KARACHI, June 24: Pakistan’s Dur Mohammad emerged a 24-22 victor against Uzbek Mirakbarov Mirakram to sneak into Asian junior boxing middleweight finals, but his countryman Sajjad Qambrani lost to South Korea’s Kim Min-Uk after a questionable decision on Friday.

While the championship has already been soured by two controversial decisions in favour of Pakistanis, this time it was a host boxer against whom a debatable decision was taken at KPT Sports Complex.

Although feather weight Sajjad was ostensibly better against his South Korean rival, the jury declared him a 21-36 loser that angered Pakistan coach Reinaldo Alvarez who went to the jury in a mild protest after the bout, asking the reason of Sajjad’s defeat.

Following the first round in which Sajjad trailed 6-11, the Pakistani opened up with comparatively a better show in the second and third round but the points break-up showed him behind Sung-Jong 8-11 and 2-10.

Through some fine display of boxing, Sajjad managed to grab some precious points in the fourth round and eventually finished as a 5-4 final round winner but lost the bout.

In the most thrilling fight of the day, Dur Mohammad got off to a confident start and Mirakram lost his gum-shield when he received a savage blow before being cautioned for using his wrist as a punch. Mirakram fought back to scored vital points and the opening round ended with the Pakistani winning 6-5.

The second round started with a caution to Dur Mohammad for head-butting following which the Uzbek was aggressive and had upper hand landing several telling jabs but the two were tied at 8-8.

Mirakram began the third round aggressively and unleashed a series of punches to score vital points while Dur Mohammad too managed to earn few points. The points break-up showed Dur Mohammad as 4-3 winner of the round.

Having the last opportunity to prove their mettle, the two boxers tried hard to wrest initiative in the final round which ended at 6-6 score, giving Dur Mohammad a close victory to become the only Pakistani to march into the final on Friday.

While Dur Mohammad registered a hard-fought win, it was sheer humiliation for his team-mate light-welterweight Shahid Hussain who was pounded by Artikov Zokir of Uzbekistan, forcing the referee to stop of the contest in the third round.

Zokir was aggressor from the start and used Shahid as a punching bag forcing the referee to give the Pakistani eight counts thrice in the third round before stopping the fight.

The day belonged to the Kazaks and Uzbeks who were the dominating force as three of their pugilists boxed their way into the finals after outright victories.

Flyweight Kudaibergenov Alemzhan of Kazakhstan hammered South Korea Choi Jae-Kwang 47-37, while his team-mate middleweight Zhailau Birzhan had no difficulty in sending Kyrgyzstan’s Borbashev Chyngyz home after a 42-26 win.

Chemikov Vasiliy was the third Kazakh to barge into the finals after he thrashed Abd Al Munem Kabani of Syria 23-8.

Muralimov Ahror was the second Uzbek who reached finals after a crushed China’s Nijiati Yushang 39-23 in the heavyweight semifinals, while Muralimov Ahror beat China’s Nijiati Yushang 39-23.

Results (semifinals):

Flyweight: Kudaibergenov (Kazakhstan) bt Choi Jae-Kwang (South Korea) 47-37; Jamereason (Thailand) bt Saparbek Ulu Tilek (Kyrgyzstan) 34-21.

Feathwerweight: Mamadjonov Bahodir bt Zhumanbayev Yerkebulan (Kazakhstan) 25-22; Kim Min-Uk (South Korea) bt Sajjad Qambrani (Pakistan) 36-21.

Light-welterweight: Artikov Zokir (Uzbekistan) bt Shahid Hussain (Pakistan) RSC/OS/III; Adeb Al Hallem Atat (Syria) bt Park Sung-Jong (South Korea) 26-23.

Middleweight: Zhailau Birzhan (Kazakhstan) bt Borbashev Chyngyz (Kyrgyzstan) 42-26; Dur Mohammad (Pakistan) bt Mirakbarov Mirakram (Uzbekistan) 24-22.

Heavyweight: Chemikov Vasiliy (Kazakhstan) bt Abd Al Munem Kabani (Syria) 23-8; Muralimov Ahror (Uzbekistan) bt Nijiati Yushang (China) 39-23.