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.
