Payla clobbers Pakistani, faces Cuban in 3rd round

Violito Payla put on an explosive show of punching power and scored an RSC (referee-stopped-contest) victory over Noman Karim of Pakistan to advance to the third round in the World Boxing Championships in Mianyang, China Tuesday.

Payla, the veteran internationalist who outpointed R. Dydi of Slovakia Sunday, sized up his Pakistani rival in the early going, then unleashed a series of combinations to the head and body to stagger Karim en route to the abbreviated victory.

But the Filipino pug found himself ranged against a Cuban in his next bout in what could define his stint in this top-level event featuring the world’s best boxers.

Andry Lafita Hernandez fought back from an early struggle and went on to beat former world champion Jerome Thomas of France to arrange a third round clash with Payla in the flyweight division.

"He (Lafita) is beatable. He’s a light flyweight who went up to flyweight," Filipino coach Boy Velasco told AFP.

"Lafita was never able to beat Onyok," Velasco added, referring to his now retired younger brother Mansueto Velasco, a former Olympic silver medalist in the 48kg class.

"We’ll see," Lafita told AFP.

Cuban coach Sarbello Fuentes pronounced himself "very satisfied" over the progress of his boxers who notched four wins Tuesday.

Lightweight Yordanis Ugas outscored Ashgar Ali Shah of Pakistan over three rounds, the same result turned in by welterweight Erislandi Lara Santova over India’s Vijender.

Middleweight Emilio Correa dispatched an outclassed Andreas Nagy of Hungary.

The Cubans, led by four Olympic champions, have now won 14 fights out of 15.

Defending world champion Russia continued its good progress under the radar as the Cubans hogged the spotlight.

Flyweight Georgy Balakshin comfortably beat Bradley Hore of Australia by points while lightweight Khabib Allakhverdiev also outscored U. Munkh-Erdene of Mongolia.

Welterweight Andrey Balanov eliminated Noel Xavier of France by points while middleweight Matvey Korobov outclassed Dzhakhon Kurbanov of Tajikistan over three rounds.