MANCHESTER, July 30: Pakistan’s best boxing hope Haider Ali kept his country’s hopes alive when he beat Welshman Peter Ashton in the featherweight preliminary round bout on points Monday.

Results of preliminary rounds:

Featherweight (Up to 57kgs):

Steve Bell (Eng) beat Devon Jones (Tri) — rsf.

Benoit Gaudet (Can) beat Jonathan Mwila (Zam) — rsf.

Haider Ali (Pak) beat Peter Ashton (Wal) — pts.

Dennis Mwanje (Uga) beat Thandi Ntjona (Les) — rsf.

Petro Mtagwa (Tan) bt Junior Ben Tami (Png) - rsf

Veikko Josua (Nam) bt Gregory Eadie (Aus) - pts

Leslie Sekotswe (Bot) bt Bobirnat Ovidiu (Cyp) - w/o

Som Bahadur Pun (Ind) bt Abolore Madoti (Ngr) - rsf

Light Flyweight (Up to 48kgs)

Darran Langley (Eng) bt Paul Baker (NIr) - pts

Zamzai Mohamad (Mas) bt Tasleem Shah (Fij) - rsf

Joseph Jermia (Nam) bt Roudik Kazanjian (Cyp) - pts.—AFP