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After Shiva Thapa was knocked out by Ramirez of Cuba, much of India’s medal hopes in boxing was expected to be shouldered by Vikas Krishan, who had dispatched highly rated American boxer Charles Conwell in the round of 32.
He did not disappoint.
Vikas Krishan once again gameplanned to perfection coming up against another southpaw in Onder Sipal of Turkey, as he procured a straight-forward victory to book a Quarterfinal berth in the Men’s 75kg weight class.
Sipal, who fought much of the fight with his guard down, often times found himself the victim of Vikas Krishan’s combinations, as he was left playing catch up after the first round where the Indian came out all guns blazing and seemingly landed at will.
With Sipal chasing the fight from Round 2, Vikas maintained impeccable footwork as he circled away and cut angles, all the while getting the Turkish fighter to overextend and commit to his shots, before countering him.
What was particularly impressive and note-worthy was how Vikas maintained a great angle on the psychology of the fight; knowing exactly when to lead and when to counter, often times leaving his opponent helpless.
To be fair to him, Sipal did land a few telling blows, but at no point did Vikas Krishan look like he had lost control in the fight.
Such a consummate performance should give him confidence going into the Quarterfinals, and he would need all of it, considering that he is fighting Bektemir Melikuziev of Uzbekistan, who absolutely dismantled Australian Daniel Lewis in the Round of 16.
Like Vikas, Bektemir Melikuziev is also a southpaw and a very compact fighter from the looks of it. Vikas Krishan is going to be on his A-game to thwart his opponent yet again, and progress to the Semifinals.
(Photo Credits: Indian Express)
