Team USA Advances Two Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
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by USA Boxing
Team USA secured two more wins on Tuesday, April 1, at the World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025 in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. Yoseline Perez (54kg) and Kelvin Watts (90+kg) claimed statement career victories on day two of competition, advancing the pair into the medal rounds of their respective brackets. After advancing to the semifinals of their divisions, Team USA is now guaranteed a minimum of three medals for the week.
Perez got things started for Team USA today as the Houston, Texas, native dominated from start to finish over the Paris 2024 Olympian out of Australia, Monique Suraci. Perez, the 2022 Youth World Championships gold medalist earned her first elite international victory and will carry that momentum moving forward for the remainder of the tournament. Perez secured multiple 10-8 scores in the first round en route to her unanimous decision victory. She advances to the medal round with the win and will now take on Italy’s Sirine Charaabi in the 54 kg bracket on Thursday, April 3, in bout No. 70 of the evening session.
Watts secured the other victory for Team USA on day two. The 90+kg American secured a massive win in his young boxing career with a decisive 5-0 result. Watts has been boxing for only two years and just secured a victory over the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist out of Brazil, Abner Junior. In his international debut, Watts earned a unanimous decision over the Brazilian boxer after putting on a technical clinic. Watts' monumental win over the 2020 Olympic medalist advances him to the medal round in his bracket, and he will now take on England’s Damar Thomas in the evening session on Wednesday, April 3.
Team USA’s other two boxers who competed on Tuesday were Ramon Ordonez and Lisa Greer. Ordonez competed in his first international bout and went toe-to-toe with Poland’s Pawel Brach. The Newark, N.J., native left it all in the ring but fell to the experienced boxer, 5-0. Greer returned to the international stage after claiming a bronze medal at the 2024 USA Boxing International Open, but unfortunately lost 4-1 to Australia's Tina Rahimi.
Team USA will see five boxers in action during Wednesday’s quarterfinal rounds. All five boxers will look to advance to their respective divisions’ medal rounds and improve upon Team USA current medal count. Two Paris 2024 Olympians from Team USA will make their debut in the tournament, Alyssa Mendoza and Jennifer Lozano. Mendoza will box in the afternoon session, while Lozano will compete in the evening session. Carlos Flowers will return to the ring for his quarterfinal bout against Panama’s Eduardo Beckford and will progress to the medal round of the 70kg weight class with a win in bout No. 46.
In the evening session, Lozano (51kg) will start the night session for Team USA in bout No. 50, followed by Dustin Jimenez (65kg) in bout No. 54. Jimenez will be immediately followed by 2021 World Champion and teammate Robby “Rahim” Gonzales (80kg) in bout No. 55.
Tuesday, April 1, Results:
W54 kg: Yoseline Perez, Houston, Texas/USA defeats Monique Suraci, AUS, 5-0
M60 kg: Pawel Brach, POL defeats Ramon Ordonez, Newark, N.J./USA, 5-0
M90+kg: Kelvin Watts, Chesapeake, Va./USA defeats Abner Junior, BRA, 5-0
W60 kg: Tina Rahimi, AUS defeats Lisa Greer, Chicago, Ill./USA, 4-1
Wednesday, April 2 Schedule:
Afternoon Session:
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, ID/USA vs. Julia Szeremeta, POL | Bout 37
70 kg: Carlos Flowers, Dover, DE/USA vs. Eduardo Beckford, PAN | Bout 46
Evening Session:
51 kg: Jennifer Lozano, Laredo, TX/USA vs. Ching-Yu Shiu, TPE | Bout 50
65 kg: Dustin Jimenez, Rochester, NY/USA vs. Andy Santino Garcia Jerez, GUA/Gianluigi Malanga, ITA | Bout 54
80 kg: Robby "Rahim" Gonzales, Las Vegas, NV/USA vs. Javokhir Ummataliev, UZB | Bout 55
