Vijender Singh (75kg) took just over a minute to pull off an intimidating knock-out win and assure himself of a second successive Commonwealth Games medal. However, it was curtains for defending champion Akhil Kumar who was beaten by Olympic bronze-medallist Bruno Julie in the boxing quarter-finals of the event in New Delhi on Sunday.
Asian silver-medallist Jai Bhagwan (60kg), Asian bronze-medallist Manoj Kumar (64kg) and nine-time national champion Dilbag Singh (69kg) were the other three boxers who assured India of medals at the event.
The raucous crowd at the Talkatora Stadium had not even settled down after giving him a thunderous welcome before World No 1 Vijender knocked out Elias Nashivela of Namibia within just a minute and 22 seconds of entering the ring.
The 24-year-old Olympic and World Championship bronze-medallist was leading 2-0 against an immensely intimidated rival who seemed too wary of even approaching the local favourite for an attack. The blow that left Nashivela dazed was a powerful left hook.
"When you have a ranking of world number one, rivals do get intimidated but I never take anyone lightly. I wanted to play three full rounds but it ended up being a knock-out," Vijender said.
"The fight is on for a gold and I have to beat my rivals for that. My reputation alone won't get me points but yes the crowd support and the atmosphere gives me a lot of energy and at times ends up affecting my rivals," said the dashing Haryana-lad, who had won a silver in the previous edition of the Games.
He will now face England's Anthony Ogogo, who defeated Yves Ulysse of Canada 6-2.
"I have heard he is a tough customer and I am sure the crowd will get to see a good, competitive bout," Vijender said.
Earlier, Jai, a Commonwealth Championship gold-medallist, blanked Waheed Sogbamu of Nigeria 10-0, Dilbag thrashed Botswana's Moabi Mothiba 11-3 and Manoj defeated Kenya's
Blackmoses Mathenge 6-2 to join Amandeep Singh (49kg) and Suranjoy Singh (52kg), who won their quarter-final bouts on Saturday, in assuring themselves of their maiden CWG medals.
"A medal here would be life-changing for me especially if it ends up being a gold medal. I would get fame and there would be financial benefits as well," said an elated Jai, who had almost given up boxing before Vijender motivated him to return to the national camp in 2008.
However, it was heartbreak for Akhil who lost 5-7 to Julie after a see-saw battle. Ironically, Akhil had beaten the 33-year-old in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games final.
The 29-year-old was the first Indian to take the ring on Sunday and after an exhausting pre-quarterfinal win over European silver-medallist Iain Weaver of England on Saturday, the Indian seemed tired.
Both the boxers were tied 1-1 after the opening round but Akhil began to lose his grip over the fight in the second round when Julie took a crucial one-point lead to make it 3-2 in his favour.
Julie then managed to connect on counter-punches, wrapping up the tense proceedings in his favour in the final three minutes.
"A loss is a loss, I don't have anything to say. I had beaten this same guy in the 2006 CWG finals, he must have done something right to win today," said the feisty Haryana-boxer.
"I gave my best and don't think I could have done anything better. This is the way I fight," he added when asked whether his natural style of keeping a low guard cost him the bout.
