Team USA is represented by seven boxers in Thailand who hope to punch their ticket to this summer’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Robby Gonzales of Las Vegas secured Team USA's second win with a unanimous decision victory over Ahmed Badrani out of Morocco on the second day of boxing in Bangkok, Thailand. Gonzales dominated the whole bout as he won the first two rounds 4-1 and then won the last round 5-0 leading to a unanimous decision victory over the boxer out of Morocco.
The 2021 World Champion gold medalist will now fight on Monday against the winner of Weerapon Jongjoho out of Thailand and Vladimir Mironchikov from Serbia. “Got the first one out the way and I got four more to go,” a determined Robby Gonzales stated after his debut at the 2024 World Qualification Tournament.
The first win was achieved by Idaho's Alyssa Mendoza, who scored a unanimous decision victory over Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag out of Mongolia on day one. Mendoza, who won three medals in 2023, is looking for a similar result in Bangkok. In her first round she took the judges’ scorecards 3-2 but Tumurkhuyag grabbed the second round, and the scores were all tied up going into the third and final round.
The Idaho native came out hot in the third round and took all five judges’ scorecards and won on a unanimous decision. Alyssa needs three more wins to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “Got the first day and win out the way. It was a tougher fight than I expected, but I am moving on and will make those adjustments and get better every day,” stated Mendoza after her first win in Bangkok.
Mendoza will now wait until May 30th for her next fight. She will go head-to-head against Olga-Pavlina Papadatou out of Greece. Mendoza is looking to make history in this tournament and be the first boxer out of Idaho to qualify to the Olympics.
Team USA is represented by eight boxers in Italy who hope to punch their ticket to this summer’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The team is being guided by USA Boxing Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.), along with National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.), as well as National Development Coach Chad Wigle (Colorado Springs, Colo.), along with assistant coaches Adonis Frazier (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Christine Lopez (Rowlett, Texas).
Day 1 Results
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, dec. over Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag, MGL, 5-0
Day 2 Results
80 kg: Robby Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, dec. over Ahmed Badrani, MAR, 5-0
Day 3 Schedule
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. Ismail Umar FIN
