Day 8 of the boxing tournament at the Pan American Games in Santiago featured 26 semifinals, determining the finalists in 13 weight categories scheduled for tomorrow, October 27. Also, all the remaining 22 Olympic quota places were awarded today.
Tokyo 2020 Olympian and 2022 South American Games silver medalist Yeni Marcela ARIAS CASTANEDA (COL) was the first boxer of the day to qualify for Paris 2024 after a hard-fought contest against Johana Carolina GOMEZ LANDAETA of Venezuela, resulting in a 5:0 unanimous decision win. In tomorrow’s Women’s 54kg event gold medal match, the Colombian will meet the reigning South American Games gold medalist, Tatiana Regina DE JESUS CHAGAS (BRA), who outscored the local favorite Denisse Alejandra Arl BRAVO VILCHES of Chile. It was an emotional victory for the Brazilian athlete who has now qualified for the upcoming Olympic Games.
In today’s Women’s 60kg semifinal, Colombian Angie Paola VALDES PANA defeated her opponent from Ecuador, Maria Jose PALACIOS ESPINOZA, by a 4:1 split decision. In the Santiago 2023 final, she will face the formidable Beatriz Iasmin SOARES FERREIRA of Brazil, who left no chances for the United States’ Jajaira GONZALEZ.
In the Women’s 75kg semifinal, Canada’s Tammara Amanda THIBEAULT secured a quota place for her country by defeating Mexico’s Citlalli Vanessa ORTIZ with a sharp 5:0 performance. THIBEAULT, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian who finished in 5th position and the defending silver medalist at the PanAm Games, will meet Atheyna Bibeichi BYLON of Panama, who proved too strong for Viviane DOS SANTOS PEREIRA (BRA), triumphing with a commanding 5:0 unanimous decision win, earning maximum points from all the judges.
In the Men’s 57kg event, the 20-year-old Jahmal HARVEY of the United States of America and the 21-year-old Saidel Ivan HORTA RODRIGUEZ DEL REY of Cuba both earned quota spots for their countries at next summer’s Olympic Games, as well as booking places in the finals. They respectively overcame Brazil’s Luiz Gabriel C. O. DO NASCIMENTO and the Dominican Republic’s Jose Luis DE LO SANTOS FELIZ.
Mexico’s Marco Alonso VERDE ALVAREZ showcased his exceptional boxing skills in the Men’s 71kg category with a dominant performance against Panama’s Eduardo Teodoro BECKFORD CHAMBERS, earning qualification for Paris 2024. In the gold medal match, scheduled for tomorrow, ALVAREZ will face the 2022 South American Games bronze medalist Jose Gabriel RODRIGUEZ TENORIO (ECU). The boxer from Ecuador secured a place in the final by defeating Junior PEKA PETANQUI from Canada with a 4:0 score and celebrated his qualification for the Olympics.
Moments later in the Men’s 92kg event, the spotlight was on one of the most anticipated matches of the day between Julio Cesar LA CRUZ PERAZA (CUB) and Julio Cesar CASTILLO TORRES (ECU). Ecuador’s boxer used his skills and strong jab to score early points to take the first round, but then the Cuban successfully counterattacked in the second and third rounds, showcasing all his determination to earn his fourth Pan American final and his third participation at the Games in his career. Chasing for his gold medal at the continental event, he will face Keno Marley MACHADO (BRA), who reached the final by walkover.
In the afternoon session, the Brazilian Caroline BARBOSA DE ALMEIDA outclassed the two-time Olympian Ingrit Lorena VALENCIA VICTORIA of Colombia, showcasing exceptional combinations in the ring and earning a 4:1 decision. She is the fifth Brazilian boxer of the day to secure a spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the Women’s 50kg weight category final match, she will face off against the United States’ Jennifer LOZANO, who displayed a tactical approach and powerful punches to beat the Canadian McKenzie WRIGHT with a controlled unanimous decision win. Jennifer’s victory brought Team USA its third Olympic quota place of the day.
In the Women’s 57kg class, Valeria ARBOLEDA MENDOZA from Colombia made it through to the gold medal match after defeating Ashleyann LOZADA MOTTA of Puerto Rico in a hard-fought contest. The Colombian boxer won the opening round by the narrowest of margins, but LOZADA MOTTA fought back in the second round. In a thrilling third round, MENDOZA landed some decisive punches to secure the victory. Jucielen CERQUEIRA ROMEU of Brazil awaits her in the final after defeating Omailyn Carolina ALCALA SEGOVIA of Venezuela in a closely contested bout.
In the Women’s 66kg event, Morelle McCANE (USA) claimed a 5:0 victory, dominating her bout against the 23-year-old Charlie CAVANAGH from Canada. In tomorrow’s final, the talented boxer from Cleveland will meet Barbara Maria DOS SANTOS (BRA), who secured a 3:2 split decision win over the 19-year-old Camila Gabriela CAMILO BRAVO of Colombia. Both athletes showcased an aggressive strategy and excellent boxing skills, but the Brazilian ultimately secured her spot in the final.
