The USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team secured four victories on Friday at the 2026 Pan American Championships in Puebla, Mexico, with Alyssa Mendoza, Yoseline Perez, Lorenzo Patricio and Gilbert Kabamba advancing to the finals. Mendoza (women’s featherweight) earned Team USA's first victory of the day with a unanimous decision win over Venezuela’s Omailyn Alcala. Mendoza secured her second win of the tournament, both by unanimous decision. She now advances to the finals, where she will face Brazil’s Jucie Cerqueira, a 2024 Paris Olympian. The two previously met at the Olympic Games, where Cerqueira earned the victory. Now, the two Olympians will meet again at the PanAmerican Championships, with the final scheduled for Session 1, Bout 2, at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Perez (women’s bantamweight) continued Team USA’s strong performance with a 4-1 decision victory over Canada’s Scarlett Delgado. Perez secured her second victory in as many days and advanced to the finals, where she will face Venezuela's Diana Maestre. She will enter the ring for the third straight day in Session 2, Bout 2, at approximately 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Lorenzo Patricio (men’s super bantamweight) continued his dominant 2026 with a unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico’s Yedrian Otero. Patricio earned his third victory of the tournament, with all three wins coming by 5-0 decisions. The victory improves his 2026 Team USA record to 14-2 as he looks to capture his second gold medal of the year and fourth international gold medal of his career. Patricio will face Brazil’s Michael Trindade in the finals, a rematch of their meeting at the 2026 Strandja 77th International Boxing Tournament earlier this year, where Patricio earned a 3-2 decision victory. The final is set for Session 2, Bout 6, at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Super heavyweight Gilbert Kabamba (men’s 90+ kg) rounded out the day for Team USA with a unanimous decision victory over Brazil’s Joel Ramos. Kabamba earned his second win of the tournament, with both victories coming by unanimous decision. He now advances to the finals, where he will face Colombia’s Juan Patiño as he looks to secure his second international gold medal of the year with Team USA. The final is scheduled for Session 2, Bout 9, at approximately 9 p.m. ET on Saturday.
In addition to Mendoza, Perez, Patricio and Kabamba, Team USA will have two more boxers competing for gold on Saturday. Simona Winkler (women’s junior middleweight) will face Brazil’s Viviane Pereira in the finals. The two previously met at the 2026 Strandja 77th International Boxing Tournament, where Pereira earned a 5-0 decision victory. Winkler will look to avenge that result in Session 1, Bout 4, at approximately 2:45 p.m. ET. Jajaira Gonzalez (women’s lightweight) will also compete for gold, facing Colombia’s Camila Camilo in the finals. Gonzalez’s bout is scheduled for Session 2, Bout 3, at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET.
Noelle Haro was the first American boxer to compete on Friday, facing Mexico’s Valeria Amparan in the semifinals. Although Haro fell by a 5-0 decision, she secured a bronze medal, marking her second international medal of the year. Salim Ellis-Bey also earned a bronze medal after falling by a 4-1 split decision to Cuba’s Saidel Horta. The Philadelphia native’s PanAmerican bronze medal marks his second of the year and third of his career with Team USA.
The USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team is led by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who is assisted by National High Performance Coaches Nikki Burleson (Oklahoma City, Okla.), National Technical Coach Zaur Antia, and Billy Rafalko (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Jay Nimo (Dallas, Texas).
