British welterweight Billy Joe Saunders crashed out of the Beijing Olympics at the second round stage. Saunders, 18, fought bravely but was well beaten by experienced Cuban opponent Carlos Banteaux Suarez. He trailed from the start, eventually losing 13-6 to Banteaux who will face Egypt's Hosam Abdin in the next round.

Light-heavyweight Tony Jeffries made the quarter-finals after coming through a messy encounter with Colombian Eleider Alvarez on count back.

After a cautious opening, 23-year-old Jeffries took the lead in the second round but failed to put any daylight between himself and Alvarez. The Colombian levelled at 5-5 with 15 seconds remaining in the final round but Jeffries got the judges vote to proceed to the last eight.

The Sunderland fighter, who faces Hungary's Imre Szello in the quarter-finals, received a bye into the second round and admitted the long build-up had been difficult.

"It was a horrible fight but the build-up was so long and I'm just glad I got rid of this pressure," he said.

"I've been spurred on by all the messages of support I've received here in Beijing and back home. I've only ever dreamed of winning an Olympic medal since I was six years old, and I'm so close now."

Saunders felt he boxed well, but bemoaned the scoring in Beijing.

"The points didn't go for me today," he said. "In the last round I knew I wouldn't get the decision unless I knocked him out. The scoring here is so bad for an Olympic Games. It's unbelievable.

"I felt my performance was exceptional, but I've had better days. I felt I should have had six or seven points for my body shots, but they're not scoring body shots. You might as well do fencing, not boxing, if they're going to do that."

Ireland's Kenny Egan booked a quarter-final bout with the Brazilian Washington Silva after comfortably beating Bahram Muzaffer of Turkey 10-2.