KEIGHLEY boxer Muhammad Ali has reached the quarter-finals of the AIBA World Championships in Qatar after beating Vincenzo Picardi on a split decision.

Victory in Doha for the Bury Amateur Boxing Club member was revenge after he lost to the Italian at the European Games in Azerbaijan earlier in the year when the bout was stopped due to an eye injury to Ali.

The 19-year-old flyweight now faces number two seed Elvin Mamishzada, who is from Azerbaijan, in the last-eight bout tomorrow.