(APRIL 20) FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil, press release dated April 19, 2026:  – USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team will compete in its second international tournament of the year, as Team USA sent 13 boxers to Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, for the first World Boxing Cup - Stage 1. This event marks the first competition to provide ranking points for Team USA in 2026. Sunday evening was the tournament draw, and USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team learned its path to gold for each of its 13 competitors.

Entering the ring on day one, Monday, April 20, are Salim Ellis-Bey (60 kilograms), Naomi Graham (75 kilograms), Tyric Trapp (80 kilograms) and Malachi Georges (90 kilograms).

Ellis-Bey, one of two team captains for the United States, will enter the ring on Monday against Hungary’s Kruzító Kovács in Session One, Ring A, Bout Nine. The Philadelphia native made his elite international debut earlier this year for Team USA and will look to earn his first elite international medal this week in Brazil.

Georges will go second on Monday for the USA after being elevated from the Elite High Performance Squad to replace Joseph Awinongya for this tournament. Georges represented Team USA at four international tournaments in 2025 and will now make his 2026 debut against Spain’s Enmanuel Reyes Pla in Session One, Ring B, Bout 13.

In Monday’s second session, Graham will return to action after winning bronze at the 77th International Boxing Tournament: Strandja 2026. The Tokyo 2020 Olympian will go head-to-head with Brazil’s Barbara Santos in Session Two, Ring A, Bout Two.

Trapp will close the first day for the United States and will make his international debut against Venezuela’s Diego Andres Pereyra Mejia in Session Two, Ring A, Bout 14. Trapp begins his tournament contention in the Round of 32, and the winner on Monday will advance to the Round of 16 to take on Brazil’s Wanderley Pereira.

On Tuesday, April 21, Team USA will see Lorenzo Patricio (55 kilograms) return to action after capturing a silver medal at the 77th International Boxing Tournament: Strandja 2026. Patricio will take on Morocco’s Othman Chadghour in the Round of 32 in the 55-kilogram bracket. Should Patricio win, he will advance to the Round of 16 to take on England’s Ellis Trowbridge.

Also boxing on Tuesday will be Alyssa Mendoza (54 kilograms), Marcus Luther (65 kilograms), Marie-Angelis Rosendo (65 kilograms) and Kelvin Watts (90+ kilograms).

Mendoza, a Paris 2024 Olympian, will square off against a fellow Paris 2024 Olympian, Ireland’s Michaela Walsh, in a rematch from the Strandja Boxing Tournament earlier this year. Mendoza is on the hunt for her second international medal of 2026 after securing a bronze in Bulgaria last month.

Rosendo makes her second international appearance in Brazil this week and will take on Turkey’s Sema Çaliskan in the Round of 32, and should she win that matchup, she will face off against Poland’s Kinga Krowka in the Round of 16.

As for the men’s team, Luther and Watts will round out Tuesday’s slate, with Luther squaring off with Libya’s Yazin Salah Aldeen Alia. Watts is scheduled to take on Argentina’s Enzo Gallardo in the opening round of the super heavyweight division.

Boxing on Wednesday, April 22, will be the 2025 World Boxing Championships silver medalist, Yoseline Perez (54 kilograms). Perez, who earned a bronze medal in Bulgaria, earned a bye in the opening round and will face the winner of Japan’s Tsukimi Namiki and Australia’s Monique Suraci.

Alisha Crockett (60 kilograms) will also be in action for the United States on Wednesday, competing in her second international tournament with Team USA. Crockett will face Canada’s Marie Al Ahmadieh in the Round of 16 after earning a first-round bye. Simona Winkler (70 kilograms) rounds out the United States contingent on Wednesday and will take on New Zealand’s Morgan Henderson. Winkler enters the week with momentum after earning a bronze medal in Bulgaria earlier this year, marking the first international medal of her career.

Noelle Haro (51 kilograms) will make her Team USA and international debut on Thursday, April 23 and will face Canada's McKenzie Wright.

At the World Boxing Cup - Stage 1, USA Boxing will be led by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and assisted by National Development Coach Edward Fonteneaux (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Elite High Performance Coach Nikki Burleson (Oklahoma City, Okla.).

Fans can stay updated on the USA Boxing High Performance Team at the World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 on the USA Boxing website. Brackets, broadcast information, daily schedules and daily results will be updated on the World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 event page.

Team USA Opening Round Schedules:

Monday, April 20:

Men’s 60kg: Salim Ellis-Bey, USA vs. Kruzító Kovács, HUN | Approximately 12:00 p.m. ET

Men’s 90kg: Malachi Georges, USA vs. Enmanuel Reyes Pla, ESP | Approximately 1:00 p.m. ET

Women’s 75 kg: Naomi Graham, USA vs Barbara Santos, BRA | Approximately 4:15 p.m. ET Men’s 80kg: Tyric Trapp, USA vs. Diego Andres Pereyra Mejia, VEN | Approximately 7:15 p.m. ET

Tuesday, April 21:

Women’s 57kg: Alyssa Mendoza, USA vs. Michaela Walsh, IRL
Men’s 55kg: Lorenzo Patricio, USA vs. Othman Chadghour, MAR
Men’s 65kg: Marcus Luther, USA vs. Yazin Salah Aldeen Alia, LBA Women’s
65kg: Marie-Angelis Rosendo, USA vs. Sema Çaliskan, TUR Men’s
90+kg: Kelvin Watts, USA vs. Enzo Gallardo, ARG

Wednesday, April 22:

Women’s 54kg: Yoseline Perez, USA vs. TBD Women’s
60kg: Alisha Crockett, USA vs. Marie Al Ahmadieh, CAN
Women’s 70kg: Simona Winkler, USA vs Morgan Henderson, NZL

Thursday, April 23:

Women’s 51kg: Noelle Haro, USA vs. McKenzie Wright, CAN

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