CHICAGO - U.S. featherweight Raynell Williams took a first step to making the Beijing Olympics with an impressive victory over France's Khedafi Djelkhir in the preliminary round of the World Boxing Championships on Wednesday.

Raynell Williams, left, of the United States, battles Khedafi Djelkhir, of France, during their preliminary bout in the Featherweight 57kg class of the World Boxing Championships in Chicago, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. Williams advanced in the championship with a 28-18 win. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)

Djelkhir, a 2004 Olympian, came right after Williams in the first round. The strategy backfired, and Williams counterpunched effectively with straight rights to the head to win a 28-18 decision.

Williams called the bout "the biggest fight of his career." He can qualify for Beijing by making the quarterfinals in his weight class.

Middleweight Shawn Estrada was slated to fight Israel's Artur Zlatopolski later Wednesday. Heavyweight Deontay Wilder was set to face off against Poland's Krzysztof Zimnoch, and super heavyweight Michael Hunter drew Mexico's Andres Ruiz Ponce for their preliminary rounds Wednesday night.

The top eight finishers in the light flyweight (106 pounds) to light heavyweight (178 pounds) divisions and the top four from the heavyweight and super heavyweight classes will qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Chicago hopes to use the event as a boost in its bid for the 2016 Olympics. The city got the championships in May after the event was pulled from Moscow.