Indian boxer and WBO Asia-Pacific super-middleweight champion Vijender Singh throws a punch at WBO Oriental champion Zulpikar Maimaitiali. Photo: AFP

Indian boxer Vijender Singh beats Chinese rival but doesn’t want to take his belt in gesture of goodwill

Indian wins ’Battleground Asia’ fight on Saturday and then offers to give his Chinese opponent’s belt back in a gesture of peace

Associated Press

Published: 2:25pm, 6 Aug 2017

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Indian boxer Vijender Singh won his fight on Saturday and then offered to give his Chinese opponent’s belt back in a gesture of peace between the two rival nations.

The fight against China’s Zulpikar Maimaitiali went all 10 rounds with Singh the winner in a unanimous verdict – 96-93, 95-94, 95-94.

Singh successfully defended his WBO Asia-Pacific super-middleweight title and also took his opponent’s WBO Oriental super-middleweight belt.

Singh celebrates after winning the double title-fight against Maimaitiali in Mumbai. Photo: AP

Singh hugged top Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and other celebrities among fans at the National Sports Club of India in Mumbai, the country’s financial and entertainment capital.

Singh then came back into the ring, took the microphone and said: “I don’t want this title. I will give it back to Zulpikar.”

Singh fights with Maimaitiali. Photo: AP

He added: “I don’t want tension on the border. It’s a message of peace. That’s important.”

The countries have been involved in a lingering dispute over a contested region high in the Himalayas where China, India and Bhutan meet.

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