Six USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Members Graduate in 2025
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by USA Boxing
Six members of the 2025 USA Boxing Youth High Performance team have graduated from their respective institutions at the end of the 2025 academic year. The six graduating team members include Joscelyn Olayo-Munoz and Salim Ellis-Bey, both of whom are team captains, Lorenzo Juanito Patricio (men’s 50 kg), Laila Zakirova (women’s 51 kg), Joseph Awinongya (men’s 80 kg) and Nnajai Wright (men’s 90+ kg).
The six athletes graduating from their respective academic institutions continue to be incredible athletes while pursuing their scholastic endeavors. Serving as a member of the USA Boxing High Performance roster is an achievement that some athletes strive for throughout their entire lives. Patricio, Zakirova, Ellis-Bey, Olayo-Munoz, Wright and Awinongya have already achieved that and so much more while maintaining successful grade-point averages.
“I am so proud of our six graduating athletes as they pursue the next phases of their Olympic-boxing careers,” said USA Boxing Youth High Performance Coach Edward Fonteneaux. “They have shown resiliency and a high standard for excellence in everything they do, and that is something that we strive for every day on the USA boxing Youth High Performance team.”
Contending in the boxing ring at the highest levels, both domestically and internationally, is a feat in and of itself. These six athletes have routinely done just that while traveling to and from training camps and competitions throughout the academic year in the past two years.
While success is a standard for the USA Boxing Youth High Performance team, it should not go unrecognized. Patricio and Awinongya secured gold medals at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships in Pueblo, Colorado. Zakirova competed at that same event and earned a bronze medal. The group has also shown that they are among the best in the nation at their respective weight classes and age divisions and USA Boxing is incredibly proud of the accolades they continue to earn.
Up next for the 2025 USA Boxing Youth High Performance team is the Brandenburg Cup in Frankfurt, Germany. The six graduating athletes, along with the remaining eight athletes on the roster, will look to earn gold medals at the international competition, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 29. The competition will conclude on Sunday, August 3, tying a bow on the lone international tournament for the Youth High Performance roster.
2025 Youth High Performance Graduating Athletes:
Athlete Name | Wt. Class | High School/University | Hometown |
Joscelyn Olayo-Munoz | Women’s 48 kg | Las Cruces H.S. | Las Cruces, N.M. |
Laila Zakirova | Women’s 51 kg | Tottenville H.S. | Staten Island, N.Y. |
Lorenzo Juanito Patricio | Men’s 50 kg | Mililani H.S. | Waianae, Hawaii |
Salim Ellis-Bey | Men’s 60 kg | Franklin Learning Center H.S. | Philadelphia, Pa. |
Joseph Awinongya | Men’s 80 kg | Joliet Junior College | Joliet, Ill. |
Nnajai Wright | Men’s 90+ kg | Thomas Jefferson H.S. | Richmond, Va. |
USA Boxing was established to promote and grow Olympic-style boxing in the United States and to inspire the tireless pursuit of Olympic gold and enable athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence. Additionally, USA Boxing endeavors to teach all participants the character, confidence and focus they need to become resilient and diverse champions, both in and out of the ring. USA Boxing is one team, one nation, going for gold!
