Both boxers had enjoyed byes through the first round of the men’s 56 kilogram bantamweight competition at the Lokomotyv Sports Palace.

Asanau, a silver medallist at the Baku 2015 European Games, would suffer a narrow defeat to England’s Peter McGrail.

McGrail was awarded the verdict by three officials, while the remaining two judges deemed Asanau the victor.

The English boxer will meet Ahmed Chaouki El Ahmad of Denmark in the quarter-finals, following his unanimous points win over Albania’s Krenar Zeneli.

On the other half of the draw, Aliyev also bowed out early as the Azeri fighter lost 4-1 to Ireland’s Kurt Walker.

Walker has been drawn to face Raffaele Di Serio in the last eight, with the Italian having beaten Slovakia’s Viliam Tanko.

The defending champion in the men’s 75kg middleweight competition progressed without difficultly, with Petr Khamukov easing through.

The Russian secured a unanimous points victory over Austria’s Edin Avdic to reach the quarter-finals.

Khamukov will now face the challenge of Ukraine’s home favourite Oleksandr Khyzhniak.

The hosts' hope earned a 5-0 victory over England’s Benjamin Whittaker.

Competition in Kharkiv is acting as a qualifier for the World Championships, which are due to be held in German city Hamburg from August 25 to September 3.