From USA Boxing:
The Olympic Trials Begin with a Full Night of Closely Contested Bouts in Memphis
Jajaira Gonzalez wins her quarterfinal match with Samantha Kinchen by decision
The second edition of the Olympic Trials for Women’s Boxing began with 12 opening round bouts on Monday night at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn. Each of the three Olympic weight divisions featured four first round bouts in winners bracket action on the first night of competition.
2012 Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) took the ring for the first bout of the tournament in a flyweight match-up with Melanie Costa (Norton, Mass.). Esparza extended the Olympic Trials winning streak she started in 2012, winning a 3-0 victory over Costa in the tournament opener. Esparza will face off with fellow two-time Olympic Trials participant Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.) following Cruz’s 3-0 victory over Giovanna Camacho (Colorado Springs, Colo.) on Monday. On the opposite side of the bracket, Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas) won her first bout of the Olympic Trials by split decision over returning Olympic Trials participant Alex Love. Fuchs will battle Amanda Pavone (Burlington, Mass.) for a spot in the winners bracket finals. Pavone took a 3-0 win over Jamie Mitchell (Las Vegas, Nev.) in their flyweight match-up.
Reigning lightweight national champion Mikaela Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.) opened her weight division in a first round contest with Stalacia Leggett (San Diego, Calif.). Mayer pulled out a 2-1 decision in the first bout of her second Olympic Trials to set up a highly anticipated bout between she and Jajaira Gonzalez (Glendora, Calif.). Gonzalez earned her berth in the winners bracket semifinals with a 3-0 win over fellow former youth champion Samantha Kinchen (Lexington, Ky.). Gonzalez and Kinchen faced off in the heaviest action bout bout of the night. Both young boxers threw punches from bell to bell, but only one could be the victor. Gonzalez moved on to her date with Mayer with a 3-0 decision over Kinchen. 2012 World Champion Tiara Brown (Fort Myers, Fla.) recorded a unanimous decision as well, taking a 3-0 win over Amelia Moore. Brown will faceRianna Rios (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the second lightweight winners bracket semifinal bout. Rios won a 3-0 decision over Lisa Porter (Van Nuys, Calif.) in their lightweight showdown to claim the fourth semifinal berth.
2012 Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields (Flint, Mich.) fittingly opened middleweight competition at the 2016 Olympic Trials for Women’s Boxing. With her family watching from ringside, Shields recorded a unanimous decision win over Naomi Graham (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the middleweight opener. Tika Hemingway (Brackenridge, Pa.) took a 3-0 decision over Danyelle Wolf (San Diego, Calif.) in their first night match-up to set up a rematch from the finals of the 2012 Olympic Trials with Shields. Two more 2012 Olympic Trials participants advanced on the opposite side of the bracket. Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) moved on to the semifinal round with a 3-0 victory over the youngest athlete in the tournament, 17-year-old Iesha Kenney(Alexandria, Va.) and will take on Raquel Miller (San Diego, Calif.) in Tuesday’s winners bracket semifinal competition. Miller won a 3-0 decision over Cierra Taylor (Rochester, N.Y.) to advance to the semifinal contest with Crews.
All of the athletes who fell in Monday’s first round bouts will return to action in Tuesday’s challenger bracket competition, which will be contested alongside the winners bracket contests. Tuesday’s 12 Olympic Trials bouts will begin at 6 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
In addition to the opening session of the Olympic Trials for Women’s Boxing, 87 bouts took place on the first day of Men’s Trials Qualifier III competition. The male athletes boxed in a full day of competition with first round action running for more than 13 hours at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Tuesday’s docket doesn’t get any lighter as there are 101 men’s bouts on tap on the second day of competition in Memphis. The top two finishers in each men’s weight division will advance to the Olympic Trials for Men’s Boxing in December.
For full brackets and bout sheets from both events, go to www.usaboxing.org.
