(JAN 1, 2024) On December 2nd through 9th, 2023 the 2023 Olympic Trials took place at the Cajun Dome & Convention Center, Lafayette, Louisiana.

On December 8th, 2023 of Ring 2 was flawed. There was a timing error which would cause the RE-DO of four the contested bouts. In Ring 2 the timer was set at 2-minute rounds instead of 3-minute rounds which is standard bout time for Youth and Elite boxers.

Were the officials in charge of this ring inexperienced or distracted?

There should have been an event pre-check which is standard with experienced officials running an Olympic Trial bout. Even more surprising is each computer terminal has a clock on it. It is a wonder how this error took place at such a prestigious event and how it did not get noticed immediately.

Those boxers who competed at two-minute rounds had to fight the following day with the correct timing. As a result of this four of the Olympic trial bouts will be contested on January 6th 2024 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three of these bouts are in the women’s division.

50kg division Lexus Ramirez, 19, will be boxing Sheelyn Patricio, 18, for a spot as an Olympic alternate. Both boxers have been trained by their fathers/uncles. Jennifer Lozano is the Olympian at 50kg division as she was a finalist at the Pan Am Games.

Two of these weight classes 54kg and 57kg in the female division are where the most opportunities lie to reach their dreams of being on the Podium as an Olympian. There has been no boxer yet in these two divisions to solidify their spot on the Olympic team. These two highly contested and anticipated bouts will be absolute wars.

54kg division will pit Sher Mae Patricio, 21, who is trained by her father vs. Kayla Gomez, 20 who is trained by her mother and grandmother. Both Boxers have many National Championship Titles and even World Championship medals on their resumes. Gomez moved from the 50kg division where Jennifer Lozano solidified her spot as an Olympian at the Pan Am Games. Both Gomez and Patricio have been on Team USA since Junior division.

57kg Deborah Grant, 22, a talent new to the scene is a former enlisted soldier. She will be boxing Sierra Martinez. 20, a boxer with many National Championships and accolades on here resume. Martinez is formerly trained by her father and was recruited to the WCAP Army team. Martinez has also been on Team USA since Junior Division with both Gomez and Patricio.

Grant, a literal unknown, has entered the boxing scene 2 ½ years ago and is a former basketball player/track athlete. She won her spot on the Olympic trials by beating Martinez at the first National Qualifiers in March in Detroit MI. Both Grant and Martinez have been called to the Olympic training camp as a sparring partner for USA Boxing High Performance Team this year.

The fact that the Army has a huge influence in the 57kg division makes this bout even more interesting by pitting a former enlisted soldier against a current WCAP boxer. All the coaches in the prospective corners in this championship bout are current or former Army veterans.

Another interesting factor is most of these boxers have been raised in boxing families and trained by their parents or other family members.

All winners on January 6th stay at Olympic Training Center for Selection camp.

Blanca Gutierrez

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