Boxing Road to Paris qualification series comes to an end in Bangkok, Thailand.

03/06/2024

The 2nd World Qualification Tournament came to an end in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday, assigning the last 51 quota places at stake in the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series.

The qualification pathway started in 2023, with the European Games, the Asian Games, the Pan American Games, the Pacific Games, and an ad-hoc African qualifier in Dakar serving as continental qualification stages. It then continued in 2024 with two World Qualification Tournaments – in Busto Arsizio, Italy, and Bangkok, Thailand – eventually providing every athlete with up to three different qualification opportunities.

Over 2,000 boxers from 172 NOCs, the Boxing Refugee Team, and Individual Neutral Athletes took part in the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series, totaling 2,115 bouts across seven tournaments in five continents over two years, with 239 quota places awarded. Nine Universality Places are to be confirmed at a later stage, and one additional place will be distributed to the IOC Olympic Refugee Team, completing the lineup of 249 boxers that will compete in the Paris 2024 Boxing Tournament.

Both the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series and the Olympic Games Paris 2024 boxing tournament are sanctioned and organized under the authority of the IOC Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).

The list of qualified athletes is available here: https://boxing.athlete365.org/qualification-system-and-rules/ (scroll down to the “Allocated Paris 2024 Quota Places” section). Bangkok’s 51 quota places will be added once confirmed by the respective NOCs, with the deadline set for 20 June, according to the qualification system.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 Boxing Tournament will run from the 27th of July through the 10th of August and will include 13 different weight categories (7 men’s and 6 women’s). The tournament will be hosted in two venues. The preliminary phases and the first semi-finals will be held at the North Paris Arena from the 27th of July to the 4th of August, while the final phases of the tournament, including all gold medal matches, will take place at the Roland-Garros Stadium from the 6th to the 10th of August. Find the full tournament schedule here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/boxing .

PBU Event Regulations updated – New version now available for download

15/05/2024

The Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) “Event Regulations of the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournaments and the boxing competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024” (the Paris 2024 Event Regulations) have been updated, with the implementation of minor changes and rewordings for the sake of clarity. The latest version of the Rules are available for download here: https://boxing.athlete365.org/qualification-system-and-rules/ . All changes from the previous version are tracked in the document, on page 39. 

For context: In line with the mandate from the IOC Executive Board of delivering the Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournaments and the boxing competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Rules and regulations in place for Tokyo 2020 has been used as a baseline to minimise the impact on athletes’ preparation and guarantee consistency between Olympic Games. For the avoidance of doubt, these regulations are applicable only to the competitions under the authority of the PBU, namely the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and its qualification tournaments.”

IOC Statement on CAS decision regarding withdrawal of recognition of IBA

03/04/2024

The IOC welcomes the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has dismissed the appeal filed with it by the International Boxing Association (IBA) against the IOC’s decision to withdraw recognition of the IBA.

Read the full IOC statement here: https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-statement-on-cas-decision-regarding-withdrawal-of-recognition-of-iba

THE PAN AMERICAN GAMES COME TO AN END IN SANTIAGO: 13 CHAMPIONS CROWNED

28/10/2023

The Pan American Games boxing tournament in Santiago, Chile, came to an end today at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico after nine intense days and a total of 161 bouts. The gold medal matches in all 13 weight categories determined the champions.

Colombia’s Yeni Marcela ARIAS CASTANEDA was the first champion of the day as she triumphed over Brazil’s Tatiana Regina DE JESUS CHAGAS. In a tightly contested Women’s 54kg division final, the Brazilian started strong, taking a 3:2 lead over the 2022 South American Games gold medalist in the first and second rounds. However, the Colombian’s determination and aggressive counterattack took over in the third round, earning unanimous approval from all five judges and securing the victory.

In the Men’s 57kg, Jahmal HARVEY (USA) and Saidel Ivan HORTA RODRIGUEZ DEL REY (CUB) faced off in a hard-fought gold medal match. The Cuban boxer narrowly claimed the opening round, and the American fought back in the second round to turn the tide. In a thrilling third round, HARVEY’s attacking strategy and decisive punches sealed the victory and the Pan American title.

Beatriz Iasmin SOARES FERREIRA of Brazil stood atop the podium in the Women’s 60kg event. The 30-year-old boxer and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist outscored Angie Paola VALDES PANA of Colombia with a resounding 5:0 victory, leading throughout the entire match.

Mexico’s Marco Alonso VERDE ALVAREZ secured the brightest medal by defeating the 2022 South American Games bronze medalist Jose Gabriel RODRIGUEZ TENORIO of Ecuador. The 21-year-old Mexican talent showcased his brilliant boxing skills and strong jabs to control the match. The second and third rounds were decisive, earning him 10/9 scores from the judges in both rounds, ultimately resulting in a 5:0 victory in the final.

The 2023 Pan American champion in the Women’s 75kg class is Tammara Amanda THIBEAULT of Canada, who outscored Atheyna Bibeichi BYLON (PAN). The boxer from Panama began with powerful blows, taking a 3:2 lead. However, Olympian THIBEAULT refused to give up and fought back in the second and third rounds to reverse the situation and secure a unanimous decision victory.

Julio Cesar LA CRUZ PERAZA from Cuba and Keno Marley MACHADO from Brazil put on an extraordinary show in the Men’s 92kg final. The bout was closely contested, with both boxers displaying impressive punching and giving their all in every second of the match. Cuban experience and talent proved crucial and decisive in the final round, propelling LA CRUZ PERAZA to the top of the podium. He didn’t disappoint the expectations and claimed his fourth gold medal out of four participations at the Pan American Games, establishing himself as one of the strongest  boxers in his category.

Brazilian Caroline BARBOSA DE ALMEIDA secured the gold in the Women’s 50kg final, dominating the match and earning a 5:0 victory over the United States’ Jennifer LOZANO. She led throughout all three rounds, maintaining control over her opponent. Team Brazil continued to celebrate as Jucielen CERQUEIRA ROMEU (BRA) emerged victorious in the Women’s 57kg final, outscoring Colombia’s Valeria ARBOLEDA MENDOZA with a convincing 5:0 score to claim the gold medal in her weight class.

In the Men’s 63.5kg gold medal match, Canada’s Wyatt SANFORD stood atop the podium after defeating Mexico’s Miguel Angel MARTINEZ RAMIREZ. The Mexican boxer delivered an impressive performance in the first round, earning five 10/9 scores from the judges. However, in the second round, the Canadian made a comeback and secured a full scorecard. Both boxers left it all in the ring during the third and final round, with SANFORD displaying a dominant performance to secure a unanimous decision victory.

Brazil continued to showcase their dominance as Barbara Maria DOS SANTOS (BRA) claimed the gold in the Women’s 66kg weight category. The Brazilian talent, cheered on by her team, won in style by being more aggressive and showcasing her boxing prowess, securing a 5:0 victory.

Two-time Olympic champion Arlen LOPEZ CARDONA from Cuba didn’t miss the opportunity to claim his third gold medal at the Pan American Games. In the Men’s 80kg final, he outperformed his Brazilian rival, Wanderley DE SOUZA PEREIRA, earning maximum points and a convincing 5:0 win.

Michael Douglas DA SILVA TRINDADE (BRA) in the Men’s 51kg event and Abner TEIXEIRA DA SILVA JUNIOR (BRA) in the Men’s +92kg event withdrew from their finals, conceding a walkover win to their respective opponents, Yunior ALCANTARA REYES of the Dominican Republic and Joshua Timothy EDWARDS of the United States of America.

The Boxing Road to Paris qualification pathway will now continue at the Pacific Games in Honiara (SOL), from the 27th of November to the 2nd of December. This event will conclude the continental qualifications phase for Paris 2024. Additionally, two World Qualification events will take place in Busto Arsizio (Italy) from February 29 to March 12, 2024, and in Bangkok (Thailand) from May 23 to June 3, 2024.

Stay tuned for more exciting boxing action!

Find the medal standings in the ‘Results’ section at the bottom of the event page, here.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

FINALISTS DECIDED AND ALL PARIS 2024 QUOTA PLACES DISTRIBUTED

27/10/2023

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!

