(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The United States enjoyed a successful start to the 2011 AIBA Men’s World Championships on Monday with both light flyweight Eros Correa (San Jose, Calif.) and heavyweight Joseph Williams (Queens, N.Y.) claiming opening round victories in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Correa was the first U.S. boxer to take the ring in Azerbaijan and he ensured that Team USA enjoyed a victorious start on Monday at the Sport and Exhibition Centre. Correa recorded a 14-11 decision over Jason Lavigilante of Mauritius in their light flyweight opener to advance on to second round action. A few hours later, Williams continued the U.S. winning streak in his bout with Slovakia’s Sandro Dirnfeld, taking a 19-13 decision in their heavyweight contest to join Correa in the second round.

Despite being the youngest member of the team at only 18, Correa set the tone for his United States squad. Correa maintained his composure in his World Championships debut despite falling behind by a 5-4 margin after the first round. He came out charging in the second, giving Lavigilante two standing eight counts in the round to claim an 11-9 lead with three minutes of boxing remaining. Correa refused to relinquish his lead in the final stanza and won a 14-11 decision to move on to second round action. He will face off with 2009 World Championships silver medalist David Ayrapetyan of Russia in his second bout on Monday, October 3.

Williams announced his arrival on the international scene very early in his bout with Slovakia’s Sandro Dirnfeld, flooring his opponent with a thundering right hand in the first minute of the opening round. He kept the pressure on in the first and held a 7-3 lead after the opening three minutes. Williams extended his advantage to a 13-8 margin after the second round and went on to win his international debut by a 19-13 final decision. He will return to the ring in second round action on Monday, October 3 when he takes on Vassiliy Levit of Kazakhstan.

As U.S. flyweight representative, Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) received a first round bye, no U.S. boxers will compete on Tuesday. Team USA will take the ring once again on Wednesday as bantamweight Joseph Diaz, Jr. (S. El Monte, Calif.) faces Myanmar’s Kyaw Latt and light heavyweight Marcus Browne (Staten Island, N.Y.) battles Yoshitsuna Okada of Japan.

Following the general weigh in, 570 athletes from 113 countries were entered into the official event draw in Baku. Ninety-two Olympic berths are up for grabs at the World Championships with 10 boxers in the light flyweight through light heavyweight classes and six athletes in the heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions all earning spots in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

For the full brackets for all 10 weight classes and the most up-to-date results, go to http://www.aiba.org/en-US/2011/2011WorldBoxingChampionships.aspx. AIBA will show live scoring on its website, www.aiba.org throughout the tournament and will be webcasting all the bouts beginning October 4 at www.aibaboxing.tv.  For more information on Team USA, go to www.usaboxing.org. USA Boxing will tweet all the American results as they happen @usaboxing.

The first AIBA Men’s World Championships were held in 1974 in Havana, Cuba. The event, which consistently showcases the best boxers in the world, is held every two years.

U.S. Results

Monday, September 26 - Preliminary Bouts

108 lbs: Erros Correa, San Jose, Calif./USA dec. Jason Lavigilante, MRI, 14-11

201 lbs: Joseph Williams, Queens, N.Y./USA dec. Sandro Dirnfeld, SVK, 19-13