Competing at the University of Guizhou Stadium in China, Abutalipov of the Astana Arlans secured the first Olympic qualification place for Kazakhstan on a split decision of 68-65, 66-67, 67-66 against France's Nordine Oubaali of Paris United in a furious opening bout.

Abutalipov won the battle of the two southpaws after Oubaali came out strong from the start but suffered a cut above his right eye in the second round.

But by the sixth round, Abutalipov has suffered a worse cut himself and was left badly bleeding but ultimately victorious at the end of the WSB's first seven-round bout.

"I can't believe it," he said.

"I need some time to calm down as I'm now the world champion!"

To the delight of the home crowd it was Wang who emerged victorious after a heated lightweight encounter against Kazakhstan's Yerzhan Mussafirov of the Astana Arlans.

The world title victory by a close split decision of 67-66, 67-66, 66-67 more than compensated for Wang (pictured) losing to Mussafirov in the WSB regular season; his ever WSB loss.


"I had analysed his bouts and we had got a lot of information," Wang said following the victory.

"This was a great help and it was very effective.

"I now have plenty of time to prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games."

The final bout on the night's card was the heavyweight contest between Russo, Italy's 2007 AIBA world champion and 2008 Olympic silver medallist, who was fighting for Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder and Azerbaijan's Magomedrasul Medzhidov of the Baku Fires.

Russo (pictured) took the upper hand over the first four rounds to take a lead, all the time keeping Medzhidov at arm's length, but a left thrown by Medzhidov at the end of round five made contact with Russo and signalled a come-back for the Azeri boxer in the remaining three rounds.


Medzhidov though, left it too late to make up the deficit and Russo took the WSB Heavyweight world champion title and the Olympic qualification place for Italy with a unanimous decision of 67-66, 67-66, 67-66.

"After missing out on a place in the Team Finals, we needed this victory," he said.

"I'm tired after seven rounds.

"We tried this in training but it's different there.

"In the ring here your attention counts, too, and so do the referee and the judges.

"This is a very important victory for the team, it will allow us to start preparing for the next season from September with renewed enthusiasm."

In addition to winning the first WSB title belts and the Olympic qualification places, each Individual Champion takes home a prize cheque of $20,000 (£12,000).

The WSB Individual Championships continues tomorrow with the middleweight and light heavyweight contests.

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