Watch boxing action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

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 

FIRST 8 PARIS 2024 QUOTA PLACES AWARDED IN WOMEN’S 57KG AND 60KG

26/10/2023

Eight Paris 2024 Olympic quota places were secured today by athletes from 6 different countries at the Boxing Road to Paris Americas qualification tournament held at the Centro de Entrenamiento in Santiago, Chile.

A total of 30 quota places are available at this event: 4 quotas in the Women’s 57kg and 60kg, 2 quotas in all other women’s events (50kg, 54kg, 66kg, 75kg), and 2 quotas in each of the 7 men’s events. This means that all semifinalists in the Women’s 57kg and 60kg events are guaranteed a ticket to Paris, while in all other categories, reaching the finals is the sole path to Olympic qualification.

In the Women’s 60kg category, 23-year-old Angie Paola VALDES PANA from Barranquilla, Colombia, became the first boxer to secure a Paris 2024 quota place. She outscored Venezuela’s Krisandy Yusbeidi RIOS OJEDA in the evening session with a score of 3:1. With her main goal achieved, she looks forward to the upcoming semifinal match where she’ll face Ecuador’s Maria Jose PALACIOS ESPINOZA, who stunned Victoria Oriana SAPUTO of Argentina with a 5:0 win, securing a quota place and a spot in the medal match.

In the same weight category, Jajaira GONZALEZ representing the United States of America also secured a quota place for her country with a maximum-point unanimous decision win over Camila Paola PINEIRO MUINO of Uruguay. In the semifinals, she will face the formidable opponent Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Beatriz Iasmin SOARES FERREIRA (BRA), who cleared her bout against Pamela Esperanza SANCHEZ VALDIVIA (CRC) in less than 3 minutes, overwhelming her before the referee stopped the contest in round 1 at 2:45. As a result, the Brazilian talent qualifies for her second Olympic Games in her career.

Moving to the Men’s 71kg event, Eduardo Teodoro BECKFORD CHAMBERS (PAN) and Jhonatan ARBOLEDA CHALA (COL) met in a fierce ring clash. The boxer from Panama started impressively, earning five 10/9 scores from all the judges. In the second round, the Colombian counterattacked to take the round. With both athletes giving it all in the final round, some heavy punches from BECKFORD CHAMBERS to his opponent’s face forced the referee to stop the contest, awarding him the victory. Advancing to the semifinal, the Panamanian boxer will face off against the young Mexican talent Marco Alonso VERDE ALVAREZ, who outclassed Omari JONES (USA) with a unanimous decision victory.

At the bottom side of the brackets, Canada’s idol Junior PEKA PETANQUI emerged victorious in his quarterfinal match against the 2022 South American Games bronze medalist Christiann Jose PALACIO MEDINA (VEN). Exceptional combinations were executed by both athletes, but the Canadian got the better, claiming a 4:1 victory on points. He is now one win away from the coveted Paris 2024 quota place. Coming next on his pathway is Jose Gabriel RODRIGUEZ TENORIO of Ecuador, who showcased his dominance with a commanding 5:0 win over Argentina’s Joel Marcos MAFAUAD.

In the afternoon session, four more slots for Paris 2024 were awarded. 

In the Women’s 57kg class, Valeria ARBOLEDA MENDOZA of Colombia secured the second boxing Olympic quota for her country by defeating Tamara Elizabeth MATURANA SOTO of Chile. The Colombian boxer dominated the bout with aggression and powerful punches to her opponent’s face, earning a unanimous decision win with all judges awarding her all rounds. Moving on to the medal match, the experienced southpaw Ashleyann LOZADA MOTTA of Puerto Rico will be her upcoming opponent. LOZADA MOTTA also secured a ticket to Paris for her country as she dominated her quarterfinal bout against Canada’s Marie-Bathoul AL-AHMADIEH (CAN) with a sharp 5:0 unanimous decision.

Moments later, team Venezuela celebrated the first Olympic quota place in the Women’s 57kg event, as Omailyn Carolina ALCALA SEGOVIA outclassed the silver medalist at the 2023 San Salvador Central American Games, Legnis CALA MASSO from Cuba with a 5:0 victory. In tomorrow’s semifinal, she will face off against the Brazilian Jucielen CERQUEIRA ROMEU, who showcased exceptional boxing skill and determination to win against Daisy Nelly BAMBERGER HOANG of Peru. An emotional Jucielen celebrated not only today’s victory but also her spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In a fierce contest in the Men’s 63.5kg category, the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Wyatt SANFORD (CAN) prevailed over Luciano Matias AMAYA (ARG). The Argentinian started strong in the first round, taking a 3-2 lead by targeting SANFORD’s body. However, the Canadian fought back and took control in the second and third rounds, earning the unanimous decision victory. In the next phase of the tournament, SANFORD is set to face Brazil’s Yuri FALCAO DOS REIS, who secured a commanding 5:0 win against El Salvador’s Samuel George CONTRERAS CABRALES.

Alexy Miguel DE LA CRUZ BAEZ, representing the Dominican Republic, delivered a remarkable performance in the ring today. As a Tokyo 2020 Olympian who secured a 9th place finish, he showcased his boxing prowess in a thrilling quarterfinal showdown within the Men’s 63.5kg weight class. DE LA CRUZ BAEZ exhibited an exceptional display of precision punching and tactical expertise, capturing the attention of the arena’s spectators. DE LA CRUZ BAEZ stunned the strong contender from the United States, Emilio Esteban GARCIA, securing a convincing victory with his precise and powerful punches. With this victory, the Dominican boxer has earned a spot in the semifinals, where he will face off against the formidable Miguel Angel MARTINEZ RAMIREZ from Mexico. MARTINEZ RAMIREZ himself earned a place in the semifinals by clinching a closely contested 3:2 split decision win against Colombia’s boxer, Jose Manuel VIAFARA FORY. The upcoming semifinal match promises to be a thrilling and closely watched event in the tournament.

Semifinals are scheduled for tomorrow, October 26, at the XIX Pan American Games, which also serve as an Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament for Paris 2024. Twenty-two more quota places will be awarded in the Women’s 50kg, 54kg, 66kg, 75kg, as well as in the Men’s 51kg, 57kg, 63.5 kg, 71kg, 80kg, 92kg, and +92kg weight categories.

Watch boxing action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

DAY 6 OF PANAM GAMES BOXING SEES COLOMBIA AND BRAZIL EXCEL IN SEMIFINAL QUEST

25/10/2023

After six days of intense competition, today’s sessions determined the semifinalists in the Women’s 50kg, 54kg, 66kg, and 75kg weight categories, as well as the Men’s 51kg and +92kg divisions.

Morning Session:

The morning at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico in Santiago de Chile began with an exciting match in the Women’s 54kg class featuring Carolina FERNANDEZ QUINONEZ of Mexico, the bronze medalist, and Yeni Marcela ARIAS CASTANEDA of Colombia, the gold medalist at the 2023 Central American Games. The Colombian talent left her mark, securing a convincing 5:0 decision win and earning a spot in the semifinal. In the upcoming round, she will face off against Johana Carolina GOMEZ LANDAETA from Venezuela, the 2022 South American Games silver medalist. The Venezuelan cleared her bout with authority, overwhelming the 22-year-old Sofia Micaela ROBLES of Argentina with a unanimous decision victory. The stage is set for what promises to be a thrilling semifinal showdown.

In the Women’s 66kg category, the Canadian boxer Charlie CAVANAGH started the morning with a convincing win in the first quarterfinal. She outclassed “La Capitana” Lucia Noelia PEREZ of Argentina with a unanimous 5:0 decision. Next up for CAVANAGH is Morelle McCANE from the United States of America who didn’t leave any chances for her opponent, Nicole de los Angeles VEGA MOYA from Costa Rica. The referee had to stop the contest in the first round after just 1 minute and 21 seconds of boxing, granting McCANE the victory. 