Olympic Trials for Women’s Boxing Opening Round Results
112 lbs: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas dec. Melanie Costa, Norton, Mass., 3-0
112 lbs: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y., dec. Giovanna Camacho, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-0
112 lbs: Amanda Pavone, Burlington, Mass., dec. Jamie Mitchell, Las Vegas, Nev., 3-0
112 lbs: Virginia Fuchs, Kemah, Texas dec. Alex Love, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2-1
132 lbs: Mikaela Mayer, Los Angeles, Calif., dec. Stalacia Leggett, San Diego, Calif., 2-1
132 lbs: Jajaira Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif., dec. Samantha Kinchen, Lexington, Ky., 3-0
132 lbs: Rianna Rios, Colorado Springs, Colo., dec. Lisa Porter, Van Nuys, Calif., 3-0
132 lbs: Tiara Brown, Fort Myers, Fla., dec. Amelia Moore, Millersville, Md., 3-0
165 lbs: Claressa Shields, Flint, Mich., dec. Naomi Graham, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-0
165 lbs: Tika Hemingway, Brackenridge, Pa., dec. Danyelle Wolf, San Diego, Calif., 3-0
165 lbs: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md., dec. Iesha Kennet, Alexandria, Va., 3-0
165 lbs: Raquel Miller, San Diego, Calif., dec. Cierra Taylor, Rochester, N.Y., 3-0
Trials Qualifier for Men III Opening Day Results
132 lbs: Yousif Saleh, Chicago, Ill., dec. Eliseo Duran, Las Vegas, Nev., 3-0
132 lbs: Eric Estrada, Hillsboro, Ore., won on DQ over Daiyaan Butt, Havertown, Pa., 2-1
132 lbs: Roger Hilley, Chattanooga, Tenn., dec. Jaime Aguilera, Las Cruces, N.M., 3-0
132 lbs: Javar Jones, Anderson, Ind., dec. Matthew Guerrero, 2-1
132 lbs: Lorenzo Rosales, Milwaukee, Wis., dec. George Gethers, Jersey City, N.J., 2-1
132 lbs: Romuel Cruz, Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Abel Mendoza, El Paso, Texas, 2-1
132 lbs: Cortez Todd, Detroit, Mich., dec. Kenneth Davis, Reno, Nev., 3-0
132 lbs: Jalonte Cole, Burke, Va., dec. Israel Medina, Youngsville, La., 2-1
132 lbs: Elijah Peixoto, E. Providence, R.I., dec. Carlos Dixon, Louisville, Ky., 3-0
132 lbs: Brandon Douglas, Oklahoma City, Okla., won on walkover over Gabriel Chacon, Hollywood, Fla., W/O
132 lbs: Ebrima Jawara, Gaithersburg, Md., dec. Antonio Levett, Minot, N.D., 2-1
132 lbs: Trea Talton, Reno, Nev., dec. Cameron Ekas, Oakdale, Pa, 2-1
132 lbs: Nicholas Wood, Angier, N.C., dec. Mitchell Leconte, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2-1
132 lbs: Arnold Alejandro, Grand Prairie, Texsa dec. Javier Navarro, Madera, Calif., 3-0
132 lbs: Lorenzo Caldera, Portland, Ore., dec. Luis Acosta, Humble, Texas, 3-0
132 lbs: Sipriano Zeledon, Silver Spring, Md., dec. Rosino Legan, Gilroy, Calif., 3-0
132 lbs: Eduardo Vasquez, Sheridan, Colo., dec. Devion Balli, Port St. Lucie, Fla., 2-1
132 lbs: Felix Alvarado III, Leola, Pa., dec. Quincy Means, Pine Bluff, Ark., 3-0
132 lbs: Martino Jules, Allentown, Pa., dec. Tyshawn Jones, Newark, N.J., 3-0
132 lbs: Kenneth McCants, Navarre, Fla., dec. Keshawn Boykins, Little Rock, Ark., 3-0
132 lbs: Edel Gomez, Elkhorn, Neb., won on TKO over Dazme Woods, Atlanta, Ga., TKO-2
132 lbs: Lawrence King, Rochester, N.Y., dec. Symari Alexander, Austin, Texas, 3-0
141 lbs: Arturo Marquez, Houston, Texas dec. Christopher Gonzalez, Tucson, Ariz., 3-0
141 lbs: Richardson Hitchins, Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Kevin Serrano, Philadelphia, Pa., 3-0
141 lbs: Felix Santana, Louisville, Ky., dec. Jarvis Hurst, Missouri City, Texas, 2-1
141 lbs: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas dec. Terrell Howard, Louisville, Ky., 3-0
141 lbs: Eben Vargas, Mesa City, Ariz., dec. Anthony Adams, Kansas City, Kansas, 3-0
141 lbs: Marcell Davidson, Kansas City, Kansas dec. Kaylyn Alfred, Lafayette, La., 2-1
141 lbs: Tavarus Roberts, Minot, N.D., dec. Chandler Clements, Montgomery, Ala., 2-1
141 lbs: Jeremiah Richards, Houston, Texas dec. Joshua Draughter, New Orleans, La., 3-0
141 lbs: Trent Wilson, Denmark, Tenn., dec. Khalil Mosley, Hammond, Ind., 3-0
141 lbs: David Mijares, Pasadena, Calif., dec. Robert Wallace, Jacksonville, Fla., TKO-3
141 lbs: Mark Bailey, Durham, N.C., dec. Devin Cushing, Pensacola, Fla., 2-1
141 lbs: Randy Moreno, Las Vegas, Nev., dec. Dashaun Johns, Bronx, N.Y., 3-0
141 lbs: Isaias Perez, Kansas City, Kansas dec. Daquan Mays, Las Vegas, Nev., 2-1
