(OCT 25) SANTIAGO, Chile --
The sixth day of boxing at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games
saw Team USA go 4-1 yesterday, guaranteeing the team four more
medals, to bring their total to five so far in Santiago, with
the potential to add three more tomorrow.
Morelle McCane (Cleveland, Ohio) began the day in dominating
fashion in her opening bout of these Games. McCane, who is
looking to become the fifth straight boxer from Cleveland and
first female to qualify to an Olympic Games, landed multiple
power shots to Nicole Vega Moya of Costa Rica in the first 90
seconds of her bout to see the referee give her opponent
back-to-back standing eight counts before calling off the bout.
McCane will return to action on Thursday, where she will face
Charlie Cavanagh of Canada, where a victory will advance the
American to the finals, as well as punch her ticket to next
summer’s Olympic Games.
Flyweight Roscoe Hill (Spring, Texas) grabbed Team USA’s second
win of the day, securing the teams third medal of the
tournament. Hill ended the first round behind, 3-2, Colombia’s
Yuberjen Martinez, however came back strong in the second round
with numerous shots to the body and combinations to take the
round, 4-1. Hill outperformed the 2016 Olympian in the final
round, taking all five judges’ cards, including one 10-8 score,
to solidify the win to move to the medal rounds.
Hill’s semifinal bout on Thursday will be against Dominican
Republic’s Yunior Reyes, where an Olympic qualifying spot will
be on the line.
Joshua Edwards (Houston, Texas) closed out the first session of
the day in impressive fashion over Ecuador’s Gerlon Chala. The
superheavy, who was making his Pan American Games debut, won all
five judges’ cards to take a clean sweep of the bout to confirm
his place in the medal rounds and be one step closer to
qualifying to Paris.
Edwards will meet Fernando Arzola of Cuba, the 2023 Elite World
Championships silver medalist, for a shot in the finals and a
place in next summer’s Olympic Games.
The final victory of the day came during the second session with
Jennifer Lozano (Laredo, Texas) taking the 3-2 decision over
Tayonis Rojas of Venezuela.
The American flyweight saw Rojas take an early 4-1 lead after
the first round, however, came back to take the final two
rounds, 3-2, to take the overall 3-2 decision and secure herself
a medal, as well as be one win away from punching her ticket to
Paris.
Lozano will look to be victorious over Canada’s McKenzie Wright
during Thursday’s semifinal bout.
Naomi Graham (Fayetteville, N.C.) was the other member of Team
USA to step into the ring during the day, however, saw her
tournament run come to an end following a 5-0 defeat against
Citlalli Ortiz of Mexico.
Three boxers will take to the ring during day seven in Santiago,
including Jajaira Gonzalez (Glendora, Calif.), who could become
USA Boxing’s first Olympian for next summer with a victory over
Uruguay’s Camilo Pineiro Muino.
Joining Gonzalez today are Omari Jones (Orlando, Fla.) and
Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas). Both boxers will look to be
victorious to guarantee themselves a medal, as well as be one
win away from Olympic qualification. Click here to follow all
the action from Santiago.
Day 6 Result
50 kg: Jennifer Lozano, Laredo, Texas/USA, dec. over Tayonis
Rojas/VEN, 3-2
51 kg: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas/USA, dec. over Rivas Yuberjen
Herney Martinez/ COL, 4-1
66 kg: Morelle McCane, Cleveland, Ohio/USA, wins by RSC over
Nicole De Los Angeles Vega Moya/ CRC, RSC-1
75 kg: Citlalli Vanessa Ortiz/ MEX dec. over Naomi Graham,
Fayetteville, NC/USA, 5-0
92+ kg: Joshua Edwards, Houston, Texas/ USA, dec. over Gerlon
Gilmar Congo Chala/ ECU, 5-0
Day 7 Schedule
60 kg: Jajaira Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif./USA, vs. Camilo
Pineiro Muino/URU
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. Alexy Baez/DOM
71 kg: Omari Jones, Orlando, Fla./USA, vs. Marco Alvarez/MEX
WBAN / IWBHF
WBAN Instagram
WBAN Facebook
WBAN / IWBHF
WEBSITES
www.womensboxing.org
www.womenboxingrecords.com
www.wban2012.com
www.wbanmember.com
www.floridaboxing.com
www.iwbhf.com
www.wban.tv
WBAN's
Group Facebook