Thapa in world boxing quarters

Reigning Asian Champion Shiva Thapa (56 kg) continued his winning streak at the AIBA World Boxing Championship here Monday.

The 19-year-old outplayed Argentina's Alberto Melian to cement his place in the last eight of the bantamweight division. But it was disappointment for former Junior World Champion Th Nanao Singh (49 kg), who bowed out after losing in the pre-quarterfinals of the light flyweight division.

Thapa locked horns with Argentine boxer Melian in the pre-quarters, who proved to be a difficult opponent. There was not much separating the two pugilists with both having a similar style of play.

Melian got the better of Shiva in the first round but the Indian came back strongly in the second balancing his attacks and counter-attacks to win the round.

In the final three minutes he went all out, not giving his opponent many chances to score. Thapa went on to make his place in the quarterfinals with a score of 28-29, 29-28 and 30-27.

With another win Shiva will be assured of at least a bronze. He will, however, have to get past Javid Chalabiyev of Azerbaijan to do that.

Nanao's campaign came to abrupt end. The 22-year-old suffered defeat at the hands of eighth seed Anthony Chacon Rivera of Puerto Rico and lost by a unanimous decision.