Burkina Faso's only boxer in Baku is African Zonal Champion, 22-year-old Brice Romaric Bassole, who was also part of the AIBA 'Road to Milan' program two years ago. The African fighter secured his first victory ever in a worldwide event when defeating El Salvador's 17-year-old great hope, Nathan Robert Ridings by 22:11.

One of the best Caribbean boxer, Central American and Caribbean Games gold medallist, 23-year-old Valentino Knowles had to fight against India's Commonwealth Games winner Manoj Kumar on his opening contest. The Indian fighter defeated Knowles in the Commonwealth Games' semi-finals in Delhi last year. On their re-match in Baku, Kumar also eliminated his Caribbean rival by 17:11.

Nicaragua's Pan-American Games Qualification Tournament bronze medallist and AIBA 'Road to Baku' member, Luis Adonis Amador had no chance to beat Turkey's Beijing Olympian, Onur Sipal who started with a massive 6:0 and finally defeated his Central American rival by 16:5.

Sri Lanka's World Military Championships bronze medallist, Sisira Ruwangala Kumarasinghe also had to fight against a top European rival for his debut in Baku. European Championships bronze medallist, Italian Vincenzo Mangiacapre has developed his skills recently and triumphed over his Sri Lankan rival by an impressive 20:3.

The first fight between two 'Road to Baku' members was held in the light welterweight class when Youth Olympian, 18-year-old Lyndel Marcellin from Saint Lucia and Niger's inexperienced but strong Adamou Mounkaila competed to qualify for the last 32. After the first round, both boxers had six points but Marcellin had a great final minute to win the bout by 20:15.

Bolivia's Elias Raul Roca had a first opportunity to fight outside the American continent. In Baku he faced Australia's current National Champion, Jeffrey Horn. The 23-year-old Aussie set up a new record in the championships an extremely high number of points, 42, to eliminate his inexperienced Bolivian rival.

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