31-Jul20:36 PM
London: Indian boxer L Devendro Singh made a sensational debut in the Olympics, storming into the pre-quarterfinals of men's light fly weight category (49kg) in just twominutes and 64 seconds atthe ExCel Arena here on Tuesday.
Devendro stopped his opponent Bayron Molina Figueroa of Hondurus with36 seconds left in the opening round as the referee called off the unequal contest.
The RSC verdict for Devendro helped him join team-mates Vijender Singh and Jai Bhagwan in the pre-quarterfinals of the boxing competition.
The 20-year-old pocket-sized dynamo from Manipur meant business and started the bout on anagressive note against Figueroa.
Devendro displayed quicksilver foot work and stunned his opponent with a flurry of power-packed punches on both mitts to dominate the contest from the beginning.
The Indian knocked Figueroa down to the canvas on his haunches with a powerful left hook that rattled his Hondurian rival.
Thereafter, Devendro took control of the bout with some aggressive boxing and went hammer and tongs at his rival to force the referee to give his rival a standing 8-count twice in the opening round.
Figueroa failed to get backhis composure and footing back after the initial onslaught and the referee eventually had to stop the bout with 36 seconds still remaining in the opening round.
Devendro's domination can be gauged from the fact that he was leading 24:2 when the contest wasstopped. Devendro will now face Serdamba Purevdorj of Mongolia in the next round on Saturday. (PTI)