In a feverish atmosphere, Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Espinoza had rolled back the years in the heavyweight over 67 kilograms category to defeat Serbia's world number one Milica Mandric in her opening bout before a semi-final victory over United States' Jackie Galloway.

This set up a final clash with Chinese star Zheng Shuyin, who had earlier accounted for Britain's world champion Bianca Walkden via a golden point.

Despite conceding a height and reach advantage, the speed and footwork of the Mexican took her into a 1-0 lead as the crowd roared, with Zheng proving unable to make inroads.

That was until the final seconds, however, when the Chinese player produced a stunning spinning headkick to move 4-1 ahead, surviving a Mexican appeal and a final flurry from Espinoza to be confirmed as the champion.

The result was extra important as it secured Zheng the final qualifying spot for the Rio 2016 Olympics at the expense of Russia's world bronze medallist Olga Ivanova. 

Mexico had a swift opportunity to make amends when Pan American Games champion Gutiérrez went up against South Korea's in-form Manchester Grand Prix winner Lee Dae-Hoon in the final clash of the competition at under 68kg. 

Not for nothing is Lee a double world champion, however, fighting back to 7-7 in the final seconds to set-up a golden point decider.

He then secured the decisive one-point to break Mexican hearts and steal a last gasp gold.

Much credit must go to the home crowd, who were superb in the latter stage of the evening, for cheering and congratulating the winner despite the disappointment.

Belgium's Jaouad Achab took bronze after beating Russia's Alexey Denisenko.

Iran gained their first gold medal of the week in the men's over 80kg competition courtesy of Sajjad Mardani, who won after his French opponent M'Bar N'diaye was disqualified for elbowing his opponent in the head.

The Iranian, a silver medallist in Mexican soil at the 2013 World Championships in Puebla, was leading 1-0 when left prostrate on the mat by the incident.

He remained there and received attention for several minutes before hobbling off, although he had recovered enough to received his medal moments later. 

Shokin's compatriot Jasur Baykuziyev was unable to capitalise on his fellow countryman's misfortune, losing the other semi-final, although he did bounce back to beat Obame in the battle for bronze.

Africa secured a first gold medal in the day's opening event, however, with Egypt's Hedaya Malak defeating Spain's Eva Calvo-Gomez via a golden point in the under 57kg final.

A somewhat turgid contest remained 0-0 until the final 20 seconds of the additional period, when the Egyptian struck with a sweetly timed headkick to break the deadlock.

It represented the biggest win of the 22-year-old's career in a fiercely competitive category in which Olympic champion Jade Jones was forced to settle for bronze. 

Malak had required another golden point period to beat Jones in the semi-final, before the Britain recovered well to defeat Sweden's Nikita Glasnovic in the third place clash.

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