London, July 29 (IANS) Boxers Vijender Singh and his childhood friend Jai Bhagwan set the record straight for India, after the disappointment of Shiva Thapa, as they made their way to the round of 16 with convincing victories at the London Olympics here Sunday.
Vijender, a Beijing Games bronze medallist, punched his way past Kazhakastan’s Danabek Suzhanov in the 75 kg class late Saturday night.
Down by two points, Suzhanov tried to go on the offensive in the third round, but Vijender was more than equal to the task as he finished the bout with the score on 14-10.
Compatriot Jai Bhagwan backed by a large Indian crowd at the ExCeL London Exhibition Centre decimated Andrique Allisop of Seychelles 18-8 in the lightweight (60 kg) category.
It was almost a no-contest as the Indian dominated the bout with flurry of combination jabs and punches. By the end of the first round itself, Bhagwan was was more or less through, having established a 7-3 lead.
It was all over for the Seychelles boxer as Bhagwan thrashed him in the second round with an identical score. The third round was a mere formality and Bhagwan went through the motions to return with a 4-2 score.
India’s boxing campaign got off to a disappointing start Saturday with promising teenager Thapa being knocked out by Mexico’s Oscar Valdez Fierro in the round of 32.
