Akhil Kumar gave India a resounding start at the inaugural AIBA boxing World Cup, out-punching Germany's Marcel Schneider 15-6 to enter the bantam weight semi-finals and assure himself of a medal at Moscow on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Indian will be up against Beijing Olympics silver medallist Yankiel Leon Alarcon of Cuba in the semi-finals on December 13.

The Cuban beat Botswana's Khumiso Ikgopoleng 7-0 in the other last eight bouts.

Today's win has not just assured Akhil of a bronze medal but also USD 2,500 in prize money.

"I was slightly nervous to start with because the first bout is always crucial. He (Schneider) was not attacking and I also stuck to counter-punching. I kept my guard down, like I usually do and gained in confidence as the bout progressed," Akhil told PTI after the bout.

Akhil, who was a quarter-finalist in Beijing, was in rampaging mood on Wednesday and didn't allow his opponent to land a single scoring punch in the first round, at the end of which he led 4-0.

The diminutive counter-puncher built on the lead in the next two rounds, scoring seven points. Though Schneider managed to hold his own in the third and fourth rounds by landing six blows, Akhil's first-round lead gave him a comfortable six-point cushion.

The final round belonged to the Haryana-boxer, who picked up three more points to complete the formalities. PTI