Team USA started the opening day at the 2022 USA Boxing International Invitational in dominant fashion, earning wins in six of their seven bouts, in Pueblo, Colorado.
Light welterweight Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas) got Team USA off to a good start with his unanimous decision victory over Dennis Caban of Puerto Rico. Garcia took all three rounds on three of the five judges’ scorecards, with the Puerto Rican taking a two-judge round. Garcia will now face China’s Rongyao Bai during Thursday’s semifinal bout.
Team USA duo Jonathan Mansour (San Diego, Calif.) and Vershaun Lee (Rock Island, Ill.) earned their own victories against China’s Mingke Fu and Azerbaijan’s Malik Hasanov, respectively, to set up a semi-final matchup between the two Americans. Thursday. Mansour won their fight by a 4-1 decision, while Lee took the unanimous decision.
Morelle McCane (Cleveland, Ohio) closed out today’s first session in strong fashion against two-time European Champion Stefanie Von Berge of Germany. McCane, who was down after the first round, came back with a vengeance to take the last two rounds, including an eight count for her opponent. The American welterweight will return to the ring on Thursday against 2019 World Championship silver medalist Yang Liu of China.
Featherweight Julius Ballo (San Diego, California) faced a familiar opponent in his first elite international fight, Keith Colon of Puerto Rico. Ballo, who is the 2021 Junior Pan American Games Champion, made an impressive elite international debut as he took all five judges’ cards to advance to one of the most anticipated bouts of this tournament against the 2021 Elite Men’s World Champion and fellow of American team, Jahmal Harvey (Oxon Hill, Maryland), on Wednesday.
Ballo’s 2021 Junior Pan American Games gold medal teammate, Quincey Williams (Washington, DC), made his own elite international debut against up-and-coming German boxer Deniel Krotter, in what turned out to be the most exciting fight of the first day. Williams was down on all five judges’ scorecards after the first round, however, he came back strong to land strong combinations and power shots in the second and third rounds to secure the victory and advance to Thursday’s semi-final bout against Magomed Schachidov. from Germany, the bronze. medalist in the last European Championships.
Featherweight Amelia Moore (Colorado Springs, Colo.) closed out the night with a tough fight against China’s Zichun Xu, however, she fell short in a 3-2 decision.
Team USA will return to action tomorrow with six more fighters. Arjan Iseni (Staten Island, NY) and Donte Layne (Elmont, NY) will participate in the first session, while Jazzelle Bobadilla (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), Rashida Ellis (Lynn, Mass.), Jajaira Gonzalez (Glendora, Calif.) and Jennifer Lozano (Laredo, Texas) will box in the afternoon session.
Day 1 Results
57 kg: Julius Ballo, San Diego, California/USA. USA, Dec. over Keith Colon/PUR, 5-0
57 kg: Zichun Xu/CHN December. About Amelia Moore, Colorado Springs, Colorado/USA USA, 3-2
60kg: Jonathan Mansour, San Diego, California/USA USA, December over Mingke Fu/CHN, 4-1
60kg: Vershaun Lee, Rock Island, Illinois/USA. USA, Dec. over Malik Hasanov/AZE, 5-0
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, Dec. over Dennis Caban/PUR, 5-0
66 kg: Morelle McCane, Cleveland, Ohio/USA. USA, Dec. Stefanie Von Berge/GER, 5-0
71kg: Quincey Williams, Washington, DC/USA USA, Dec. over Daniel Krotter/GER, 5-0
Day 2 fights
50 kg: Jazzelle Bobadilla, Ewa Beach, Hawaii/USA. USA; Meiyi Hu/CHN
50 kg: Jennifer Lozano, Laredo, Texas/United States, vs. Aira Cordero Villegas/PHI
60kg: Rashida Ellis, Lynn, Mass./USA USA vs. Wenlu Yang/CHN
60 kg: Jajaira González, Glendora, California/USA, vs. Chengyu Yang/CHN
80kg: Arjan Iseni, Staten Island, NY/USA USA vs. Kevin Boakye Schumann/GER
80kg: Donte Layne, Elmont, NY/USA, vs. Rehemandu Halimulati/CHN
