MIANYANG, Nov 19: Cuba put themselves in pole position to seize the overall title Saturday as five of their boxers fought their way into the finals of the world amateur championships.

Defending champions Russia kept up their hopes as four of their team also entered the finals, where 11 golds will be contested by boxers from 13 nations.

Semifinal results

48kg: Zhou Shi Ming (CHN) bt Sherali Dostiev (TJK) pts; Pal Bedak (HUN) bt Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ) rsc-3 outscored

51kg: Lee Ok Sung (KOR) bt Rau’shee M. Warren (USA) pts; Andry Laffita Fernandez (CUB) bt Mirat Sarsembayev (KAZ) pts

54kg: Rustamhodza Rahimov (GER) bt Garry Allan Russell Junior (USA) pts; Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz (CUB) bt Ali Hallab (FRA) pts

57kg: Alexey Tischenko (RUS) bt Simion Viorel (ROM) rsc-2 outscored; Alexey Shaydulin (BUL) bt Yuriolkis Gamboa Toledano (CUB) rsc -2 injured

60kg: Romal Amanov (AZE) bt Domenico Valentino (ITA) pts; Yordanis Ugas Hernandez (CUB) bt Khabib Aliakhverdiev (RUS) pts

64kg: Serik Sapiyev (KAZ) bt Emil Maharramov (AZE) pts; Dilshod Mahmudov (UZB) bt Inocente Fiss Caraballosa (CUB) pts

69kg: Magomed Nurudinov (BLR) bt Neil Perkins (ENG) pts; Erislandi Lara Santoya (CUB) bt Bakhtiyar Artayev (KAZ) pts

75kg: Ismayl Sillakh (UKR) bt Mohamed A. A. Hikal (EGY) pts; Matvey Korobov (RUS) bt Emilio Correa Bayeux (CUB) pts

81kg: Marijo Sivolija (CRO) bt Artak Malumyan (ARM) pts; Yerdos Dzhanabergenov (KAZ) bt Utkirbek Haydarov (UZB) pts

91kg: Elchin Alizade (AZE) bt Jasur Matchanov (UZB) pts; Alexa nder Alekseev (RUS) bt Alexander Povernov (GER) pts

+91kg: Odlanier Solis Fuente (CUB) bt Kubrat Venkov Pulev (BUL) pts; Roman Romanchuk (RUS) bt Roberto Cammarelle (ITA) pts.—AFP