The experienced Indian weathered a flurry of punches from his rookie American opponent to win a very technical battle.
India’s Vijender Singh breezed into the quarterfinal of the 75 kg men’s middleweight boxing with an assured win over his immensely talented American opponent Terrell Gausha on Friday.
Vijender, 26, a veteran of three Olympic campaigns across categories, boxed like the champ he is despite the fast-armed American coming out with a flurry of punches, especially in the first round.
The Olympic and World bronze medallist Vijender had the measure of Gausha in the first round, though the American came out as the more aggressive puncher. The wily Indian weathered the initial onslaught before landing a few punches that mattered to take the first round 4-3.
The American corner switched tactics – Gausha was the busy boxer in round 1, in the second, he ceded space and movement to Vijender and held the centre of the ring. Vijender was up to the task and landed a few good punches while taking a few himself and the second round ended 5-5.
The American knew he had to give his all in the last round and did exactly that. But Vijender was up to the task and summoned all his experience to hold off his younger rookie opponent. Gausha’s inexperience showed as he allowed Vijender to claw back towards the end of the final round, which was adjudged 7-7, indicating a lot more activity compared to the previous two rounds.
The commentators were surprised that Vijender got away with it in the first round, but while the audience may have found a competitor superior, it is the judges who decide the eventual winner.
On that count, Vijender showed what an experienced campaigner he is, and came up trumps on counts that mattered.
As the referee summoned the two boxers for the result, the American was pumping himself – and the crowd – up with self-assuring gestures, while Vijender was almost sphinx-like. And when the judges read out the verdict 16-15 in favour of him, he just pulled a mock trigger at his opponent and that was it.
While Gausha will definitely go a long way in the years to come, the elder and more experienced champ had outwitted him in a technical battle.
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