In the Women’s 75kg category, the defending gold medalist at the Pan American Games, Naomi GRAHAM from the USA, was defeated by the 23-year-old Citlalli Vanessa ORTIZ from Mexico. The Mexican talent displayed remarkable speed and relentless aggression, delivering powerful blows and securing a decisive 5:0 victory. With this win, she advances in the brackets and sets up a meeting with Tammara Amanda THIBEAULT of Canada, the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist. THIBEAULT was a convincing winner in her match against Maryelis Andreina YRIZA BURGUILLOS, earning maximum points from all five judges in each of the three rounds.

Moving to the Men’s 51 kg class, the 19-year-old Yunior ALCANTARA REYES of Dominican Republic, with a display featuring impressive punches, left no chances to the Oscar Alberto CASTANEDA JIMENEZ from Mexico as the referee had to halt the contest in round two at 0:43. In the semifinal phase, REYES will have to deal with Roscoe HILL (USA) who got the better over Rio 2016 silver medallist Yuberjen Herney MARTINEZ RIVAS (COL). The Colombian boxer began the first round strong, going to HILL’s body to take the 3-2, however, the America’s boxer experience and impressive counter-attack took over in the second and third rounds to earn the judges’ favore in those rounds to take a 4:1 on points victory. 

It took less than two rounds for Colombia’s Cristian Camilo SALCEDO CODAZZI to defeat the 2022 South American Games bronze medallist Marcelo Alejandro NUNEZ SPARLING of Paraguay in the Men’s 92kg weight category. The 31-year-old from Colombia clearly won round 1 earning five 10/9 from the judges. In round 2 the Colombian forced his opponent into two standing counts ultimately driving home the victory by RSC at 2:06. In the semifinals, he set up a meeting with a formidable opponent as the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Abner TEIXEIRA DA SILVA JUNIOR (BRA). The Brazilian idol was too strong for the Mexican Javier Alejandro CRUZ HERNANDEZ (MEX) who was stunned in all the three rounds by DA SILVIA exceptional blows. 

Fernando Alejandro ARZOLA LOPEZ (CUB) is one win away from reaching the coveted quota place for Paris 2024 as he reached the semifinal phase in the Men’s super heavyweight after triumphing over Canada’s Marcel Jerome MOUAFO FEUJIO. The Cuban athlete left everyone in awe with an exceptional performance, sealing a unanimous 5:0 decision victory over his opponent. Team USA boxer out of Huston Joshua Timothy EDWARDS will be is upcoming challenge at the Pan Am Games as he secured a convincing victory with a maximum points unanimous decision win over Ecuador’s Gerlon Gilmar CONGO CHALA, demonstrating this dominance and determination to advance in the tournament. 

Afternoon Session:

The two-time Olympian from Colombia Ingrit Lorena VALENCIA VICTORIA triumphed against the 2022 South American Games bronze medallist Aldana Florencia LOPEZ (ARG) in a thrilling Women’s 50kg quarterfinal match. Despite losing the first round, the Colombian athlete didn’t give up and fought back in the second and third round to seal the victory. VALENCIA VICTORIA is set to fece off against the Brazilian Caroline BARBOSA DE ALMEIDA who secured a sharp 5:0 against Panama’s Yuliett Iveth HINESTROZA ASPRILLA. 

In the hope of securing a place at Paris 2024, Canada’s McKenzie WRIGHT and Jennifer “La Traviesa” LOZANO will face in the second semifinal match in the Women’s 50kg event as they respectively defeated Costa Rica’s Valeria CARDENAS ABARCA and Venezuela Tayonis CEDENO ROJAS in two close ring battles. 

At the bottom side of the brackets in the Woman’s 54kg event, Helen Michelle SANCHEZ PALACIOS (ECU) did not make it through the medal match as she was stunned by the 2022 South American Games gold medalist Tatiana Regina DE JESUS CHAGAS (BRA). The experience Brazilian boxer executed some sensational combinations and went with an attacking strategy troubling her rival from Ecuador who was not able to block much.

Bout #100 of the boxing tournament at the Pan American Games saw an emotional win of the home idol Denisse Alejandra Arl BRAVO VILCHES (CHI) who clinched a 3:2 split decision win over Scarlett Savannah Rene DELGADO (CAN). Despite clearly loosing the first round, the the Chilean boxer cheered and supported by the the full arena, mounted back in the second and third round driving home the victory. BRAVO VILCHES is now only one win away from securing an Olympic quota place on home soil. 

In the Women’s 66kg class, the 19-year-old Camila Gabriela CAMILO BRAVO from Colombia claimed a 4:1 win over Puerto Rico’s Stephanie PINEIRO AQUINO, earning a spot in the semifinal match against the 2022 South American Games gold medallist Barbara Maria DOS SANTOS (BRA). Despite losing the fist round, the Brazilian landed the better blows, and her strength and determination were decisive in outclassing the 2019 Pan American Games bronze medallist and Tokyo Olympian Maria Altagracia MORONTA HERNANDEZ (DOM), clinching a 4:1 split decision win.

Moving to the Women’s 75kg weight division, Atheyna Bibeichi BYLON of Panama, the 2022 South American Games champion, showcased her prowess and consistency with a dominant performance against Ecuador’s Ingrith Milady MALDONADO DELGADO, securing a commanding 5:0 victory earning a full scorecard (all judges awarded her all rounds). Coming up next for her is Viviane DOS SANTOS PEREIRA (BRA) who used her skills and strong jab to win the contest against Barbados’ Kimberly Lanora GITTENS via unanimous decision. 

Later in the eventing, the spectators of the Centro de Entrenamiento Olìmpico, was able to witness a great boxing show as Michael Douglas DA SILVA TRINDADE (BRA) and Keymberth Jose GONZALEZ SOLORZANO (VEN) jumped on the ring in the Men’s 51kg weight category. In a fierce ring clash, the Venezuelan boxer took the lead in the first round collecting four 10/9 and one 9/10 from the judges. The Brazilian boxer fought back in the second and third round with a display featuring good footwork and exceptional combinations, ultimate clinching a 3:2 split decision win. This last bout marked a successful day for Team Brazil, as all their athletes competing in the boxing tournament emerged victorious, totaling six wins.

In his semifinal match DA SILVA TRINDADE will face off against a formidable opponent as the 2019 Pan American Games bronze medallist from Argentina Ramon Nicanor QUIROGA clinched a 3:2 split decision win over the 23-year old talent from Ecuador Luis Fernando DELGADO VERA. 

Tomorrow action is due to continue at Santiago 2023 with the first Olympic quota places will be awarded in the Women’s 57kg, 60kg and quarterfinals will be contested in the Men’s 63,5kg and 71kg. 

Watch boxing action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

DAY 5: BRAZIL AND CUBA IN THE SPOTLIGHT 

24/10/2023

The Boxing Road to Paris America qualification tournament is ongoing in Santiago de Chile. Today, the round-of-16 matches for the Women’s 57kg category and the quarterfinals for the Men’s 80kg and Men’s 92kg weight classes took place. The tournament features athletes from 26 countries and an Independent team. It is being hosted at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico from October 19th to the 27th, with the goal of securing 30 quota places, the tickets to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Morning session: 

Valeria ARBOLEDA MENDOZA of Colombia delivered an impressive performance in the round-of-16 of the Women’s 57 kg event. She outclassed the experienced Olympian Miguelina HERNANDEZ GARCIA from the Dominican Republic, securing maximum points in each round and, as a result, securing a resounding 5:0 victory. Valeria’s commanding victory positions her as a formidable contender for the coveted Olympic quota place.

In the same weight category, Ashleyann LOZADA MOTTA of Puerto Rico achieved a significant victory over Minerva Magali MONTIEL MERELES, the 2022 South American Games bronze medalist from Paraguay, seizing the opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals. She delivered decisive blows towards the end of the match, impressing all five judges and securing a unanimous decision victory. Her next challenge will be facing Marie-Bathoul AL-AHMADIEH of Canada, who engaged in a fierce bout against Alyssa MENDOZA from the United States. Both boxers exhibited exceptional combinations, with the Canadian boxer narrowly edging out the first and second rounds. In a highly competitive third round, AL-AHMADIEH came out on top, ultimately securing a 3:2 split decision victory. 

