India’s professional boxing star Vijender Singh will take on Russia’s Artysh Lopsan on his return to the ring after over a year disrupted by Covid-19 during which he relied on his amateur contemporary and former Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Jai Bhagwan for training assistance.

Vijender and Losan will square off on March 19 in a super middle-weight (76kg) showdown on the rooftop deck of the Majestic Pride Casino Ship in Panaji, Goa. Lopsan’s name was revealed at a media conference here.

“It wasn’t the easiest year and initially it took a while for the body to respond. But the last two months have been fabulous for me,” Vijender said.