'Vijender Singh doesn't have time left for Rio Olympic trials'

New Delhi: A couple of days after ace Indian boxer Vijender Singh showed his eagerness to take part in Olympic trials, his UK-based promoter Francis Warren made it clear that he is not happy with the Professional pugilist's willingness for the Rio Games.

"I won't at all be happy, if he wants to go there. As I see it, there is no time. Of course he is his own man, he has his own mind but that cannot hinder with what we have planned for him because it's taken a year to reach where he has. He has contractual obligations with us," Warren was quoted as saying by PTI.

To back his statement, Warren tried to gave a logic by saying, "If Vijender wins on July 16, he will enter the top-15 of the WBO rankings. From there, we are looking at a world title bout in the next few months. It (going to Olympic qualifiers) is not something that he can decide on his own. He will have to discuss with us and we will do that in private, behind closed doors."

The situation has occurred after International Boxing Association (AIBA) gave a green signal to professional boxers to compete in Olympics.

Vijender, who became a professional boxer last year, is quite eager to cash in the opportunity given by AIBA, as the pugilist said, “I am ready to even pay from my own pocket.”

But, the Olympic bronze medalist can only book a Rio ticket in the 75kg category, if another Indian pugilist Vikas Krishnan fails to grab a berth in the final qualifier, which is scheduled to take place in Baku, from June 16 to 25.

Rio qualifiers for Pro boxers are scheduled in the first week of July.

At present, Shiva Thapa is the lone Indian boxer to have qualified for the Rio Games.