Hosts Uzbekistan in line for most titles at IBA Men's World Boxing Championships

Hosts Uzbekistan are set to fight for maximum gold medals at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Men's World Boxing Championships here.

The day started with Oybek Juraev of Uzbekistan winning against sixth seed Dmitrii Dvali of Russia in the bantamweight category.

Juarev, fighting with a defensive approach, was countering well against Dvali to take the first-round 4-1.

The second round started with no change in strategy from both boxers, but Dvali managed to implement some good combinations.

The patient approach of Juraev helped him win 3-2 in the second and third-round to seal a 5-2 split decision win.

In the welterweight class, Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev of Uzbekistan got the better of Battömöriin Misheelt of Mongolia.

The duo took turns to exchange blows in round one.

In the beginning, Misheelt launched a flurry of punches that was dodged by Muydinkhujaev.

The Uzbek boxer did not waste his opportunity, striking the Mongolian towards the end to earn maximum points and a 5-0 win in the first-round.

Misheelt was aggressive in round two while Muydinkhujaev was taking it slow.

Muslim Gadzhimagomedov of Russia, left, secured a spot in the heavyweight class final, defeating Lazizbek Mullojonov of Uzbekistan ©IBA

The sixth seed Uzbek boxer secured a 5-0 win in the second-round and repeated the feat to win 5-0 via unanimous decision.

Other Uzbek stars who will fight for gold are Hasanboy Dusmatov in the flyweight, Abdumalik Khalokov in featherweight, Ruslan Abdullaev in light-welterweight, Saidjamshid Jafarov in light-middleweight and Bakhodir Jalolov in the super-heavyweight category.

The lightweight division saw third seed Vsevolod Shumkov of Russia go down to two-time world champion and second seed Sofiane Oumiha of France.

Shumkov was troubling the Frenchman initially, but Oumiha's experience played a crucial role in getting a narrow 3-2 win in round one.

Oumiha was dodging well in the second-round and struck his opponent when it mattered, earning crucial points to take round two 3-2.

Another patient and defensive approach from Oumiha secured a 4-1 split decision win.

Meanwhile, Georgian top seed Lasha Guruli settled for a bronze medal after losing to fifth seed Dulat Bekbauov of Kazakhstan.

Guruli, a World Championships bronze medallist in 2021, was off form today.

Bekbauov threw plenty of punches to get maximum points in the first two rounds, winning it 5-0. 

He contained the Georgian's attempt to attack in the final round, earning a 5-0 unanimous decision victory.

Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan, right, defeated second seed Martín Molina of Spain in the flyweight semi-final ©IBA

In the middleweight class, home boxer Alokhon Abdullaev was not able to overcome the challenge from Wanderley Pereira of Brazil.

Round one was a close battle with Abdullaev and Pereira striking each other.

The 19-year-old Uzbek boxer edged the Brazilian 3-2.

But Pereira was not ready to give up and landed a couple of combinations in the end of round two, helping him win 3-2.

The South American started the third-round well and got a 4-1 split decision.

Muslim Gadzhimagomedov of Russia secured a spot in the heavyweight class, defeating Lazizbek Mullojonov of Uzbekistan.

Gadzhimagomedov, who won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, executed some combinations in round one.

Both boxers were brawlers and were not afraid to throw punches.

The Russian edged it 3-2 in the first-round and took the second-round by the same scoreline as Mullojonov refused to give up.

Exceptional combinations were executed by both in the third-round with Gadzhimagomedov sealing a 4-1 split decision victory.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the first day of finals.