Kurt Walker booked his ticket into the last 16 of the World Elites on a split decision over Columbian southpaw David Avila in Ekaterinburg, Russia today.

Antrim's current European champion, the number 6 seed in the featherweight class, won 4-1 in his first bout at the tournament.

Avila threatened when he cut down space, but Walker, working off simple but effective two-punch combinations and body shots, was always one step ahead of his durable opponent.

Canada’s Robin Basran awaits for a place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Basran beat Cuadra Guerrero, Nicaragua’s only boxer in Russia, earlier today.

Dublin heavyweight Afanasev dropped a 4-1 split verdict to Bulgaria’s Radoslav Panaleev.

The Smithfield BC man worked his jab to good effect in the opening round and both men delivered solid backhands in a rough three-rounder, but the judges leaned toward the aggression of the Bulgarian.