Following this bout, all eyes turned to the Men’s 80kg quarterfinal showdown, featuring Jhojan CAICEDO SINISTERRA of Colombia and Arlen LOPEZ CARDONA from Cuba. The Cuban superstar, a two-time Olympic champion, certainly lived up to the expectations. He displayed remarkable boxing skills in the ring and secured a victory by RSC (Referee Stops Contest) in the second round, after causing two standing counts to his opponent. On his journey to a potential third consecutive gold medal at the Pan American Games, Lopez’s next challenge will be against “Turco” Abraham Gabriel BUONARRIGO from Argentina. BUONARRIGO had a challenging match against his Canadian adversary, Keven Emmanuel BEAUSEJOUR, which proved to be an engaging contest with impressive punching from both sides. Ultimately, the Argentinian emerged victorious, securing a 4:1 split decision win at the end of the three rounds.

In the Men’s 92kg class, the stage was set for a spectacular bout as Julio Cesar LA CRUZ PERAZA from Cuba and Andrews Nicolas SALGADO CHAVEZ took to the ring. The two-time Olympic champion, LA CRUZ, showcased his exceptional footwork and devastating punches to outclass the hometown favorite, SALGADO CHAVEZ of Chile, earning a resounding unanimous decision victory. The Cuban legend will now face off against Olympian and 2022 South American Games gold medalist, Julio Cesar CASTILLO TORRES from Ecuador, in the semifinal match. CASTILLO TORRES left no room for doubt in his bout against Mexico’s Rogelio ROMERO TORRES, securing a convincing 5:0 victory. This sets the stage for an eagerly anticipated clash in the semifinals.

Moving forward in the tournament, Keno Marley MACHADO, the defending silver medalist from the 2019 Pan American Games representing Brazil, exhibited a strong tactical performance. He outclassed the 2022 South American Games bronze medalist, Marlon Andres HURTADO COLORADO of Colombia, securing unanimous 10/9 scores from all five judges in each of the three rounds. As he progresses to the semifinals, he will face the challenge of Bryan Ellis Mackenzie COLWELL from Canada. COLWELL secured a 3:2 victory against Yakita Drickie I Tabukuo ASKA of Antigua & Barbuda. The stage is set for an exciting medal match in the upcoming round. 

Afternoon Session 

Omailyn Carolina ALCALA SEGOVIA from Venezuela and Leilany Noshbet REYES MORENO from the Independent Athletes Team made their debut at the Pan American Games boxing tournament in the Women’s 57kg weight division today. ALCALA SEGOVIA, the Venezuelan boxer, came out strong in the first round, impressively securing four 10/9 scores and one 9/10 score from the judges. While her opponent from the Independent Athletes Team mounted a counter-attack in the second round, ALCALA SEGOVIA regained control in the third round, ultimately sealing the victory with a 4:1 decision. She has now set up a meeting with Legnis CALA MASSO (CUB), the silver medalist in the San Salvador Central American Games, who demonstrated her superiority by winning a 4:1 points decision against the 2018 Youth Olympic Games silver medalist from Mexico, Jennifer Yazmin CARRILLO CARRILLO. This upcoming match promises to be an exciting contest between two formidable contenders.

In the same class, was a Brazil vs Argentina match when the 2019 Pan American Games silver medallist and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Jucielen CERQUEIRA ROMEU (BRA) and the 22-year-old Milagros Rosario HERRERA from Buenos Aires jumped on the ring. The Brazilian talent used her skills  and strong jab to clear her bout with maximum points. She is now only one win away to guarantee the coveted spot for Paris 2024. 

In the same weight class, a thrilling Brazil vs. Argentina match unfolded when Jucielen CERQUEIRA ROMEU, the 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist and Tokyo 2020 Olympian from Brazil, faced off against the 22-year-old Milagros Rosario HERRERA from Buenos Aires. CERQUEIRA ROMEU, showcasing her remarkable skills and a powerful jab, decisively won her bout with a perfect score. With this victory, she is now just one win away from securing the coveted spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Later in the evening, the crowd at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico in Santiago was treated to an exceptional match featuring the 20-year-old Jahmal HARVEY from the USA and the experienced Olympian Keevin ALLICOCK from Guyana. The bout was intense, with both boxers adopting aggressive and attacking strategies. After three fierce rounds, the young American talent from Maryland emerged victorious with a unanimous decision. He now awaits his next challenge in the semifinals, where he will face Luiz Gabriel C. O. DO NASCIMENTO from Brazil. DO NASCIMENTO exhibited patience and skill to secure a sharp 5:0 points victory over the 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist, Lucas Alexander FERNANDEZ GARCIA from Uruguay. The stage is set for what promises to be another thrilling match in the upcoming round.

Adding to the list of Cuban advances in the brackets, the fourth of the day, was the 21-year-old southpaw, Saidel Ivan HORTA RODRIGUEZ DEL REY. He edged out the Tokyo 2020 Olympian from Colombia, Yilmar Leandro GONZALEZ LANDAZURY, in a closely contested Men’s 57kg quarterfinal match, ultimately winning by a narrow 3-2 decision. HORTA RODRIGUEZ DEL REY is now set to face Dominican Republic’s Jose Luis DE LO SANTOS FELIZ in the next round. DE LO SANTOS FELIZ displayed consistent power and precision throughout the contest, securing a convincing 5:0 victory against Ecuador’s Jean Carlos CAICEDO PACHITO.

In the Men’s 80kg event, Team Brazil once again stole the spotlight as the 2022 South American Games gold medalist, Wanderley DE SOUZA PEREIRA, celebrated a 5:0 victory over Cristian Javier PINALES from the Dominican Republic. In the upcoming phase, he is slated to face Cedrick BELONY-DULIEPRE, representing Haiti, who secured a spot in the semifinals with a 4:1 victory over Charles Antonio COX of Barbados. This victory brings him one step closer to a medal at the PanAm Games.

The action is set to resume tomorrow, on October 25th, with the quarterfinals in the Women’s 50kg, 54kg, 66kg, 75kg and Men’s 51kg and +92kg taking place in two sessions at 11:00 and 17:00 (Santiago local time).

Watch boxing action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

DAY 4: 22 BOUTS DEFINE QUARTERFINAL BRACKETS

23/10/2023

Today marked another action-packed day of boxing at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olìmpico, as part of the XIX Pan American Games. This event serves as a qualifying event for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The action kicked off at 11:00 local time in Santiago, Chile, marking the start of another exciting day of boxing.

Morning Session:

The day commenced with the Women’s 54kg round of 16 contest, featuring Yoseline PEREZ from the United States of America and Yeni Marcela ARIAS CASTAÑEDA, who had previously clinched the silver medal at the 2022 South American Games and represented Colombia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The young Texan boxer came out with an impressive start, earning four 10/9 scores from the judges in the first round. However, the Colombian talent displayed resilience in the subsequent rounds, mounting a strong comeback. In the end, Arias Castañeda secured a hard-fought victory with a 4:1 split decision, showcasing determination in the ring.

In another thrilling matchup, Angie Paola VALDES PANA, the gold medalist from the 2022 South American Games, represented Team Colombia in the Women’s 60kg category. She dominated her match against Tianna Esha Hadhas-Sah GUY (TTO) with a commanding 5:0 victory, obtaining maximum points in each round. Right after, Jessica Maria MUÑOZ NOESI (DOM) faced a formidable opponent in Victoria Oriana SAPUTO, the first Argentine female Olympic medalist, who dashed the hopes of the Dominican Republic’s boxer with a commanding unanimous decision victory.

Argentina continued its celebration as 19-year-old Luciano Matias AMAYA from Buenos Aires delivered an impressive performance against Joshua TOUSSAINT from Dominica. AMAYA’s powerful punching led to two standing counts, and with just two minutes and 11 seconds remaining in the second round, the referee had to stop the match, advancing AMAYA to the quarterfinals. His next opponent is Wyatt SANFORD of Canada who showcased excellent boxing skills in his match against the three-time Olympic bronze medalist Lázaro Jorge ALVAREZ ESTRADA from Cuba, securing a commanding 5:0 victory, as affirmed by all five judges’ scorecards.

