London: Olympics bronze medallist pugilist Vijender Singh will make his professional debut on October 10th against Britain’s Sonny Whiting, a statement from the organisers said on Tuesday.

Vijender will make his debut in the middleweight division, which consists of four three-minute rounds. The fight will be held at the Manchester Arena.

The 29-year-old Harayana born, who has based himself in Manchester and is training under coach Lee Beard, expressed his excitement on the eve of the latest chapter of his decorated career.

“It is getting very close now to my professional debut now and I can’t wait for it,” Vijender said in a statement on Monday.

“I have trained very hard and diligently for this fight in Manchester with Lee Beard who has been important in refining my style from the amateur way of fighting into the professional sport which is totally different.”

“It is like I’m starting my boxing career all over again. Even though I accomplished so much as an amateur boxer, to begin my professional career I’ve had to start all over again with my training to prepare for my pro debut and it has been a very exciting time,” the two-time Asian Games medal winner added.

He is aware his Kent-born opponent Whiting, with a record of two professional wins from three fights with one knockout, will provide him stiff opposition.

“There has been a lot of changes and a lot of things we have been working on like the technical aspect of boxing, changing my diet and training schedule, the physical and mental preparation, it has all been important and I believe that I’m ready to fight,” the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee said.

“I know that my opponent Sonny Whiting will not be an easy first fight. He has already had three fights so he’ll be prepared and I hear that he wants to defeat me in my first pro fight. He won’t beat me, I’m so focused and determined on what I have to do.”