MIANYANG (China), Nov 18: Russia’s hold on the crown was under serious threat on Friday as the upset axe fell on champion Sergey Kazakov, with Cuba poised to supplant them as the world amateur boxing championships headed into the semifinals.

Cuba will lead 21 countries into the medal rounds Saturday with eight surviving boxers, compared to five for the Russians, overall champions at the last world championships in Thailand in 2003.

Kazakhstan also have five semifinalists, led by welterweight Bakhtiyar Artayev, the reigning Olympic champion.

The surprisingly listless Kazakov went out meekly in the light-flyweight quarterfinals to Bedak Pal, a tiny Hungarian ranked a lowly fifth behind the Russian in Europe.

It got worse for the Russians as light-heavyweight Egor Me Khontsev bowed to Utkirbek Haydarov of Uzbekistan on points, while flyweight Georgy Balakshin also lost the count to American teenager Rau’shee Warren.

Reigning Olympic light-flyweight champion Yan Bartelemy of Cuba also fell to local hero Zhou Shiming on Friday, while German heavyweight Alexander Povernov outclassed Cuban Luis Ortiz.

Cuban flyweight Andry Lafita restored the normal order of things by beating Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic. Guillermo Rigondeaux made it two for Cuba by outclassing Bahodirjon Sultonov of Uzbekistan.

Yuriolkis Gamboa showed he can mix it with the big boys by taking less than five minutes to pile up the points and eliminate North Korean Kim Song Guk.

Lightweight Yordanis Ugas also came through to the semifinals with a points victory over Baik Jong Sub of South Korea, as did light-welterweight Inocente Fiss who bested Boris Georgiev of Bulgaria on points.

Welterweight Erislandi Lara pounded US Boyd Arnold Melson into defeat and will fight Artayev in the semis. The Kazakh eliminated Georgian Juania (eds: one name) on points.

Cuban middleweight Emilio Correa outscored Andranik Hakobyan of Armenia over two and a half rounds, while reigning Olympic heavyweight champion Odlanier Solis, now fighting as a super-heavyweight, avenged Bartelemy’s loss by defeating China’s Zhang Zhi Lei.

Olympic featherweight champion Alexei Tischenko got Russia on to the medal rounds with a two-round demolition of Berik Serikbayev of Kazakhstan. Compatriot Khabib Aliakhverdiev followed him into the last four with a points decision against Hungarian lightweight Tibor Dudas.

Middleweight Matvey Korobov was also through after outclassing Darren Sutherland and ending Ireland’s interest in the tournament.

Heavyweight Alexander Alekseev, the Russian silver medallist at the last world championships, was easily through after Hungarian Jozsef Darmos’ corner threw in the towel in the second round.

Super-heavyweight Roman Romanchuk turned in the day’s most impressive outing, destroying Uzbekistan’s Rustam Saidov in 34 seconds to arrange a semifinal match with European number-one Roberto Cammarelle.

The Italian southpaw took less than two rounds to outclass American Michael Wilson.—Agencies