A new era for youth boxing got underway amid colourful scenes as the 1st AIBA Youth World Championships began in the "Unidad Deportiva" López Mateos complex, Guadalajara, Mexico on Saturday.

A total of 287 boxers will partake in the AIBA Youth World Championships Guadalajara 2008, which replaces the AIBA Junior World Championships, with 39 bouts having taken place on the first day.

The local fans were excited when Oscar Valdes beat Breddy Cobia from Barbados 12-0 in two rounds in the category of 57kgs in one of the first bouts of the day and will face the representative of Kajastán, Koitayev Berik, who defeated the Ecuadorian Luis Porozo. Both winners will face off on Monday. Valdes' counterpart Luis Alberto Vazquez was defeated by Armenia's Karen Aylazyan12-7 in the 51kg class.

In other results Welbeth Loberanis from the Philippines completed an overwhelming 27-3 victory over Brazilian Adauton Santos while Puerto Rico's Jonathan Gonzalez defeated Australian Kyle Freiberg 10-0. In one of the best bouts of the day Germany's Artur Schmidt pipped Robert Brant from the U.S. 25-22, however this was bettered by Australia's Ibrahim Balla, who sneaked home 12-11 over Yoshinori Kodama of Japan with the last point being awarded to Balla two seconds before the final bell.

Sunday sees 53 more bouts with 26 in the afternoon session and 27 in the evening featuring the 48kg, 51kg, 60kg, 69kg and 75kg classes.

AIBA Youth World Championships Guadalajara 2008 tournament page