Yunior ALCANTARA REYES from the Dominican Republic and Michael Douglas DA SILVA TRINDADE from Brazil both secured a spot in the Men’s 51kg weight division after defeating Roscoe HILL (USA) and the Olympian Ramon Nicanor QUIROGA (ARG), respectively. As a result, REYES and TRINDADE will meet in tomorrow’s gold medal match.
Wyatt SANFORD of Canada, a 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, also made his mark today as he stunned Yuri FALCAO DOS REIS (BRA) via a 5:0 unanimous decision victory in their Men’s 63.5 kg semifinal. Moreover, the Canadian boxer qualified today for his second Olympic Games in his career. In the upcoming last bout of the tournament, he faces a tough opponent, as the Mexican Miguel Angel MARTINEZ RAMIREZ managed to defeat the Tokyo 2020 Olympian Alexy Miguel DE LA CRUZ BAEZ (DOM).
Advancing in the tournament, Arlen LOPEZ CARDONA (CUB) will target his third gold medal, both at the Pan American Games and at the Olympic Games, as he earned the coveted quota place after defeating Argentina’s Abraham Gabriel BUONARRIGO. The Cuban superstar controlled the rhythm of the match and kept his opponent at a distance. Moving around the ring with a dodge-and-hit style, Arlen dominated the bout and secured a 5:0 victory in his Men’s 80kg event semifinal. Wanderley DE SOUZA PEREIRA of Brazil is waiting for him in the final, as he left no chances for Cedrick BELONY-DULIEPRE of Haiti, sealing a resounding 5:0 victory and earning maximum points in each round.
In the Men’s +92kg class, Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Abner TEIXEIRA DA SILVA JUNIOR (BRA) was another winner today, sealing a 4-1 split decision win over Colombia’s Cristian Camilo SALCEDO CODAZZI. Thanks to this victory, Team Brazil claimed the 9th Olympic quota place, demonstrating their dominance in the boxing scenario. DA SILVA will meet Joshua Timothy EDWARDS (USA) in tomorrow’s final, as he outclassed Fernando Alejandro ARZOLA LOPEZ (CUB). The contest between the Cuban and the American boxer left everyone in awe due to an exceptional performance. Ultimately, the American secured a unanimous decision victory.
The boxing tournament of the Pan American Games will come to an end tomorrow, October 27, with the last 13 gold medal matches taking place from 11:00 (Santiago local time) at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico. Stay tuned for the thrilling final bouts!
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Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.
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Olympic Quota Place awarded at the XIX Pan American Games, by country:
Brazil, 9 quota places
Women’s 50kg: Caroline BARBOSA DE ALMEIDA
Women’s 54kg: Tatiana Regina DE JESUS CHAGAS
Women’s 57kg: Jucielen CERQUEIRA ROMEU
Women’s 60kg: Beatriz Iasmin SOARES FERREIRA
Women’s 66kg: Barbara Maria DOS SANTOS
Men’s 51kg: Michael Douglas DA SILVA TRINDADE
Men’s 80kg: Wanderley DE SOUZA PEREIRA
Men’s 92kg: Keno Marley MACHADO
Men’s +92kg: Abner TEIXEIRA DA SILVA JUNIOR
United States of America, 5 quota places
Women’s 50kg: Jennifer LOZANO (USA)
Women’s 60kg: Jajaira GONZALEZ (USA)
Women’s 66kg: Morelle McCANE (USA)
Men’s 57kg: Jahmal HARVEY (USA)
Men’s +92kg: Joshua Timothy EDWARDS (USA)
Colombia, 3 quota places
Women’s 57kg: Valeria ARBOLEDA MENDOZA
Women’s 60kg:Angie Paola VALDES PANA
Women’s 54kg: Yeni Marcela ARIAS CASTANEDA
Cuba, 3 quota places
Men’s 57kg: Saidel Ivan HORTA RODRIGUEZ DEL REY
Men’s 80kg: Arlen LOPEZ CARDONA
Men’s 92kg: Cesar LA CRUZ PERAZA
Ecuador, 2 quota places
Women’s 60kg: Maria Jose PALACIOS ESPINOZA
Men’s 71kg: Jose Gabriel RODRIGUEZ TENORIO
Canada, 2 quota places
Women’s 75kg: Tammara Amanda THIBEAULT
Men’s 63,5kg: Wyatt SANFORD (CAN)
Mexico, 2 quota places
Men’s 63,5kg: Miguel Angel MARTINEZ RAMIREZ
Men’s 71kg: Marco Alonso VERDE ALVAREZ
Puerto Rico, 1 quota place
Women’s 57kg: Ashleyann LOZADA MOTTA
Venezuela, 1 quota place
Women’s 57kg: Omailyn Carolina ALCALA SEGOVIA
Panama, 1 quota place
Women’s 75kg: Atheyna Bibeichi BYLON
Dominican Republic, 1 quota place
Men’s 51kg: Yunior ALCANTARA REYES
