Puerto Rico combined experienced female and young male boxers in their team

Puerto Rico has a fantastic young team at the 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event in Busto Arsizio, Italy and after their intense training sessions in Spain, the boxers are ready to make surprises.

The Puerto Ricans achieved one quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the Panamerican Games, their Ashley Ann Lozada qualified at the women’s featherweight (57kg) in Santiago de Chile.

The Puerto Ricans arranged their Juan Evangelista Venegas National Championships in December after the Panamerican Games, which was their main selection for 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event.

The Puerto Rican female team contains experienced boxers such as the 2011 Panamerican Games winner Kiria Tapia (60kg) and Stephanie Pineiro (66kg) as well.

Their third star with outstanding skills and routine, Nisa Rodriguez (75kg), will be able to join the squad at the 2^nd World Olympic Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand in May.

Kiria Tapia has nearly 20 years of experience in our sport, she claimed gold medals in several Panamerican events and she decided to return to the Olympic events.

Joining Tapia and Pineiro, their third female boxer in the event will be Angelyris Lopez at the women’s bantamweight (54kg).

The energetic Juanma Lopez earned a bronze medal at the 2022 Youth World Boxing Championships and the 18-year-old boxer could be their new sensation at the men’s flyweight (51kg).

Angel Gabriel Llanos, from the 2004 age group, is also still a teenager but he amazed the experts with his progress in the previous one year and his physical skills could be an issue for the top boxers of the light middleweight (71kg) as well.

Caleb Tirado (57kg) has three years of routine in the international events while José Adriel Diaz (63.5kg) defeated a more experienced rival during the national selections.

The third and final quota event, the 2^nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from May 23.

Photo: Margit Kincses