BEIJING, Aug 9: Uzbek world champion Abbos Atoev was spectacularly cut down at the Beijing Olympic boxing tournament on Saturday, falling to little-known Dzakhon Kurbanov of Tajikistan.

Atoev landed only three clean punches to his lesser known foe’s 11, going scoreless in the first, third and fourth rounds.

Kurbanov made full advantage of his superior height and reach and reduced the world champion to chasing shadows.

The upset eased the path of world No 2 Artur Beterviev who safely made the second round. If the Tajik continues his good form he could face the Russian in the semi-finals.

Beterbiev easily outpointed Sweden’s Kennedy Katende 15-3 to arrange a second round battle with the Chinese hosts’ Zhang Xiaoping.

Zhang obliged the gallery by eliminating Tunisian Mourad Sahroui 3-1 on points.

Kurbanov’s next opponent will be the Croatian 2005 world No 2 Mario Sivolija-Jelica, who sent his outclassed Samoan opponent Farani Tavui crashing onto the canvas and out of the ring on a stretcher early in the third round.

The 81kg Olympic podium this year will have a new look to it after Athens gold medallist Andre Ward of the United States turned professional.

Meanwhile, double world middleweight champion Matvey Korobov of Russia faces an old and familiar foe in Bakhtiyar Artayev of Kazakhstan in the second round after both won their first round matches.

The 25-year-old Russiantoyed with the Swede Naim Terbunja en route to a comfortable 18 points to 6 win.

Korobov faces a familiar nemesis and potential early exit in the second round in the form of Artayev, who tossed Said Rachidi of Morocco with plenty to spare, scoring an 8-2 victory.—AFP