Flyweight favourite, European Champion and AIBA World Championships bronze medallist Misha Aloyan of Russia made his long-awaited debut on the seventh day of competition. The 23-year-old star dominated his fight against Botswana's All Africa Games winner Oteng Oteng, who eliminated Turkey's tough competitor Selcuk Eker in the previous round, with the final score in their bout 18:5. Aloyan is now one win away from securing Olympic qualification for London.
Cuba's Youth Olympic Games winner Robeisy Ramirez outclassed Nepal's last hope Sudesh Manandhar with the referee stopping the one-sided contest in the second round when the Caribbean fighter led 12:0. Ramirez will be celebrating only his 18th birthday in December but despite his tender years he stands a good chance against Aloyan in the next round. Uzbekistan's 20-year-old Tsarukyan Memorial Tournament silver medallist Jasurbek Latipov did not give any chance to Belarus' Liventsev Memorial Tournament winner Ivan Fihurenka in their flyweight bout. The Uzbek boxer was ruthless in securing his place in the last 16 by winning the bout 21:7.
England's European Championships silver medallist and Beijing Olympian Khalid Yafai is only 22 years old but has been involved with his national elite team since 2007. His opponent in the last 32 was Japan's two-time Asian Games bronze medallist Katsuaki Susa who had struggled to make weight. Following a tight first round former AIBA Cadet World Champion Yafai stepped up a gear and defeated his Japanese rival 28:16.
Ukraine's Denis Berinchyk, who eliminated Tajikistan's Nazir Piraki and Cuba's defending AIBA World Champion Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo, was fighting for the third time in Baku. Berinchyk looked at ease against Ecuador's 19-year-old Panamerican Youth Championships silver medallist Anderson Rojas, collecting 26 points to his opponent's 13.
Russia's European Championships bronze medallist Alexander Solyanikov has now got a chance to secure his place at the Olympic Games, having eliminated Turkmenistan's former Asian Champion and AIBA World Championships quarter-finalist Serdar Hudayberdiyev by an unexpected 17:6.
Kazakhstan's Asian Games winner 20-year-old Daniyar Yeleussinov is one of the big favourites in the light welterweight class with his 14:4 victory over AIBA World Championships bronze medallist Masatsugu Kawachi of Japan not surprising anyone. Irish favourite in this division, current European Champion Raymond Moylette was unexpectedly defeated by India's Commonwealth Games winner Manoj Kumar 19:7.
In the welterweight category, European Champion and top seed, 23-year-old Balazs Bacskai of Hungary made his debut in Baku and dispatched of Venezuela's Gabriel Maestre who had eliminated Mexico's AIBA Youth World Champion Oscar Molina. The Hungarian won convincingly 22:9 and will meet with US National Olympic Trials winner Errol Spence.
Kazakhstan's team captain, two-time AIBA World Champion and Asian Games winner, Serik Sapiyev had an unexpected close first round against Thailand's Southeast Asian Games winner Apichet Saensit but the Central Asian star turned up the heat in the second with the referee having to stop the onslaught with Sapiyev leading 16:7.
Russia's AIBA World Championships silver medallist Andrey Zamkovoy also had a close battle but advanced to the last 16 after beating Mongolia's University World Champion Byamba Tuvshinbat 14:8, he will now meet Dutchman Stephen Danyo.
Ukraine's European Championships bronze medallist, hardman Taras Shelestyuk caused a surprise in Baku when he narrowly beat Cuba's Beijing Olympic Games silver medallist Carlos Banteur 17:15. The Cuban boxer was aslo eliminated at the preliminary stage in Milan two years ago.
Russia's defending AIBA World Champion and two-time European Championships gold medallist, 27-year-old Egor Mekhontsev had a hard battle against Estonia's European Cup silver medallist Ainar Karlson in the light heavyweight class. The Russian star had only one point advantage after the first round but made sure of his advancement to the last 16 by winning 19:12.
Azerbaijan's 22-year-old Great Silk Way Tournament silver medallist Ramil Aliyev had an easier afternoon than expected as the local fighter defeated Turkmenistan's President's Cup silver medallist Rasul Yuldashev 23:6. Aliyev will next face Ukraine's Turkish Prime Ministry Tournament winner Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
In the light heavyweight division, Australia's 19-year-old Youth Olympic Games winner Damien Hooper also advanced to the next stage of the championships after beating Jordan's Asian Championships bronze medallist Ahmad Al-Teimat in a close contest 15:9. Hooper will now meet India's Dinesh Kumar in the next round of the competition.
In the super heavyweight division, China's Beijing Olympic Games silver medallist and AIBA World Championships bronze medallist Zhang Zhilei defeated New Zealand's top rated boxer, Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Joseph Parker by a clear 15:7 and will now be fighting against his old rival, Kazakhstan's Ivan Dychko.
Belarus' Athens Olympic Games silver medallist Viktar Zuyeu claimed a bronze medal at the last edition of the AIBA World Championships. In his last competitive event, he was defeated by Lithuania's veteran Vitalijus Subacius and will now face him again as he aims to advance to the last 16.
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