141 lbs: Charles Vasquez Vera, New Port Richey, Fla., dec. Tremain James, Lafayette, La., 3-0
141 lbs: Ernesto Matos, Miami Beach, Fla., dec. Mark Verdejo, New Bedford, Mass., 2-1
141 lbs: Nahin Albright, Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Kieran Rosas, Hilo, Hawaii, 3-0
141 lbs: Pablo Estrada, Mesquite, Texas dec. Mark Quinn, Cincinnati, Ohio, 3-0
141 lbs: Jeremy Hill, Gretna, La., dec. Dayhon Shelton, Pawtucket, R.I., 2-1
141 lbs: Abraham Nova, Albany, N.Y., won on KO over Jhon Matos, Miami Beach, Fla., KO-1
141 lbs: Nasir Jones, Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Humberto Guillen, Reno, Nev., 3-0
141 lbs: Reynaldo Eajardo, Houston, Texas dec. Tigran Martirosyan, Pasadena, Calif., 3-0
141 lbs: Quantavious Green, Shreveport, La., dec. Jesus Almonte, Marietta, Ga., 3-0
141 lbs: Christian Camarena, Pasadena, Calif., dec. Dante Cox, Severn, Md., 3-0
141 lbs: Sharad Collier, Hartford, Conn., dec. Sammie Smith, Hyattsville, Md., tiebreaker 3-0
141 lbs: Frank Martin, Indianapolis, Ind., dec. Nino Delgado, Anchorage, Alaska, 2-1
141 lbs: Rosalindo Morales, Ellwood City, Pa., dec. Tomas Partida, Ulysses, Kansas
141 lbs: Hanif Webb, Thorndale, Pa., dec. David Sample, Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., 2-1
141 lbs: Nathaniel King, Douglasville, Ga., dec. Deonte Carston, Lagrange, Ga., 2-1
152 lbs: Ray Barlow, College Park, Ga., dec. Je’braun Barry, Pensacola, Fla., 3-0
152 lbs: Julian Smith, Robbins, Ill., dec. Boubacar Sylla, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2-1
152 lbs: Anthony Laureano, E. Hartford, Conn., won on TKO over Akeal Davis, Pensacola, Fla., TKO-1 (1:49)
152 lbs: Tracey McGruder, Rochester, N.Y., dec. Tyree Crowder, Philadelphia, Pa., 3-0
152 lbs: David Rodriguez, Tallmadge, Ohio dec. Michael Bartlett, Carrollton, Ga., 3-0
152 lbs: Adam Young, Memphis, Tenn., won on walkover over Andrick Robinson, Sacramento, Calif., W/O
152 lbs: Nikolas Vasquez, Seattle, Wash., won on TKO over Clinton Chavez, San Felipe Pueblo, N.M., TKO-2
152 lbs: Moses Okoro, Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Terrance Holt, Altanta, Ga., 2-1
152 lbs: Javaune James, Miramar, Fla., dec. Gregory Young, Hoover, Ala., 3-0
152 lbs: Jordan Jones, Rowlett, Texas dec. Abram Martinez, San Diego, Calif., 3-0
152 lbs: Anthony Sonnier, Raleigh, N.C., dec. won KO over Brandon Torres, Duncanville, Texas, KO-1 (1:22)
152 lbs: Michael Montgomery, Macon, Ga., dec. James Martin, Philadelphia, Pa., 2-1
152 lbs: John Williams, Baton Rouge, La., won on walkover over Alemeo Carter, Kansas City, Mo., W/O
152 lbs: Damien Lopez, Burbank, Calif., dec. Ivan Pandzic, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 3-0
152 lbs: Kenneth Thomas, Indianapolis, Ind., dec. Adrian Gutierrez, Chula Vista, Calif.
152 lbs: Kareem Gladney, Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Alexi Martinez, Dallas, Texas, 3-0
152 lbs: Keeshawn Williams, Washington DC dec. Anthony Rodriguez, Humble, Texas, 2-1
165 lbs: Niko Valdes, Miami, Fla., dec. Deontae Simmons, Houston, Texas, 2-1
165 lbs: Joseph Hicks, Grand Rapids, Mich., won on KO over Clinso Brumfield, Alexandria, Va., KO-2
165 lbs: Montreal Wade, Los Angeles, Calif., dec. Micah Hunt, Atlanta, Ga., 3-0
165 lbs: Kevin Green, New Orleans, La., dec. Edward George, Powder Springs, Ga., 3-0
165 lbs: Donald Green, Missouri City, Texas dec. Aaron Katzman, West Point, N.Y., 2-1
165 lbs: Frederick Wilson, Cleveland, Ohio dec. Calvin Metcalf, Kansas City, Mo., 2-1
165 lbs: My’cheal Teal, St. Petersbug, Fla., dec. Antonio Munoz, Chico, Calif., 3-0
165 lbs: Baron Jr. Wilson, Jersey City, N.J., dec. Joseph Jeudy, Delray Beach, Fla., 2-1
165 lbs: Gregory Solieau, Marion, La., won on TKO over dec. Dajuan Robins, Sanger, Texas, TKO-3
165 lbs: Kieron Hooks, Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Christopher Thompson, Flint, Mich., 2-1
165 lbs: Charles Conwell, Cleveland Heights, Ohio dec. Reyes Marquez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-0
165 lbs: Tavon Body, Burtsonville, Md., dec. Christopher Clark, Ambridge, Texas, 3-0
165 lbs: Daine Smikle, New Haven, Conn., dec. Roger Ibarra, Houston, Texas, 2-1
178 lbs: Miguel Delgado, Albuquerque, N.M., dec. Akheim Nurse, E. Orange, N.J.
178 lbs: Garrett Felling, Reno, Nev., dec. Sean Hemphill, New Orleans, La., 3-0
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