London Olympics 2012 Boxing: Power-packed Devendro storms into pre-quarters

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 two minutes and 24 seconds at the ExCel Arena here on Tuesday.

READ AS IT HAPPENED HERE: Devendro vs Molina » Devendro stopped his opponent Bayron Molina Figueroa of Hondurus with 36 seconds left in the opening round as the referee called off the unequal contest. The RSC verdict for Devendro helped him join teammates 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 an agressive 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 back his 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 was stopped. Devendro will now face Serdamba Purevdorj of Mongolia in the next round on Saturday. PTI