Team USA Learns Their Path to Paris through Bangkok
by Luke Santangelo
Team USA will have seven boxers competing at the second 2024 World Qualifier Tournament. This tournament will represent as the third and final Olympic qualifier and will be held in Bangkok, Thailand. These seven boxers learned their paths to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games including their first round opponents as the tournament draw took place this morning.
This World Qualifier represents as the last opportunity for Team USA boxers to punch their ticket to the Olympics. The event will take place from May 24 until June 2, 2024. The World Qualifier will be held at The Indoor Stadium Huamark and will be home to more than 600 boxers from 133 different nations.
There are 51 remaining quota spots left for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In hopes of turning their lifelong Olympic dreams into reality, Team USA will have to place in the top four of their brackets, except for Rahim Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nevada) and Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas). Gonzales will have to place top three in the 80 kg weight division and Garcia has to place top five in the 63.5 kg weight division.
Alyssa Mendoza (Caldwell, Idaho) will get Team USA started and face off against Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag from Mongolia in the first day of the competition. Mendoza was one of Team USA most dominant boxers in the first World Qualification and made it to the finals but lost on a 3-2 split decision. She looks to continue her domination here in Thailand and punch her ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Saturday will include 2021 World Championship gold medalist Robby Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nev.). He will go up against Ahmed Badrani out of Morocco. Gonzales will be the only Team USA Boxer on Saturday as he looks to punch his Olympic ticket and qualify for Paris in his third Olympic cycle.
As for Sunday, Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas) will shine bright on stage for team USA as he will face Finland’s Lightweight, Ismail Umar. Garcia won two international medals in 2023, including gold at the 2023 Gee Bee International Tournament. Garcia needs to place top 5 in Bangkok, Thailand, to qualify to Paris.
Camden native, Jamar Talley (Camden, N.J.), will represent the stars and stripes on Monday against Ali Faithigovashini from Iran. Talley came up just short in Italy to qualify for Paris but looks to make that leap and punch his ticket to Paris. The American heavyweight won gold at the 2023 Gee Bee International Tournament and AMBC Elite Championship in 2022.
Also going on Monday is Team USA sole Olympian, Naomi Graham (Fayetteville, N.C.). Graham looking to qualify to her second Olympics will face off against Vivlane Pereira out of Brazil.
Shera Mae Patricio (Waianae, Hawaii) will represent Team USA in the featherweight division, and she will face Ulzhan Sarsenbek from Kazakhstan. Patricio joined the Team in January after winning the 2024 U.S Olympic Team Trials. She had an impressive run in Busto Arsizio but fell short on the final day to qualify. The Hawaiian native looks to finish top four and qualify to Paris.
Roscoe Hill (Spring, Texas) will be the last Team USA boxer to start as he secured a bye in the draw. Hill will face the winner of Colombia and Nepal in the flyweight division. Hill has fell just one win away in both Olympic qualifiers and hopes to make the hurdle in his last chance and secure that Olympic ticket.
Team USA is being led by USA Boxing Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.), National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.), as well as National Development Coach Chad Wigle (Colorado Springs, Colo.) along with assistant coaches Adonis Frazier (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Christine Lopez (Rowlett, Texas).
Click here to stay up to date on Team USA seven boxers and their journey in Bangkok, including athlete stories, daily schedule, livestream and more.
Team USA Opening Bout Schedule
Friday, May 24
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, vs Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag, MGL
Saturday, May 25
80 kg: Robby Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, vs. Ahmed Badrani, MAR
Sunday, May 26
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. Ismail Umar FIN
Monday, May 27
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, vs. Vivlane Pereira, BRA
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, vs. Ali Faithigovashini, IRI
Tuesday, May 28
54 kg: Shera Mae Patricio, Waianae, Hawaii/ USA, vs. Ulzhan Sarsenbek, KAZ
Thursday, May 30
51 kg: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas/USA, vs. vs winner of COL vs. NEP