The EUBC Continental event is underway in Minsk 
The European Boxing Confederation's (EUBC) Continental Championships have opened in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.  216 boxers from 37 nations will be fighting for the medals in the upcoming week.

Three days into the competition and we have seen some huge surprises already in the Welterweight class (69 kg) where two of the favourites have been eliminated early on which has blown the competition wide open.

Lithuania's AIBA Youth World Championships quarter-finalist Eimantas Stanionis had only lost one contest so far in 2013 and was a favourite for many insiders but he suffered a shock exit at the hands of Bulgaria's Simeon Chamov in his opening preliminary contest.  

Meanwhile Hungary's European Champion Balazs Bacskai lost a hectic battle to Azerbaijan's two-time National Champion 21-year-old Tamerlan Abdullayev. The Hungarian boxer had also only lost one bout in 2013, but has now failed to progress to the last 16.  This will be an interesting category to watch now as the tournament progresses.

In the absence of double Olympic and World Champion Lomachenko, Ukraine's London 2012 Olympian Pavlo Ishchenko has stepped up to the scratch having recently moved up to Lightweight (60 kg), Although he has big boots to fill he has already managed to beat Irishman Sean McComb.

Other World Series of Boxing (WSB) stars are in action however. At middleweight Anthony Fowler (British Lionhearts) and Georgia's European Championship Bronze medallist Jaba Khositashvili have both moved through to the next round.

News for the German Team.

The head coach of the German national elite squad Mr Michael Bastian has sent maximum number of athletes to Belarus which means the Germans will be competing in each weight class.

Following their successes in the Chemistry Cup where their squad claimed four gold medals and topped the team rankings, they will be looking to continue their good form over the next week.

Super heavyweight boxer Erik Pfeifer the 2011 World Bronze Medallist and 2012 Olympian has recently signed for AIBA Professional Boxing (APB). He will be a favourite in Minsk.

Stay posted for more news over the coming days and follow EUBC on Twitter for the latest updates.