El Salvador celebrated the victory of Samuel George CONTRERAS CABRALES in his R16 of the Men’s 63.5 kg event. He dominated his bout against Tokyo 2020 Olympian Alston RYAN of Antigua & Barbuda with a sharp 5-0 performance. In the quarterfinal match, CONTRERAS CABRALES is set to face off against the 21-year-old Yuri FALCAO DOS REIS (BRA), who proved too strong for Tyshawn Cefeso JONES (GRN), overwhelming him before the referee stopped the contest at 2:38 in round three.

In the Men’s 71kg division, Jhonatan ARBOLEDA CHALA from Colombia left no chances for Jhonny FERNANDEZ of the Dominican Republic. The Colombian athlete delivered plenty of powerful punches that attacked FERNANDEZ’s face, sealing a 5-0 unanimous decision victory. Moments later, a fascinating Cuba vs. Mexico match unfolded as Jorge CUELLAR TERRY (CUB) and Marco Alonso VERDE ALVAREZ (MEX) took to the ring. The 21-year-old Mexican displayed an exceptional performance, earning a unanimous 5:0 decision victory over his Cuban rival. Next up for him is the United States of America’s Omari JONES, who left no chances to the young Angel Gabriel LLANOS PEREZ of Puerto Rico, with the judges declaring JONES the winner by 4:0.

The morning session concluded with an intense match between the 2022 South American Games bronze medalist Christiann Jose PALACIO MEDINA (VEN) and the 19-year-old DARRIUS HOWARD of Haiti. The Venezuelan talent displayed a good tactical performance, earning all five judges’ scorecards in all of the rounds to take the unanimous decision victory. 

Afternoon Session:

In the Women’s 54kg division, Tatiana Regina DE JESUS CHAGAS of Brazil, the 2022 South American Games gold medalist, seized her opportunity to advance in the tournament by defeating her opponent Estefany ALMANZAR DE LEON (DOM). Although the Dominican boxer had a strong start in the first round, taking the lead, the Brazilian’s experience and counter-attacks took over in the second and third rounds, resulting in a 3:2 split decision victory for CHAGAS.

Moments later, the crowd at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olìmpico celebrated Denisse Alejandra Arlette Arl BRAVO VILCHES (CHI) as she advanced to the quarterfinals with a resounding 5:0 win on home soil over Nicole Vanessa BARRANTES MATTEY of Costa Rica. In the fierce battle, the Chilean boxer demonstrated her superiority, exhibiting aggressiveness and landing heavy blows to her rival’s face.

In the Women’s 60kg class, Youth Olympic gold medalist Jajaira GONZALEZ (USA) dominated her round of 16 bout against Garinder TAKHAR of Canada, finishing the match in less than 3 minutes, with the referee stopping the contest at 1:59 in round 1. The talent from the United States of America is now only one win away from claiming the Paris 2024 Olympic quota place.

Advancing in the tournament, Beatriz Iasmin SOARES FERREIRA (BRA), the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, and Esmeralda FALCON REYES (MEX), the 2019 Pan American Games bronze medalist, took the spotlight. The Brazilian talent dominated her round of 16 bout, leaving no chances for the Mexican, also known as “La Pantera.” FERREIRA earned five 10/9 scores from the judges in each of the three rounds to secure her spot in the next phase of the tournament.

Joel WILLIAMSON (GUY) faced a challenging bout against Tokyo 2020 Olympian Alexy Miguel DE LA CRUZ BAEZ (DOM), who won in style by being more aggressive and throwing plenty of punches, securing a 5:0 victory in the Men’s 63.5kg category. In the quarterfinals, he will meet the professional boxer from the United States of America, Emilio Esteban GARCIA, who outclassed the 2022 South American Games bronze medalist Jesus Nazaret COVA ROMERO from Venezuela in a hard-fought match.

Sanji WILLIAMS of Jamaica was unable to overcome the challenge from Mexico’s Miguel Angel MARTINEZ RAMIREZ, who forced the referee to halt the contest in round one at 2:48, securing a dominant victory. In the upcoming challenge, the Mexican orthodox will face Jose Manuel VIAFARA FORY from Colombia, who claimed another victory with a unanimous 5-0 decision over Panama’s Christopher Allan SIMMONS.

In the Men’s 71kg weight category, Canada’s Junior PEKA PETANQUI outclassed the Tokyo 2020 Olympian Aaron Solomon PRINCE from Trinidad & Tobago via a 5:0 unanimous decision victory. Both athletes displayed incredible skills and determination in the ring. PETANQUI’s impressive performance culminated in a well-deserved 5:0 unanimous decision victory.

Later in the evening, the local favorite Tomas BARROS CHADWICK (CHI) faced a tough knockout defeat by Joel Marcos MAFAUAD of Argentina in round two of his round-of-16. The Argentinian boxer easily advanced in the brackets and will now meet Jose Gabriel RODRIGUEZ TENORIO (ECU). The boxer from Ecuador claimed a 4:1 split decision win over the Tokyo 2020 Olympian Wanderson DE OLIVEIRA from Brazil, booking a spot in the quarterfinals.

The tournament will continue tomorrow, October 24, with a total of eighteen bouts featuring preliminaries in the Women’s 57kg and the first quarterfinal matches in the Men’s 57kg, 80kg, and 92kg categories.

Watch boxing action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

INTENSE CONTESTS MARK DAY 3 OF THE AMERICAS QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT

22/10/2023

Day three of the Santiago 2023 Boxing Tournament at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico showcased 20 intense bouts across three weight divisions: Women’s 50 kg, Men’s 51 kg, and Men’s 80 kg.

Morning Session:

Aldana Florencia LOPEZ of Argentina, the bronze medalist from the 2022 South American Games, left no room for doubt in her Women’s 50kg bout against Mexico’s Ingrid Alexa GOMEZ GALICIA. LOPEZ asserted her dominance with a commanding 5:0 unanimous decision, winning the first two rounds. Although GOMEZ made a valiant effort in the third, it ultimately fell short of securing her victory.

Yuliett Iveth HINESTROZA ASPRILLA from Panama adopted a patient and defensive approach, earning a 4-1 split decision win over Novoanny NUNEZ FRANCISCO (DOM). HINESTROZA ASPRILLA advanced to the quarterfinals, where she will meet Caroline BARBOSA DE ALMEIDA of Brazil, who also had a convincing victory. She defeated Haiti’s Kathreen Marie STERLING by 5:0, earning maximum points from all the judges in each round.

Valeria CARDENAS ABARCA of Costa Rica had a tough match against her opponent Gracemarie QUILES MARI (PUR). While the boxer from Puerto Rico narrowly secured the opening round, CARDENAS ABARCA fought back in the second and eventually clinched a 4:1 victory with some decisive punches in the third round.

Within the Men’s 51kg category, the 19-year-old Yunior ALCANTARA REYES from the Dominican Republic convincingly outperformed the Canadian contender, Justin John Sitchon PARINA, securing a unanimous decision victory. ALCANTARA REYES, a young talent from the Dominican Republic, displayed exceptional boxing skills and unwavering determination in the ring, attributes that ultimately led him to triumph.

Shortly after, Yuberjen Herney MARTINEZ RIVAS, the silver medalist from Rio 2016 representing Team Colombia, dominated his round-of-16, leaving no chance for Al Jaleel Ortega JOKHU from Trinidad & Tobago. With two standing counts against JOKHU, the referee had no choice but to halt the contest in the third round, awarding the victory to the more experienced MARTINEZ RIVAS. As he advanced to the quarterfinals, the Colombian boxer is now set to face Roscoe HILL of the United States of America. HILL secured a hard-fought split decision win over Alejandro CLARO FIZ from Cuba. The Cuban athlete utilized his speed, energy, and footwork to claim the first round, but his opponent fought back in the second and third rounds to secure the victory.

In the Men’s 80 kg category, the spotlight shifted to another thrilling contest, featuring the two-time Olympic champion from Team Cuba, Arlen LOPEZ CARDONA, against Gustiniano Abel MINA CAICEDO from Ecuador. With an exceptional performance, the Cuban boxer left spectators in awe, securing a commanding 5:0 victory over his opponent. Thanks to this triumph, LOPEZ is now one step closer to securing his potential third gold medal at the Pan American Games, solidifying his position as one of the most formidable contenders in his weight category.

