In the opening contest of the day, light flyweight Hasanboy Dusmatov overcame Japan's Tomoya Tsuboi and will now go on to face India’s Laishram Devendro Singh, who beat Indonesia’s Cornelis Kwangu Langu.

Dusmatov’s compatriot Murodjon Akhmadaliyev was too strong for Vietnam’s Tran Phu Cuong at bantamweight and set up an encounter with India’s Shiva Thapa, the defending champion who saw off some difficulties in the opening round to defeat Kyrgyzstan’s Omurbek Malabekov.

Fazliddin Gaibnazarov earned Uzbekistan another victory, this time at light welterweight against Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manoj Kumar, with his hooks proving enough to beat the Indian fighter.

Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games gold medallist Bektemir Melikuziev ensured a last-four place for Uzbekistan at middleweight having got the better of reigning International Boxing Association (AIBA) world champion and defending champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly of Kazakhstan.

Alimkhanuly’s threw stronger punches in the second round but Melikuziev was fresh enough in the third to secure the win and will now meet Sajjad Mehrabi in the semi-final after the Iranian eliminated Thailand’s Aphisit Kanankhokkhruea.

"Our youngster Bektemir Melikuziev and Kazakhstan’s AIBA world champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly delivered a really great and close bout today, and I think our Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic champion deserved the triumph," said Bekzhod Mirtimirov, general secretary of the Uzbekistan Boxing Federation.

"Melikuziev was quicker, and I think the final round was the main difference between them.

"We are so proud of him."

Elsewhere, Thai bantamweight Chatchai Butdee defeated Turkmenistan’s talented youngster Yakub Meredov to the delight of the home crowd, while Kazakhstani heavyweight Vasiliy Levit stopped Jordan’s Ihab Darwish Al-Matbouli in impressive fashion to reaffirm his status as a serious gold medal contender.

Tajikistan's Jakhon Qurbonov, the Doha 2006 Asian Games gold medallist, is another heavyweight in the running for top honours and showed his credentials by knocking out Pakistan’s Mehmood Ul Hassan.

The surprise of the day came at light welterweight as Kyrgyzstan’s Ermek Sakenov, ranked in the top five of the AIBA standings, suffered defeat to South Korea’s Lim Hyun-chul.

The second stage of quarter-finals is scheduled for tomorrow, when a further 20 bouts will take place.


Related stories
August 2015: Norbu ends Bhutan's five-year wait for international win at ASBC Asian Boxing Championships
August 2015: Kazakh wins thriller as hosts enjoy strong day at Asian Confederation Boxing Championships
August 2015: Thai fighter delights home crowd with superb victory at ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships
August 2015: Turkmenistan enjoy double success on day three of Asian Confederation Boxing Championships
August 2015: Vietnam show their prowess at ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships