Out of the 544 boxers who began the XV AIBA World Championships 10 days ago just 44 now remain. Boxers from a record number of countries, 22 compared to 19 two years ago in Chicago, have reached today's semi-finals with Russia, who have eight remaining, the most successful country so far.

The home contingent has been reduced to two, but lightweight Domenico Valentino who faces Koba Pkhakadze of Georgia and super-heavyweight Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle who meets Viktar Zuyeu of Belorussia both stand a good chance of making the finals. Both Italians are in action in the afternoon session.

Other highlights from the afternoon session include the light-heavyweight clash between representatives of the two leading boxing superpowers, the Cuban José Larduet Gómez and Russian Artur Beterbiev. It will also be interesting to see whether China's giant Olympic silver medalist at super-heavyweight, Zhilei Zhang, can dispose of the technically gifted Russian, Roman Kapitonenko.

One of the fabulous Arroyo twins from Puerto Rico - McWilliams - meets the accomplished Ronny Beblik of Germany in an evening lightweight semi-final, while Val Baker Trophy-winner from the Beijing Olympics, featherweight Vasyl Lomachenko, is pitted against Bahodirjon Sultonov from Uzbekistan.

Vijender Singh - a national hero in his native India since the Beijing Games where he picked up the bronze medal - will have his hands, or rather gloves full in the middleweight semi-finals against Uzbekistan's former light-heavyweight Abbos Atoev, while the duel between Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and Russian Egor Mekhontsev in the heavyweight division could be the highlight of the whole World Championships. Usyk's combined record against his opponents here in Milan is 46 points to 4.