The crowd at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico in Santiago witnessed an exciting match featuring the local hero Julio ALAMOS MUMBRU (CHI) and Canada’s Keven Emmanuel BEAUSEJOUR. In a tough ring clash, both boxers showed sensational combinations, but BEAUSEJOUR clinched a 3:2 split decision win, earning the right to face off against Abraham Gabriel BUONARRIGO (ARG) in the quarterfinals. The Argentinian boxer, also know as “Turco”, ran out a comfortable 5:0 win over the South American Games bronze medalist Desmond AMSTERDAM of Guyana.

Evening Session:

The evening session kicked off with a Women’s 50kg bout featuring McKenzie WRIGHT from Canada and Aylin Dayana JAMEZ GONZALEZ representing the Independent Athletes Team. The Canadian boxer established her dominance in the opening round, earning five scores of 10/9 from the judges. She continued her strong performance in the second round with three scores of 10/9 and two scores of 9/10. While AMEZ GONZALEZ mounted a comeback in the third round, it fell short of securing her the victory.

The home favorite Kim-Berly J. M. SANDOVAL SANDOVAL (CHI) couldn’t overcome the challenge from Tayonis CEDENO ROJAS of Venezuela, who won via unanimous decision. Next up for the Venezuelan boxer is Jennifer “La Traviesa” LOZANO of Team United States of America, who clinched a 3:2 split decision win over Susan Meylin AGUAS CHAL from Ecuador.

In the Men’s 51kg weight category, Michael Douglas DA SILVA TRINDADE of Brazil delivered a convincing victory today, showcasing his exceptional boxing skills and unwavering determination. He secured a unanimous 5:0 decision victory over Hansell Josue LOPEZ SANCHEZ (EAI). The Brazilian contender now advances to the quarterfinals, where he is set to face Venezuela’s Keymberth Jose GONZALEZ SOLORZANO, who also secured a unanimous decision victory over Barbados’ Jabali George BREEDY.

Later in the evening, the crowd at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico of Santiago enjoyed a thrilling match between Hector Fabian TAPIA CERDA (CHI) and Ramon Nicanor QUIROGA (ARG). The Chilean supporters were left disappointed as the local hero was outscored by the Argentinian QUIROGA, who took the lead since round one and secured a resounding 5:0 victory.

Wanderley DE SOUZA PEREIRA, the gold medalist from the 2022 South American Games representing Brazil, proved to be too strong for Wyatt Denzel TRUJILLO BARILLAS (EAI). The Brazilian athlete employed his skills and potent jabs to secure early points, and after sending TRUJILLO BARILLAS to the canvas twice, the contest was halted in the second round, granting DE SOUZA PEREIRA the victory. As he advances in the brackets, DE SOUZA PEREIRA is now set to face Cristian Javier PINALES (DOM). PINALES triumphed after an extremely close and intense match against Robby GONZALES (USA). The Dominican boxer started strong in the first round, earning maximum points from all the judges. Although GONZALES launched a counter-attack in the second round, PINALES came out on top in the third round, securing a 3:2 split decision victory.

Charles Antonio COX representing Barbados edged Puerto Rico’s Eliezer Omar BRITO CARABALLO in a notable round-of-16 contest. COX went on the offensive and landed powerful blows that forced the referee to stop the contest in the third round. In his quarterfinal bout, he will face Cedrick BELONY-DULIEPRE of Haiti, who produced a good tactical display to beat the Jamaican boxer Jaden ECCLESTON with a controlled 5:0 win.

The tournament will continue tomorrow, October 22, with twenty-two exciting round-of-16 bouts in the Women’s 54kg, 60kg, as well as in the Men’s 63.5kg and 71kg weight divisions.

Watch boxing action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

DAY 2 AT SANTIAGO 2023: TWO-TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPION LA CRUZ MAKES HIS DEBUT

20/10/2023

Day 2 of the Boxing Tournament at the Pan American Games commenced with eight electrifying bouts at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico in Santiago, Chile. The sole scheduled session for the day featured athletes from the Women’s 75kg and Men’s 92kg weight categories who displayed unwavering determination to progress further in the tournament.

Women’s 75kg

In the Women’s 75kg category, the 22-year-old Citlalli Vanessa ORTIZ from team Mexico put on an impressive performance, dominating her bout against Yakelin ESTORNELL ELIZASTIGUE of Cuba. She secured a convincing 5:0 victory and earned her place in the quarterfinals of the tournament. The Mexican talent controlled the pace of the match, showcasing remarkable footwork and earning five 10/9 scores from the judges in each of the three rounds.

Canada’s Tammara Amanda THIBEAULT (CAN), the silver medalist at the 2019 Pan American Games and the gold medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, cleared her bout against Milena Altagracia JIMENEZ CASTILLO from the Dominican Republic in under 3 minutes. THIBEAULT displayed an all-out offensive strategy, delivering powerful blows that resulted in three standing counts over JIMENEZ CASTILLO. The referee had to stop the contest in round 1 at 2:51. Thibeault is now set to face Maryelis Andreina YRIZA BURGUILLOS from Venezuela, who secured a convincing 5:0 unanimous decision win in her bout against Colombia’s Luisa Fernanda VASQUEZ CORTES.

Moments later, two-time Olympian Atheyna Bibeichi BYLON of Panama showcased her exceptional talent and boxing skills in a match against Eyed Angel GEORGE from Trinidad and Tobago. BYLON picked up the pace and landed several strong punches, forcing the referee to stop the contest in round 2 after two standing counts.

The morning featured a highly anticipated continental rivalry match between Viviane DOS SANTOS PEREIRA from Brazil and Lorena Soledad BALBUENA from Argentina. The Brazilian boxer adopted an aggressive strategy, troubling her opponent, who struggled to defend against her attacks. At the end, DOS SANTOS PEREIRA secured a 5:0 victory on points.

Men’s 92kg

The Men’s 92kg category witnessed a monumental clash as the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba, Julio Cesar LA CRUZ PERAZA, faced off against United States of America’s Jamar TALLEY. La CRUZ’s masterful display of boxing skills continued to impress the audience. The Cuban dominated his round of 16 bout, carefully studying his opponent in the first round by moving around the ring before going on the offensive with a dodge-and-hit style. He left no chances for his American rival and secured a unanimous decision victory, advancing to the quarterfinals. La Cruz moves one step closer to potentially clinching another gold medal at the Pan American Games, further solidifying his status as one of the sport’s true legends.

In the following bout, the 20-year-old Marlon Andres HURTADO COLORADO from Colombia also left his mark by securing a convincing 5:0 decision win over Daniel GUZMAN from the Dominican Republic.

The final bout of the day featured Yakita Drickie I Tabukuo ASKA from Antigua & Barbuda and Emmanuel POMPEY from Guyana. ASKA showcased his boxing skills and determination, earning a unanimous 4:1 points victory and booking a spot in the quarterfinals.

The excitement continues in Santiago, Chile, with twenty thrilling bouts spread across two sessions scheduled for tomorrow. The first session starts at 11:00, and the second at 17:00 (local time). Tomorrow’s matches will include the Women’s 50kg, Men’s 51kg, and Men’s 80kg preliminary round-of-16 matches. Boxing enthusiasts can look forward to more action-packed bouts in the coming days as these talented athletes battle for supremacy as well as for Paris 2024 Olympic quotas at the Pan American Games. 

Make sure to stay updated with the latest competition information, results, schedules, and additional content by visiting the official website of the Pan American Games.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

BOXING TOURNAMENT BEGINS TODAY AT THE PAN AMERICAN GAMES

19/10/2023

Today marked the start of the Boxing Tournament at the 19th Panamerican Games, taking place at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico in Santiago de Chile. This event features the participation of 174 boxers from 26 different countries and an Independent Team. The competition will unfold over a span of nine days, running from October 19 to 27. During this time, athletes will compete in 13 events, all with the aim of securing both Panamerican titles and medals, as well as the coveted 30 quota places for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. These slots represent the desired tickets to the forthcoming Olympics.

