Having won World Championships gold as far back as 2007 in Chicago and subsequently securing consecutive Olympic silver medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, Russo is one of the most experienced fighters in the competition.

He was given a stern examination by his Croatian opponent Marko Calic but eventually secured a 3-0 victory to progress to the semi-finals.

"This was a tough fight", said the Italian, who also boxes for the World Series Boxing (WSB) franchise Italia Thunder.

"My opponent today was very good, very fast.

"But what I have on my side is the experience, I'm 31 now.

"So things have been OK so far, but the tournament really starts on Friday (October 25)."

Clemente Russo of Italy (in blue) secured at least a medal of some description in the heavyweight category at the World Boxing Championships



In the same division Argentinean fighter Yamil Peralta joined Russo in the last four after outlasting the young Irishman Thomas McCarthy.

Another WSB participant, for the Argentinean Condors, Peralta's experience eventually told but only after a tough test from McCarthy, who looks set to continue Ireland's recent success in the sport.

Peralto will next face the Russian Evgeny Tishchenko while Russo will take on Azebaijan's London 2012 bronze medalist Teymur Mammadov.

In other weight categories boxers to impress included  Irish middleweight Jason Quigley in beating Hungarian Zoltan Harcsa and the defending welterweight champion Everton Lopez, who won a thrilling fight over Lithuania's Evaldas Petrauskas.

In the evening session the highlight came from Maestre of Venezuela who ousted the highly fancied Russian Alexander Besputin in a pulsating contest.

The Russian was knocked down in the second round but, after surviving the standing eight count, rallied impressively until being caught again at the end of the third round.

"The fight was really hard," said Maestre.

"My coach told me it would be tough yesterday, but he said he had confidence in me.

"I'm just really pleased I made it through."

Gabriel Maestre of Venezuela (in red) enjoys a surprise but highly impressive victory to guarantee a medal at the World Boxing Championships


There was another tight contest in the opening bout of the session when Wales' Andrew Selby guaranteed another World Championship medal following his 2011 silver when he upset home favourite Llyas Suleimenov of Kazakhstan to the disappointment of the partisan crowd.

Bout of the session, however, came in the super heavyweight category when Azerbaijan's  defending champion Magomedrasul Medzhidov took on Russia's 2011 European champion Magomed Omarov

In a bruising contest Medzhidov, who is also the Olympic bronze medal winner, eventually prevailed 3-0.

London 2012 champion Anthony Joshua of Great Britain is an absenteee in Almaty becasue he has departed for the professional ranks.

However, the progression of the other Olympic bronze medalist Ivan Dychko of the Ukraine as well as London runner-up and Beijing 2008 champion Roberto Cammarelle of Italy sets up an exciting climax.