CHICAGO, Nov 2: Russia showed its power in the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Championships, winning eight of nine matches on Thursday.

Super heavyweight Islam Timurziev defeated American Michael Hunter 22-15 and heavyweight Rakhim Chakhkeiv beat Eichin Alizade of Azerbaijan 17-6 – sending both big men to the Beijing Olympics.

Also winning for Russia on Thursday was 2004 Olympic gold medallist Alexey Tishchenko, who beat Pichai Sayota of Thailand in the lightweight match that was stopped in the third round with Tishchenko leading 24-4.

The lone quarter-final loss for Russia was by Georgy Balakshin, who was downed 23-13 by American flyweight Rau’shee Warren.

Heavyweights Clemente Russo of Italy, Nijiati Yushan of China and John M’Bumba of France all won their bouts to earn an Olympic berth.

Russo was a 15-3 winner over Milorad Gajovic of Montenegro, Yushann easily handled Jozsef Daniel Darmos of Hungary 28-11 and M’Bumba eliminated Mihail Muntean of Moldova 22-13.

Other super heavyweights making the Olympics were Vyacheslav Glazkov of Ukraine, Zhilei Zhang of China and Roberto Cammarelle of Italy.

Glazkov’s match with Jaroslav Jaksto of Lithuania was stopped in the third round. Zhang knocked down Daniel Beahan of Australia with one second remaining in the second round, ending the fight. Cammarelle won by a walkover against David Price of England.

And 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Shiming Zou of China easily advanced to the semi-finals with a 22-8 win over Patrick Barnes in the light flyweight division. Zou won the gold medal at the 2005 World Championships.

Results (quarter-finals):

48kg: Harry Tanamor (PHI) bt Luis Yanez (US) 17-7; Ammat Ruenroeng (THA) bt Hovhannes Danielyan (ARM) 18-6; Nordine Oubaali (FRA) bt Georgy Chygayev (UKR) 25-9; Zou Shi-ming (CHN) bt Patrick Barnes (IRL) 22-8.

51kg: Samir Mammadov (AZE) bt McWilliams Arroyo (PUR) 33-21; Raushee Warren (US) bt George Balakshin (RUS) 23-13; Somjit Jongjohor (THA) bt Rafael Kaczor (POL) 15-3; Vicenso Picardi (ITA) bt Anurudha Rahnayake (SRI) 23-4.

54kg: McJoe Arroyo (PUR) bt Jonathan Romero (COL) 23-9; Sergey Vodopyanov (RUS) bt Gary Russell (US) 16-6; Enkhbat Badar-Uugan (MGL) bt Hector Manzanilla (VEN) RSCH-3; Joseph Murray (ENG) bt Gu Yu (CHN) 14-11.

57kg: Kilic Yakup (TUR) bt Sailom Adi (THA) 22-13; Albert Selimov (RUS) bt Raynell Williams (US) 25-8; Vasyl Lomachenko (UKR) bt Arturo Santos (MEX) RSCOS-3; Li Yang (CHN) bt Lalit Lakra (IND) 17-6.

60kg: Alexey Tishenko (RUS) bt Pichai Sayota (THA) RSCOS-3; Frankie Gavin (ENG) bt Onur Sipal (TUR) 16-7; Domenico Valentino (ITA) bt Hrachik Javakhyan (ARM) 27-12; Kim Son-guk (PRK) bt Darley Pirez (COL) 23-6.

64kg: Masatsugu Kawachi (JPN) bt Eduard Hambardzumyan (ARM) 10-6; Serik Sapiyev (KAZ) bt Morteza Sepahvand (IRI) RET-4; Bradley Saunders (ENG) bt Alexis Vastine (FRA) 30-13; Gennady Kovalev (RUS) bt Boris Georgiev (BUL) NP.

69kg: Adem Kilicci (TUR) bt Vitalie Grusac (MDA) 16-10; Demetrius Andrade (US) bt Jack Culcay-Keth (GER) 30-9; Non Boonjumnong (THA) bt Adam Trupish (CAN) 25-17; Silamu Hanati (CHN) bt Bakhyrt Sarsekbayev (KAZ) 20-14.

75kg: Artayev Bakhtiyar (KAZ) bt Said Rachidi (MAR) 19-11; Alfonso Blanco (VEN) bt Konstantin Buga (GER) 18-9; Sergiy Derevyachenko (UKR) bt Argenis Nunez (DOM) RSCOS-3; Matvey Korobov (RUS) bt Wang Jian-zheng (CHN) 21-3.

81kg: Arthur Beterbiev (RUS) bt Imre Szello (HUN) 25-9; Daugirdas Semiotas (LTU) bt Ramadan Yasser (EGY) 18-9; Abbos Atoev (UZB) bt Marijo Sivolija (CRO) 17-6; Yerkebuian Shynaliyev (KAZ) bt Tony Jeffries (ENG) 20-9.

91kg (Winners book 2008 Olympic berths): Rakhim Chakhkeiv (RUS) bt Eichin Alizade (AZE) 17-6; John MBumba (FRA) bt Mihail Muntean (MDA) 22-13; Clemente Russo (ITA) bt Milorad Gajovic (MNE) 15-3; Nijati Yushan (CHN) bt Joszef Daniel Darmos (HUN) 28-11.

91kg (Winners book 2008 Olympic berths): Islam Timurziev (RUS) a Michael Hunter (US) 22-15; Roberto Cammarelle (ITA) a David Price (ENG) NP; Zhilei Zhang (CHN) a Daniel Beahan (AUS) KO-2; Vyacheslav Glazkov (UKR) a Jaroslav Jaksto (LTU) RSC-3.—Agencies