When Evander Holyfield came looking for Vijender

8220;Later I was told that he praised my performance, which was very nice of him and a great honour for me,8221; the middle weight pugilist added.

A former world heavyweight champion, Holyfield, who was also seen at bantam weight boxer Akhil Kumar8217;s quarterfinal bout against Moldovan Veaceslav Gojan, is now a recruiter for professional boxing in the USA.

Vijender, however, is not keen on turning professional.

8220;I did give it a thought some time back but I am not interested anymore. I am focused on amateur boxing and I have no plans to turn pro,8221; he said.

The 22-year-old said he would cut down on his appearances in the National Championships to be in shape for international events.

8220;Since I have become a DSP with the Haryana government, I can8217;t participate in the Nationals this year but even otherwise, I would not be seen very often in the national events,8221; he revealed.

The dapper six-footer has been flooded with modelling offers after his Olympic success and is already a youth icon for a leading insurance company.

8220;But I am tired of telling people that my first love is boxing. I am a boxer first but unfortunately my modelling assignments have invited criticism from some quarters, which I think is baseless,8221; he said.

Just days after becoming a national hero with his Olympic medal, Vijender had landed in a soup for posing with a cigarette during a magazine photo-shoot.

And wary of inviting similar trouble, he refused to pose with a 8216;hookah8217; at his home in Kaluwas village here.

8220;Who knows, this might also snowball into a controversy and people will say that I am setting a wrong precedent for the youngsters.8221;

Another irritant for Vijender is the never-ending queries about Bollywood star Bipasha Basu and her much-publicised offer to go on a date with him had he won the gold in Beijing.

8220;I wonder why I keep getting asked about it even though I have answered the same question over and over again? It is irritating, I am sick of it,8221; he said.

But despite all this, Vijender says he has thoroughly enjoyed the adulation that has been showered upon by him by the nation.

8220;It is humbling,8221; is how he summed up the experience so far.

Although he wants to better his performance in 2012 London Olympics, Vijender said he is keen to take a break from boxing for now.

8220;It is time to have fun right now after all the hard work. I shall be back in action but give me a break. Let me savour the moment,8221; he says.