Pakistan are counting on Mehrullah (blue) to repeat his heroics at the 2002 Asian Games where he won gold. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI Nisar Khan became the second Pakistani to crash out of the World Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy, when he went down fighting Henry Biembe of Congo on Wednesday.

The close middleweight bout which ended with a score of 15-13 in favour of Biembe started with Nisar winning the first round 6-4.
 
But Biembe scored crucial seven points in the second round while the Pakistani accumulated four. It was a close fight in the final round which Biembe finally won 4-3 to advance into the next stage.
 
Another Pakistani, light-welterweight Amir Khan had lost to Genebert Basadre of Philippines 5-2 on Tuesday.
 
Flyweight Muhammad Waseem is the only Pakistani boxer so far who has won a fight in the championships when he defeated Oraz Avzalshoev of Tajikistan 13-7 in the first preliminary round.
 
Pakistan are pinning their hopes on star featherweight pugilist Mehrullah who has staged a comeback after serving a two-year ban for using drugs at the 2006 South Asian Games in Colombo. The 2002 Asian Games gold medallist fights Sandro Schaer of Germany on Thursday.
 
Pakistani boxing fans are keen to see Mehrullah in the ring once again and Thursdays fracas will be a big test for the Lyari boxer who became a millionaire when he was presented Rs5 million by the government for winning gold at the Asian Games.
 
Light-flyweight Rashid Fateh, who has got a bye, seems to have little chance when he clashes with Cubas Daniel Matellon Ramos on Sunday.