Baku: Asian champion Suranjoy Singh became the first Indian boxer to clinch a gold medal at the inter-continental President's Cup after out-punching Frenchman Nordine Oubaali 8-1 in the fly weight (51kg) finals.
The 22-year-old Manipuri's triumph also fetched him a USD 3,000 cash prize at the prestigious season-ending event, where confederations from Asia, America, Africa, Europe and Oceania were pitted against each other.
Representing Asia One, Suranjoy didn't allow his rival from the Europe Two team to land a single scoring punch in the first two rounds.
Relying on his trademark left straights and cross punches, the reigning national champion opened up a 3-0 lead at the end of the opening round.
Suranjoy scored another four points in the next three minutes to be 7-0 ahead. The final round ended 1-1 but the huge lead from the previous two rounds was enough for the Indian to emerge triumphant.
"Nordine is a good boxer and fights very aggressively but I pushed him on the backfoot in the very first round. I had never fought against him before but it was not that difficult to read his game once I entered the ring," an elated Suranjoy told reporters.
"I wanted to win a gold and I have done that. I will be getting some prize money for this but that was always a secondary thing for me," he added.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 11, 2009, 18:01