Chinese light flyweight (48 kg) boxer Zou Shiming, world champion and Athens Olympic bronze medalist, advanced into the semifinals at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday, by beating Birzhan Zhakypov from Kazakhstan 9-4.

Both boxers were cautious on the ring at the beginning of the bout, as the first round ended with Zou getting only one point and Zhakypov none. Zou initiated attacks in the next two rounds and took an 8-3 lead when the third round concluded.

Zhakyapov tried to keep up with Zou in the fourth round, but his efforts were in vain as Zou blocked the coming punches.

Last year, Zou crushed Zhakypov at 30-13 at the World Championships last year.

The victory on Tuesday ensures at least a bronze for Zou.

Zhang Chuanliang, coach of Zou, said after the match that "Zou has a lot of pressure because all the boxers know that he is the world champion. They've studied him."

Zhang also said the scoring system at the Beijing Olympic Games was very different from the past, which is very difficult for the boxers, especially Asian boxers, "because their skills are based on technique."

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2008)