Lightweight Elnur Abduraimov set Uzbekistan on their way to a trio of victories with success against Algeria’s Reda Benbaziz.

This was followed by a win for compatriot Elshod Rasulov in a hotly-contested light heavyweight battle with AMBC American champion Albert Ramirez of Venezuela, before super heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov saw off the challenge of Algeria’s Mohamed Grimes.

"I know it was only my first fight here in the Championships, but I am happy to beat such a big rival as the Venezuelan," said Rasulov.

"I’ve had some injuries in recent years but now I feel in top form.

"The atmosphere of the Championships is excellent and I hope I can reach my goals in Doha."

Uzbekistan are one of only three nations to remain undefeated after two days of competition, along with Mongolia and Russia.

Two wins came the way of Russia on day two, with lightweight Adlan Abdurashidov beating Kazakhstan’s Zakir Safiullin and light heavyweight Pavel Silyagin defeating Egypt’s Abdelrahman Salah Orabi, while Mongolia’s sole triumph was earned by welterweight Tuvshinbat Byamba against Czech Republic’s Zdenek Chladek.

Meanwhile, victory for light heavyweight Hakan Murst Nuraydin against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Dzemal Bosnjak ensured Qatar brought up two wins at an individual World Championships for the first time ever, adding to Thulasi Tharumalingam's victory from yesterday. 

There was some disappointment for the home nation though as lightweight Abdullatef Sadiq and welterweight Hzam Nabah lost out to Venezuela’s Luis Cabrera and Argentina’s Alberto Palmetta respectively.

The first knockout of the day was registered by the Philippines’ Eumir Marcial, who had Egypt’s Walid Said Mohamed on the canvas in the very first round of their welterweight bout.

Morocco’s Mohammed Arjaoui then scored a knockout in the third round of his super heavyweight contest with Venezuela’s Edgar Munoz Mata.

One of the day’s big surprises came late on, as the Arjaoui’s fellow countryman Hassan Saada eliminated the United States’ national champion Steve Nelson from the light heavyweight competition.

The Netherlands’ World Series of Boxing fighter Enrico La Cruz, one of the most promising Europeans in the lightweight class, could not overcome Italian legend Domenico Valentino, who has claimed five medals across the last five editions of the AIBA World Boxing Championships, including gold in 2009.

Earlier in the afternoon session, EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Otar Eranosyan of Georgia suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Ukrainian wildcard Tymur Beliak.

As the total number of match-ups over the opening two days of competition reached 83, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees, was welcomed to ringside by AIBA President C K Wu and Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.

Tomorrow’s action sees the second preliminary round get under way, with all eyes on the big match-up between Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games winner Andy Cruz of Cuba and Baku 2015 European Games gold medallist Bakhtovar Nazirov of Russia.



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