03 August,2016 08:11 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
Indian boxing star Vijender Singh has broken into the top 10 of the WBO rankings. Wrestler Sushil Kumar took to Twitter to congratulate the Asia Pacific super middleweight champion
New Delhi: Indian boxing star Vijender Singh added another feather to his cap and made India proud after breaking into the top 10 of the World Boxing Organisation's (WBO) rankings on Wednesday. The pugilist is placed at 10th after being crowned its Asia Pacific super middleweight champion here last month.
Vijender beat former WBC European champion Kerry Hope en route to clinching the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title belt with a unanimous 98-92, 98-92, 100-90 (3-0) judges' decision after a grueling 10-rounder in his first .
The star professional boxer remains unbeaten since he turned professional last year, recording seven straight wins -- six of them knockouts.
The Indian is placed above rising American star Trevor McCumby, who is also undefeated in the circuit with 22 wins, 17 of them knockouts.
After winning his first title belt, also the first by an Indian boxer on home soil, Vijdner had said, "Finally, I have done it. I have won a title. This belt means a lot of things. It's all about hard work and dedication. This is for my country.
Vijender had promised that it as only the start of bigger and better things to come as he would now test the deeper waters of professional boxing having broken into the Top 15. "This is just the beginning. My world ranking will be in the Top 15 now and I will get tougher fights in the future, but I am ready for it. I will work even more harder with my coaches and my team and we will go for it," said the 30-year-old Bhiwani boxer.
"It's just the start for me, one day I want to be the No.1 in the world. That's my dream and I am sure I will achieve it," Vijender, who was India's first Olympic and World Championships medal winner in a trailblazing amateur career, had said.
A rung above Vijender is US-based Russian Matt Korobov, who has 26 wins in 27 fights so far.
The top slot in the super middleweight category is held by American Jesse Hart, the reigning North American Boxing Organisation (NABO) champion.
The Indian might face Commonwealth champion Luke Blackledge in his next fight, his promoters had hinted after the triumph title triumph here.
Vijender, who is currently in India, met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday.
