GURUGRAM: Rajesh Kumar (24) alias Luka, originally from Bhiwani — considered the hub of boxers in the country — is gearing up to defend his World Youth Lightweight title against Ghanaian
boxer Bright Ayala in a competition to be organised by the World Boxing Council (WBC) at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex on October 20.
After finishing school, Rajesh was spotted by coach Devraj Singh and started to practise boxing. However, he lost his father to cancer in 2013 and had to support his family. He set up a
tea stall near the Bhiwani bus stop and earned around Rs 500 daily which, he said, was just enough to support his family. Nowadays, when he is participating in competitions, the brother runs the tea stall.
“I come from a poor family. I lost my sister to cancer in 2011 and two years later, my father died. We had no money and I had to support my mother and brother. So, I worked at the tea
stall for the entire day but practised boxing at Sai Hostel in Bhiwani for two hours,” said Rajesh.
Sai Hostel is also the place where boxing pro Vijender Singh practised.
“Vijender has always been my inspiration. I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps. Besides, boxing gave me the strength to keep on moving despite difficulties. It was an escape from thinking about the tragedies which were unfolding at home,” Rajesh said. On his former coach, who passed away in 2015, he said, “I have a lot of respect for Devraj Singh because he taught me how to play boxing and helped me get into pro-boxing.” Rajesh has not had a coach since 2015.
Rajesh
won the Federation Cup in 2012. On his switch to professional boxing, he said, “I was doing my best at amateur boxing but I needed more money to support my family, and that’s why I started professional boxing in 2015.”
In 2016, he participated in a professional boxing championship in South Korea and won the championship in four rounds. Then he won the WBC title in Panchkula in April, this year.
