fear.
