BAKU, Sept 29: Asian Games bantamweight silver medallist Zhang Jiawei of China set up a mouth-watering second-round clash with Filipino pugilist Joan Tipon here at the amateur boxing world championships on Wednesday.

Zhang, 22, justified being rated one of the favourites for the title here by outclassing Iran’s Armin Amjadian winning all three rounds of the bout (9-3, 5-4, 4-2) while Tipon was made to work harder in a 13-12 win over Argentina’s Alberto Melian.

Japanese boxer Satoshi Shimizu experienced few problems during his opening-round clash with Mohammad Latifi of Afghanistan thrashing his rival 18-1.

In the second round, he will face seventh seed Jahyn Parrinello of Italy, who enjoyed an opening round bye.

Another bantamweight category favourite, Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba, a former junior world championship silver medallist, battled into the second round with an 18-13 win over Robenilson Vieira of Brazilia.

In the light heavyweight category, the Cuba team skipper Julio La Cruz set out on his road of Olympic redemption with a stunning 25-11 victory over Mikhail Dauhaliavets of Belarus.

The 22-year-old Cuban is aiming to make up for his having missed out on the 2008 Olympics when he failed to qualify.

This year’s Asian championships silver medallist Meng Fanlong of China, who also took Asian Games bronze last year, outclassed Mexico’s Dario Alfaro and will meet Daugirda Semiotas of Lithusnia in the second round.

Another Asian fighter Erdenebayar Sandagsuren of Mongolia was also in complete command against New Zealand’s Reece Papuni earning a second-round spot after an 18-10 victory.

Results: Bantamweight (56kg) First round: Julio Deivis (COL) bt Seif Qraish (JOR) 23-15; Joan Tipon (PHI) bt Alberto Melian (ARG) 13-12; Jiawei Zhang (CHN) bt Armin Amjadian (IRI) 18-9; Luke Boyd (AUS) bt Giorgi Kilanava (GEO) 17-10; Norbert Kalucza (HUN) bt Koffi Yoboue (CIV) KO; Satoshi Shimizu (JPN) bt Mohammad Latifi (AFG) 18-1; Lazaro Alvarez (CUB) bt Robenilson Vieira (BRA) 18-13; Denis Makarov (GER) bt Rafly Langi (INA) – walkover; Furkhan Memis (TUR) bt Sean McGoldrick (WAL) 12-10; Worapo Petchkoom (THA) bt Ayabonga Sonjica (RSA) 16-7; Joseph Diaz (USA) V Kyaw Latt (MYA) KO; Dzmitry Zhukau (BLR) V Matar Sambou (SEN) 12-3.

Light heavyweight (81kg): First round: Ainar Karlson (EST) bt Ioannis Militopoulos (GRE) 18-8; Levan Guledani (GEO) bt Chingis Borbashev (KGZ) 24-22; Marcus Browne (USA) bt Yoshitsuna Okada (JPN) KO; Imre Szello (HUN) bt Katende Kennedy (SWE) 21-10; Oleksandr Gvozdyk (UKR) bt Jovan Young (JAM) KO; Ahmad Alteimat (JOR) bt Elmohamady Elalfy (EGY) 13-12; Bosko Draskovic (MNE) bt Maxwell Amponsah (GHA) 17-7; Dinesh Kumar (IND) bt Deepak Maharjan (NEP) 20-8; Caner Sayak (TUR) bt Kriangkan Sukkhum (THA) 19-10; Rasul Yuldashev (TKM) bt Georginel Hau (ROM) 17-13; Julio La Cruz (CUB) bt Mikhail Dauhaliavets (BLR) 25-11; Erdenebayar Sandagsuren (MGL) bt Reece Papuni (NZL) 18-10; Dzemal Bosnjak (BIH) bt Lenon Bannis (DMA) KO; Meng Fanlong (CHN) bt Dario Alfaro (MEX) 23-9; Dariel Ebanks (CAY) bt Keddy Agnes (SEY) 15-14; Carlos Gongora (ECU) bt Osmar Bravo (NCA) KO; Yamaguchi Falcao (BRA) bt Amine Azzouzi (MAR) 17-5; Daugirda Semiotas (LTU) bt Marko Nikolic (SRB) 13-9; Yahia Elmekachari (TUN) bt Simone Fiori (ITA) 13-11; Igor Jakubowski (POL) bt Felix Valera (DOM) 16-14; Ehsan Rouzbahani (IRI) bt Artur Khachatryan (ARM) 15-8; Dilovarsho Abdurakhmonov (TJK) bt Stoimen Dimitrov (BUL) KO; Jeysson Monroy (COL) bt Alexander Ullenes (NOR) 18-7; Adilbek Niyazimbetov (KAZ) bt Vladimir Cheles (MDA) 16-11.—AFP