The visitors held a 3-2 lead from yesterday’s first leg and despite winning their first two bouts today to put them on the brink of overall victory, they were soon pegged back to 2-2 by the Russians.

It meant the Tigers had to win the final bout of the contest to prevent a tie-breaker and, fortunately for them, super heavyweight Mirzohidjon Abdullaev delivered a unanimous points win against Andrey Afonin.

Flyweight Shakhobidin Zoirov got this season’s debutants off to the perfect start with a unanimous points win against Viacheslav Tashkarakov.

Elnur Abduraimov then put the Tigers 2-0 ahead on the night and 5-2 on aggregate courtesy of a second-round TKO victory against Dzhamal Badrutdinov at lightweight. 

The Russians came back into it through unanimous point wins for welterweight Albert Karibian and light heavyweight Imam Khataev against Shakhram Giyasov and Shuhrat Abdullaev.

It proved to be in vain, however, as the other Abdullaev comfortably overcame Afonin to send the Tigers into the last four.

Today’s other semi-final second leg saw defending WSB champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan thrash Caciques Venezuela 5-0 to complete a 9-1 aggregate win at the Track And Field Sport Complex in Shymkent.

Flyweight Azamat Issakulov, lightweight Zakir Safiullin, welterweight Bekzod Khalmetov and light heavyweight Arman Rysbek all triumphed 3-0 against Yoel Finol, Luis Cabrera, Gabriel Maestre and Nalek Korbaj respectively.

The rout was complete when super heavyweight Kamshybek Kunkabayev beat Edgar Muñoz by virtue of a second-round knockout.

Uzbek Tigers go on to face Cuba Domadores in the semi-finals, while Astana Arlans Kazakhstan meet the British Lionhearts.