Morning Session

The Women’s 66kg round-of-16 bout, featuring Alesha JACKMAN from Guyana and Lucia Noelia PEREZ representing Argentina, kicked off the first session of the event. In a swift and dominating performance, Argentina’s PEREZ emerged victorious in less than two rounds when the referee stopped the contest at 1 minute and 52 seconds of the second round. This decisive victory showcased PEREZ’s skill and determination in this competitive match, securing her advancement in the tournament.

Moments later, in the Men’s 57 kg weight category, Guyana’s Keevin ALLICOCK easily advanced past his round of 16 bout against Irvin Javier IBARGUEN MONA from Panama (PAN). He overwhelmed his opponent before the referee stopped the contest at 1 minute and 32 seconds into the second round.

Luiz Gabriel DO NASCIMENTO C. O. (BRA) secured his place in the advancing brackets by dominating his bout against Canadian boxer Victor TREMBLAY. The Brazilian DO NASCIMENTO forced his opponent into a standing count at 1 minute and 44 seconds into the second round, impressively earning four 10/8 scores and one 10/9 from the judges. DO NASCIMENTO will now face off against Uruguay’s Lucas Alexander FERNANDEZ GARCIA, who achieved a resounding 5:0 unanimous decision victory over Juan Eai REYES DONIS (EAI). This sets the stage for an exciting and highly anticipated matchup in this competitive weight category.

In the Men’s 63.5 kg class, 19-year-old Luciano Matias AMAYA of Argentina displayed his excellent boxing skill as he outclassed Leodan PEZO SABOYA from Peru. With only one minute and 23 seconds remaining in the first round, the referee had to stop the match due to injury, thus advancing AMAYA to the round of 16.

Moving on to the Men’s 92kg division, the spectators were treated to a display of heavy punches by Colombia’s Cristian Camilo SALCEDO CODAZZI (COL). He secured a unanimous points victory with a score of 5-0 against Nigel Carlan Thomas PAUL from Trinidad and Tobago. In the following bout, Delroy JNO CHARLES from Dominica (DMA) withdrew from his round-of-16 bout, granting a walkover win to his opponent, Fernando Alejandro ARZOLA LOPEZ of Cuba. 

Afternoon session

In the Women’s 66kg event, Stephanie PINEIRO AQUINO (PUR) had a tough bout against her Venezuelan opponent Yuliannys Nazareth ALVAREZ FRANCO. The opening round was closely contested with the boxer from Puerto Rico edging ahead by the barest of margins. However, ALVAREZ FRANCO mounted a comeback in the second round, showcasing her determination and skill. With both boxers going at it in the third round, PINEIRO AQUINO landed some decisive punches to drive home the victory earring five 10/9 from the judges. 

Arianne IMBERT LAMOTE of Cuba had a challenging time against Maria Altagracia MORONTA HERNANDEZ (DOM), who won in style being more aggressive and landing some heavy blows to the Cuban’s face. The referee had to stop the contest in the first round, after barely 52 seconds of boxing, awarding the victory to the Dominican Republic’s boxer. 

Cuban talent Saidel Ivan HORTA RODRIGUEZ DEL REY , making his debut at the Pan American Games, delivered an exceptional performance in the Men’s 57kg category. The 21-year-old showcased his dominance with a convincing unanimous decision victory (5-0) over Miguel Fernando VEGA BARRERAS from Mexico. HORTA now advances in the tournament, where he is set to face Yilmar Leandro GONZALEZ LANDAZURY from Colombia, who secured a split decision victory (4-1) over Caleb Josue TIRADO PAGAN of Puerto Rico. In an electrifying match, the Dominican Republic’s Jose Luis DE LO SANTOS FELIZ secured a remarkable victory over the Rio 2016 silver medalist, Yoel Segundo FINOL RIVAS of Venezuela. Both athletes displayed exceptional combinations, but in the end it was DE LO SANTOS FELIZ who sealed the deal with a hard-fought 4-1 split decision victory, proving to be a formidable contender in the ring.

In the Men’s 63.5 kg weight category, Jose Manuel VIAFARA FORY of Colombia made the most of his opportunity to advance. He overwhelmed his opponent, Kervens BOUCHE from Haiti, leading the referee to stop the contest at 1 minute and 45 seconds into the second round.

The home crowd had the chance to witness an exciting bout as Miguel Angel VELIZ CORREA of Chile faced off against Ecuador’s Gerlon Gilmar CONGO CHALA in the Men’s +92kg category. Both boxers put on a spectacular display of punching prowess, with CONGO CHALA narrowly securing a 3-2 split decision victory.

The action at the Pan American Games continues with a single session on Friday, October 20, starting at 11:00 local time in Santiago. This session will feature the preliminary round of 16 in the Women’s 75kg and Men’s 92kg categories, promising more thrilling bouts and excellent displays of boxing skill. 

Make sure to stay updated with the latest competition information, results, schedules, and additional content by visiting the official website of the Pan American Games.

You can also check our photo galleries, here.

OFFICIAL DRAW UNVEILS 174 BOXERS COMPETING AT SANTIAGO 2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

18/10/2023

The Technical Meeting and the Official Draw for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games took place today, October 18, at the official Teams Hotel Marina Las Condes.

Commencing from October 19 and until October 28, an outstanding roster of 174 boxers from 26 National Olympic Committees and an Independent Team will engage in fierce competition across 13 weight categories. They will vie for one of the highly coveted 30 Paris 2024 qualification slots, at stake at the 19th Pan American Games. The boxing tournament will take place at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico, featuring two daily sessions at 11:00 and 17:00 (Santiago local time). An exception to this schedule will be observed on October 20, when only the morning session is planned.

The Official Draw followed the Technical Meeting, presented by the the Head of PBU Rodrigo Garcia, the PBU Head of Boxing Operations Breno Pontes, and the competition’s Technical Delegate, Liang Yuan.

Marking the fourth leg of the Boxing Road to Paris qualification series, this Santiago 2023 Pan American Games constitutes a significant juncture in the journey towards the Paris Olympics in 2024. This pathway includes five continental tournaments and two world qualifiers. Following the conclusion of the Pan American Games, attention will turn to the Pacific Games, set to take place from November 27 to December 2. Looking forward to 2024, the road to the Olympics will culminate in two World Qualifiers scheduled to be held in Busto Arsizio, Italy, and Bangkok, Thailand, in March and May, respectively.

For updates and insights related to the event, stay tuned to the Athlete 365 Boxing Corner website, where regular posts will keep you informed. 

Additionally, more information can be found on the official Pan American Games website.

For the complete Official Draw Sheets, visit the bottom of this page.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES: THE FOURTH QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT ON THE BOXING ROAD TO PARIS 2024 IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF

18/10/2023

The 19th edition of the Pan American Games, a historical first in Chile, promises to be a great showcase of boxing. Running from October 20 to November 5, 2023, the city of Santiago will play host to this continental event.

The Centro Nacional de Entrenamiento Olímpico will serve as the stage for the fourth leg of the Boxing Road to Paris 2024 qualification pathway. Here, athletes from North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean will converge, aiming to clinch the coveted spots for the upcoming Olympic Games.

This event is part of a series of seven qualification tournaments, taking place from June 2023 to May 2024. Five continental qualification tournaments in 2023 will be followed by two world qualification tournaments in the early months of 2024. In total, 248 Quota Places, equally divided between men and women, are up for grabs across 13 weight categories, providing boxers with the opportunity to transform their Olympic aspirations into reality.

At the Centro Nacional de Entrenamiento Olímpico, some of the finest boxers from the Americas will compete for supremacy. The stakes are high, with a total of 30 Olympic quota places for Paris 2024 up for grabs, with 16 allocated to women and 14 to men at the Pan American Games 2023. The tournament features 13 weight categories, including seven men’s events and six women’s events.

In four of the six women’s weight divisions and in all seven men’s divisions, the top two athletes will obtain spots for Paris 2024. The exceptions occur in the women’s 57kg and 60kg events, where the top four athletes will secure quotas.

