Chinese boxers qualify for last 8 at Boxing World C'ships

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The 2009 Boxing World Championships continue in Milan, with Chinese fighters Zhang Zhilei, Li Jiazhao and Gu Yu all qualifying for the last 8.

Starting in the 91+kg category, Zhang Zhilei wearing blue, got off to the best possible start in his match against Germany's Erik Pfeifer to go into an early 4-0 lead. But with only 20 seconds left at the end of the first round he allowed his opponent to quickly take 2 points. Zhang took some time to get into his stride in the beginning of the second round, with Pfeifer bringing things level at 4-4. But the Olympic silver medallist would take control of the match from there, surging into an 8-5 lead at the end of second round. With top boxers Zou Shiming and Zhang Xiaoping absent due to injury, Zhang Zhilei became the de facto leader of the Chinese team. And he showed that leadership in the third round, scoring a decisive 12-8 win over his German opponent.

In other results, Li Jiazhao moved into the last 8 with an 11-5 win over Redouane Bouchtouk of Morocco in the 48kg category, while Gu Yu also qualified with an easy win 10-3 over Puerto Rico's Mcjoe Arroyo in the 52kg.