DUSHANBE, August 8, 2016, Asia-Plus – Tajik boxer Anvar Yunusov, participating in men’s lightweight (-60kg) has gained his first victory in Rio beating Chinese boxer Shan Jun in the preliminary fight.

According to Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), that fight took place on August 6 and Anvar Yunusov beat Chinese boxer 3-0.

Anvar Yunusov (born February 1, 1987, Dushanbe) is an amateur boxer from Tajikistan best known from giving Asian Games winner Violito Payla his first ever stoppage defeat at the 2007 World Championships.  He has also qualified for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics

Southpaw Yunusov beat Bato-Munko Vankeev at the 2005 World Championships but lost to surprise winner Lee Ok-Sung.

He finished second at the 2006 Military World Championships and the Ahmet Comet Cup 2007 where he beat Mirat Sarsenbayev but lost to local Kadri Kordel.

At the 2007 World Championships he stopped Payla but lost to Samir Mammadov later.

At the 2008 Olympic qualifier he beat Payla again, then Mongol Luvsantseren Zorigtbaatar and North Korean Pak Jong Chol. In Beijing he lost his quarterfinal to experienced Thai favorite Somjit Jongjohor.

At the 2012 Olympics he lost his first bout to Oscar Valdez.