A total of 174 athletes from 27 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are poised to compete in the Chilean capital. Several notable contenders have emerged as ones to watch:

Cuba, the second most successful boxing nation in Olympic history, boasts an impressive roster. Rio 2016 gold medalist Julio César la Cruz (Men’s 92kg) and Tokyo 2020 gold medalists Arlen Lopez (Men’s 80kg) are ready to showcase their exceptional boxing skills.

Team USA at Santiago 2023 boxing event will be led by Rahim ‘Robby’ Gonzales in the Men’s 80kg category, but they also have Naomi Graham in Women’s 75kg, the sole Olympian on their roster, aiming for a historic back-to-back gold medal performance at the Pan American Games.

Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira is expected to be a strong contender in the Women’s 60kg weight category, having previously secured the Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020. Her compatriot Wanderson de Oliveira, who participated in the last Olympic Games and finished 5th, seems to have developed consistency to complement his exciting defensive style. It could be his time to shine in the Men’s 71kg division.

Experienced Colombian boxer Ingrit Valencia, a Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medal winner, will strive to defend her Women’s 50kg title.

Last but not least, Canadian Tammara Thibeault aims to reassert her dominance in the Women’s 75kg category. She previously secured the silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games and the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Stay connected for the latest updates, photos, and results, all of which will be available on the Athlete 365 Boxing Corner website, accessible at boxing.athlete365.org. 

Watch boxing action live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

Find additional information on the event on the Santiago 2023 official website.

Boxing Road to Paris: Host Cities and Dates of 2024 World Qualifiers Unveiled

25/08/2023

The Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) has officially announced the host cities and the dates for the two World Qualification Tournaments, where boxers from around the globe will compete for a spot at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The first world qualification tournament will take place in Busto Arsizio, Italy – from 29 February to 12 March, 2024. The event will allocate 49 quota places (21 Women and 28 Men). 

The second world qualification tournament will be held in Bangkok, Thailand – from 23 May to 3 June, 2024. By the end of the tournament, the remaining 51 quotas places will be awarded and the boxing qualification period for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be finalized.

The two World Qualification Tournaments ensure that each National Olympic Committee (NOC) will have up to three qualification opportunities on their Boxing Road to Paris. 

As per the Paris 2024 Qualification System for Boxing, NOCs will only be able to enter athletes at the World Qualification Tournaments in the specific weight categories where they have not yet been allocated and confirmed a quota place. 

For more details regarding the Boxing Road to Paris qualification pathway, please refer to the Qualification System (link).

IOC Executive Board recommends to IOC Session to withdraw recognition of International Boxing Association

08/06/2023

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today recommended to the IOC Session to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA), in accordance with Rule 3.7 of the Olympic Charter (OC).

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today recommended to the IOC Session to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA), in accordance with Rule 3.7 of the Olympic Charter (OC).

Find the full news on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) website, here https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-executive-board-recommends-to-ioc-session-to-withdraw-recognition-of-international-boxing-association

Paris 2024 boxing qualification system to achieve a fair process for all NOCs

06/12/2022

The delivery model for the Paris 2024 Olympic boxing competition and Olympic boxing qualifiers was discussed today by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Designed by the IOC in close collaboration with boxing experts, the Olympic qualification system focuses on:

• Achieving a fair process for all NOCs – with the same number of qualification events available to their boxers, regardless of weight category;
• An increased number of qualification opportunities in comparison to Tokyo 2020;
• Retaining the Athlete Eligibility Criteria successfully used in the Tokyo 2020 boxing qualification system;
• Reviewing the quota place distribution per weight category in comparison to the International Boxing Association (IBA)’s proposal; and
• Reviewing the quota place distribution per qualification tournament in comparison to IBA’s proposal.

The new qualification system was approved by the IOC EB in September and is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of NOC regional multisport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments. Following the continental phase of the quota place allocation, two world qualification tournaments are planned to be held in 2024, with the goal of providing a balance in terms of geographical opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Details can be found here.

This process puts boxers first, reducing the complexity of the qualification process by using existing regional events and giving up to three qualification opportunities, ultimately achieving a fair and equal pathway for all boxers.

The “Paris 2024 Boxing Event Regulations” for the qualification tournaments and the Olympic Games are due to be published as early as possible in 2023.

With regard to anti-doping, the testing at the Olympic qualification tournaments will be carried out in addition to IBA’s existing programme, in close collaboration with the International Testing Agency (ITA). 

New boxing qualification system approved for Paris 2024

08/09/2022

A new boxing qualification system for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was approved by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today after a full update on the situation of boxing, including governance issues within the International Boxing Association (IBA). 

Boxers’ pathway to Paris 2024 approved

After deciding last June that the boxing qualifying events and competitions for Paris 2024 would not be run under the authority of the IBA, the IOC EB was presented with an additional qualification model, which was approved during its meeting in Lausanne.

Designed by the IOC in close collaboration with boxing experts, the new qualification system is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of National Olympic Committee (NOC) regional multisport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments. The responsibility for the boxing competitions in the following events will therefore not lie with the IBA, and alternative arrangements will be put in place with the respective event organisers:

• Pan-American Games – Santiago 2023
• European Games – Krakow 2023
• Pacific Games – Honiara 2023
• Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022 (taking place in 2023)
• ANOCA (Africa) multisport event to be confirmed

Following the continental phase of the quota place allocation, two world qualification tournaments are planned to be held in 2024.

The new Olympic qualification process puts boxers first, lowering the complexity of the qualification process by using existing regional events and giving up to three qualification opportunities, ultimately achieving a fair and equal pathway for all boxers.

Remaining concerns over IBA

The various IOC concerns around the governance of the IBA, including the refereeing and judging process and the IBA’s financial dependency on the state-owned company Gazprom, are still ongoing.

The IOC EB today received a report on the issues related to competition management and refereeing and judging processes highlighted by independent experts during the boxing competition at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

It also noted that no clear efforts have been made by the IBA to respect and fully implement the roadmap set out by the IOC EB in December 2021 with regard to the IBA’s governance.

As a consequence, the IOC EB has sent a letter to the IBA informing it of the IOC’s ongoing grave concern. Boxing is currently not included in the sports programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and, considering the absence of any real evolution, the IOC Executive Board is not in a position to reverse its decision. This letter will be shared with the NOCs and national boxing federations.

IOC EB: IBA not in position to run qualifying events and boxing competitions for Paris 2024

24/06/2022

In the interest of the athletes and the boxing community, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that the boxing qualifying events and competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will not be run under the authority of the International Boxing Association (IBA).

The decision is centred on the athletes and the need to provide certainty on the Olympic competitions and qualifications leading to Paris 2024. It follows the continuing and very concerning issues of the IBA, such as its governance and its refereeing and judging system.

The IOC administration will finalise on an exceptional basis alternative models for the organisation of these boxing competitions, working closely with the Paris 2024 Organising Committee and athletes’ representatives. The outcomes of these discussions and suggested recommendations will then be presented to the IOC EB in due course.

Whether or not boxing will be included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 will be discussed at a later stage.

Continuing concerns

The various IOC concerns around the governance of the IBA, including the refereeing and judging process and its financial dependency on the state-owned company Gazprom, are still ongoing.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on 14 June 2022 that the decision of the IBA Interim Nominations Unit, which had deemed the presidential candidate Boris van der Vorst and three other electoral candidates ineligible for election the day prior to the scheduled IBA elections, had been overturned. The CAS arbitrator accepted the request that they be reinstated as eligible candidates. Furthermore, the CAS stated that Umar Kremlev had committed the same rule violation yet had been admitted to the election as the sole candidate.

With regard to the planned IBA qualification pathway to Paris 2024, the IOC EB noted that no host-city agreements had been signed for the qualification competitions and that there was an insufficient number of certified referees and judges to deliver the planned events.

Background information

Following an investigation and report by an IOC Inquiry Committee in 2019, recognition of the International Boxing Association (at that time still called AIBA) was suspended by the IOC. This suspension is still in force today. Following the suspension, the IOC created a special Task Force with the remit to deliver the qualification events for the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Led by IOC Member and President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe, the Boxing Task Force delivered a clear, fair and transparent pathway for boxers to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and ensured a fair and just competition, both on the road to Tokyo and at the Games.

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