Team USA prepared in Italy for the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifier

Team USA spent the recent two weeks in an Italian training camp in Assisi and travelled to the venue of the 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event which will be held in Busto Arsizio, Italy from March 3.

The US boxers already bagged five quotas for the Olympics through the Panamerican Games which was held in Santiago de Chile last October.

Hawaii’s Shera Mae Patricio won their national trials and the 24-year-old boxer will compete for Team USA at the women’s bantamweight (54kg).

Idaho’s Alyssa Mendoza was the team member at the Panamerican Games as well and the 21-year-old featherweight (57kg) will have the second chance in Busto Arsizio.

The World bronze medallist and 2019 Panamerican Games winner Naomi Graham qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games and the veteran middleweight (75kg) boxer plans to repeat that performance and secure a spot for Paris as well.

Roscoe Hill received the right to represent Team USA at the 2021 World Boxing Championships at the age of 27 and he immediately claimed a silver medal on his debut. The US boxer defeated top rivals at the flyweight (51kg) in the Panamerican Games but he suffered an unexpected loss in the semi-finals therefore Hill must be there in Italy.

Emilio Garcia also achieved a bronze medal at the Panamerican Games but it was not enough to qualify for the Paris Olympics yet. The US light welterweight (63.5kg) boxer had strong performance in the European preparation tournaments and he is among the favourites in Busto Arsizio.

Orlando’s Omari Jones was silver medallist in the 2021 World Boxing Championships and the light middleweight (71kg) boxer has all the potential to qualify for Paris.

Robby Gonzales, the 2021 World Champion, also does not have an Olympic spot yet, but the light heavyweight (80kg) boxer is a skilled athlete with powerful combinations. Joining the strong squad, the US heavyweight (92kg) boxer will be the National Champion Jamar Talley in Busto Arsizio.

Photo: Margit Kincses