NEW DELHI, July 11: Quite happy to be tagged the underdog, Indian boxing star Vijender Singh�s Welsh-born Australian opponent for this Saturday�s WBO Asia title bout, Kerry Hope, today said he is inspired by the giant-slaying Welsh football team which stunned one and all by reaching the Euro Championships semifinals recently.
Hope, a former WBC middleweight champion, has moved up a division to super middleweight for the clash against Vijender, who is undefeated since turning pro last year and has claimed all his wins via knockouts.
�I will chop him down,� was the 34-year-old�s prompt reply when asked whether he has figured out how to hand Vijender his maiden professional defeat.
If the title itself on the line was not inspiration enough, Hope said he has also drawn from the fabulous run that Gareth Bale and Co. Enjoyed at the just-concluded Euro where they stunned the more fancied Belgium to make the semifinals beating all expectations.
Wales lost to eventual champions Portugal in the last-four stage.
�I have been following them but because of the time difference in Australia, I didn�t get a chance to watch all the games. But they have done well, We lost to eventual champions, Portugal. I feel inspired by them, I have a chance to do what they did in the Euros, triumph of the underdog,� Hope said. � PTI
