(OCT 23) SANTIAGO, Chile
-- USA Boxing came away with three victories last night during
the fourth day of boxing at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games
in Santiago, Chile, to go 3-1 for the day.
Omari Jones (Orlando, Fla.) came out aggressive against the
Puerto Rican, Angel Gabriel Llanos Perez. Jones connected on
multiple combinations and pushed the pace to win the first two
rounds by 4-1, before sealing the bout by taking all five
judges’ cards in the final round, which included a 10-8 score
from one judge. Jones went on to win the bout 4-0 due to a tie
from one of the judges.
Jones will face a familiar opponent, Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez
out of Mexico, for his quarterfinal bout. These two boxers went
head-to-head in the 2022 AMBC Continental Championships
semifinals, where Verde edged out the victory over Jones in a
split decision. The highly anticipated rematch will take place
Oct. 25, where the winner of the bout will be guaranteed a
medal.
Middleweight Jajaira Gonzalez (Glendora, Calif.) was the next
boxer to represent the stars and stripes, going against the
Canadian, Garinder Takhar. Gonzalez came out firing and
connecting multiple blows in the first minute, which resulted in
the referee giving Takhar an eight count. Gonzalez, not letting
up at all and staying aggressive, got her second eight count
shortly after, resulting in the referee to wave the bout,
resulting in an RSC victory in the first round.
Gonzalez looks to punch her ticket to the Paris Olympics 2024 as
she faces Camila Paola Pineiro Muino during Wednesday’s
quarterfinals, where the winner will advance to the semifinals
to secure a medal, as well as officially qualify for the Paris
Olympic Games 2024.
Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas) was the last American boxer to
step into the ring. Garcia, trying to end the day on a high note
for Team USA, came out of the red corner strong and aggressive.
Going against Jesus Nazaret Cova Romero of Venzuela, took round
one, 4-1, and then dominated round two and took the bout into
his own hands, giving Romero an eight count with 48 seconds left
in the round, to take the round unanimously, including two 10-8
scores. Garcia went on to win on a unanimous decision and move
onto the next round.
Garcia will face Alexy Miguel De La Cruz Baez from the Dominican
Republic on Oct. 25, with the winner advancing to the semifinals
and be guaranteed a medal.
Team USA featherweight, Yoseline Perez, got the day started for
the Americans. Perez going against Airas Cataneda Yeni Marcela
out of Columbia, got off to a strong start and took round one,
4-1. However, the experience from Marcela outweighed the Youth
Champion and Marcela won round two and three, 4-1, and the
overall bout, 4-1.
Featherweight duo Alyssa Mendoza (Caldwell, Idaho) and Jahmal
Harvey (Oxon Hill, Md.) will take to the ring on day five for
Team USA. Mendoza takes on Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh of Canada
in the day’s morning session, while Harvey will face 2020
Olympian Keevin Allicock of Guyana during the second session.
This year’s Pan American Games is serving as the first Paris
Olympic Games 2024 qualifier for boxers from the Americas.
Boxers must finish top two to punch their ticket to Paris, while
boxers in the female 57 kg and 60 kg must finish top four to
earn their spot. These Games are the 19th edition of the Pan
American Games, bringing boxers from 27 different countries to
Chile.
Click here to follow Team USA’s time in Santiago, including
athlete stories, photo galleries, livestream and results.
Day 4 Results
54 kg: Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda/COL dec. over Yoseline
Perez, Houston, Texas/USA, 4-1
60 kg: Jajaira Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif./USA, wins by RSC over
Garinder Takhar/CAN, RSC-1
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, dec. over Jesus
Nazaret Cova Romero/VEN, 5-0
71 kg: Omari Jones, Orlando, Fla./USA, dec. over Angel Llanos
Perez/PUR, 4-0
Day 5 Schedule
10:00 a.m. ET session
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, vs. Marie-Bathoul
Al-Ahmadieh/CAN
4:00 p.m. ET session
57 kg: Jahmal Harvey, Oxon Hill, Md./USA, vs. winner of PAN vs.
GUY
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