Indian boxer Vijender Singh defeated Welsh-born Australian Kerry Hope 98-92 92-92 100-90 at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhi on Saturday to win the World Boxing Organisation's Asia Pacific super middleweight title. This was Singh's seven straight win on the trot.

The 30-year-old from Haryana got into his groove after a cagey opening, landing some meaty blows, especially focusing on Hope's body, mixing it up with upper cuts and opening up a cut under the Australia's right eye. It wasn't till the third round that Hope finally found an opening through Singh's immaculate defence, landing a few close punches.

However, Singh was brilliant in the sixth round, stunning Hope with a barrage of hooks to his face. The Australian remained on his feet, but Singh operated to a wily gameplan, ensuring that he blocked his opponent as much as possible to exhaust. Singh himself was tired too, but managed to stay on to win his seventh straight victory in professional boxing, and the WBO Asia-Pacific super middleweight title.