In the women's middleweight class of the Olympic Test Event in London, Great Britain's AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships silver medallist and EU Champion, 21-year-old Savannah Marshall had three points advantage before the final round against US National Champion, Franchon Crews. The American tried to turn back the fight but the local hero saved two points and secured her place in the final. Marshall's next opponent will be Kazakhstan's Asian Champion Dariga Shakimova who won three of her four rounds against Brazil's Andreia Bandeira.

Multiple Pan-American Champion, Argentina's Paola Benavidez caused the biggest surprise of the quarter-finals in London where she eliminated five-time AIBA Women's World Champion, Indian Chungneijang Mary Kom. The Argentinean could not show the same performance in the semi-final and was defeated by European Championships silver medallist, French Sarah Ourahmoune by 18:11. Ourahmoune will meet Russia's National Champion and former European Champion, veteran Olesya Gladkova who also advanced to the flyweight final after beating Asian Indoor Games silver medallist, Chinese Lin Jinmei by a close 12:11.

Liverpool-based and veteran boxer Natasha Jonas had enough experience to beat AIBA Women's Youth World Champion, 18-year-old Russian Anastasiya Belyakova in the lightweight semi-final. Their contest ended with a 13:11 to the local hope. Jonas will meet two-time AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships silver medallist, China's Cheng Dong in the final. The Chinese boxer defeated Italy's Romina Marenda whose skills and technique have been developing in the recent past.

Kazakhstan's team captain in London, Asian Games silver medallist 27-year-old Birzhan Zhakipov and Asian Champion, Thai Kaew Pongprayoon fought for the very first time at the ExCeL in London. The Kazakh star defeated his rival by 15:8 and will meet Uzbekistan's youth fighter Shakhobiddin Zoirov in the final. The 18-year-old Uzbek triumphed over China's Wu Zhonglin in the second semi-final.

Following Pongprayoon's loss, his compatriot, Southeast Asian Games winner Chatchai Butdee amended the Thai balance in London by eliminating Azerbaijan's Tural Ahmadov (20:18) due to his magnificent final three minutes. Butdee won the Olympic Boxing Test Event four years ago in Beijing and might be able to secure another gold medal against Asian Champion, Chinese Chang Yong on Sunday.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist, 20-year-old Welshmen Sean McGoldrick advanced to the bantamweight final after beating Beijing Olympian, Australian Luke Boyd by 12:10. McGoldrick's opponent in the final will be Athens Olympic Games silver medallist, Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand.

European Championships bronze medallist, 24-year-old German Eugen Burhard has continued his winning path in London by defeating Ireland's favourite, David Oliver Joyce due to his great rush in the second round. Burhard will meet Great Britain's Martin Ward who walked over to the lightweight final because Algeria's Brahim Oukil could not fight against him.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Josh Taylor from Scotland secured another final place for Great Britain. The 20-year-old boxer who moved up into the light welterweight class only this year eliminated Australia's current National Champion, Jeff Horn by 13:11. Taylor will have another strong opponent in the final with European Championships quarter-finalist, Swedish Anthony Yigit.

India's rising star, AIBA Youth World Champion and Asian Games winner, 19-year-old Vikas Krishan Yadav acquired a valuable bronze medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011. The Indian teenager defeated Azerbaijan's Ismat Eynullayev by 9:6 in the welterweight semi-final in London. His rival for the gold medal will be current Asian Champion, Chinese Maimaitituersun Qiong who unexpectedly stopped the defending European Champion Fred Evans.

Reigning European Champion Maksim Koptyakov missed the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku. But since then, could prove to his head coach that he was the best Russian middleweight fighter back. Koptyakov triumphed over Germany's Stefan Hartel by a narrow 13:11 and will meet Ireland's new sensation Conrad Cummings who stopped AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist, Brazilian Esquiva Florentino Falcao.

Esquiva's elder brother WSB star, 24-year-old Yamaguchi had four points disadvantage against Beijing Olympian, Indian Dinesh Kumar after six minutes. The Brazilian boxer turned up the heat and equalised just before the final gong. Yamaguchi Falcao finally joined Ireland's Kenneth Egan in the gold medal fight of the light heavyweight class.

In the heavyweight division, Asian Champion and AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist, Kazakh Vasiliy Levit defeated AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist, Irish Tommy McCarthy by 16:9 and will meet US National Olympic Trials silver medallist Joseph Williams in the final.

Ireland's multiple National Champion Con Sheehan moved up to the super heavyweight this year and competed in Baku as well. The 22-year-old Irish rising power was too strong for Morocco's WSB fighter and Beijing Olympian, Mohamed Arjaoui. Sheehan's next opponent will be Greece's only competitor in the test event, Evgenios Lazaridis who won against US National Olympic Trials winner Lenroy Thompson.

Copyright © 2010 AIBA http://www.aiba.org