Malachi Georges Powers Team USA to Opening Win at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025

Team USA earned its first victory at the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025 after Malachi Georges delivered a left blow to Italy's Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine, earning a KO in the first round of the 90 kg bout on day one of the tournament.

The Teaneck, N.J., native represents the USA Boxing Elite High Performance team in the heavyweight division, and after earning his first international medal at the World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem, Georges stayed red hot and earned a KO 2:20 into the first round.

Georges was bouncing around the ring with Abbes Mouhiidine to begin the bout. After dodging a left overhand from the Italian boxer, Georges countered with a two-punch combo, landing both blows to the chin of Abbes Mouhiidine.

He will now advance to the quarterfinals and face Kazakhstan's Sagyndyk Togambay on Wednesday, July 2.

Georges was the lone boxer to represent the Stars and Stripes on day one inside the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan. USA Boxing will now shift its focus to day two, where five Americans will take the ring.

Team USA will see three boxers competing in the first session and two boxers in action during the second session. Yoseline Perez (female 54 kg), a two-time international medalist in 2025, will kick things off on Tuesday for Team USA and will box in Ring B, bout No. 2 against South Korea's Aeji Im. Orlando Zamora (male 55 kg) will follow Perez and box Paris 2024 Olympic Games silver medalist Junior Alcantara, from the Dominican Republic, in Ring A, bout No. 6. Rounding out Tuesday's opening session for the Red, White and Blue, is Robby “Rahim” Gonzales (male 80 kg), who will box Australia's Marlon Sevehon in Ring B, bout No. 8.

Closing out Tuesday’s competition for Team USA will be Alyssa Mendoza (female 57 kg) and Thomas Covington (male 60 kg). Mendoza, coming off a gold medal from the World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem, will make her tournament debut against Australia's Julie Ramadan in Ring B, bout No. 3 of the second session. Covington will conclude Tuesday's busy slate for Team USA against Mongolia’s Lundaa Gantumur in Ring B, bout No. 9 of the second session.

USA Boxing Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will lead the charge for Team USA at the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025. National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.), Nicole Burleson (Bethany, Okla.) and Eric Zimmerman (Alexandria, Va.) will assist Coach Walsh throughout the week.

To view brackets, bout sheets, and all other tournament information for the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025, fans can navigate to the event page, linked HERE.

Each session of the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025 will be broadcast live, free of charge, on the World Boxing YouTube page.

Follow USA Boxing on all social media platforms for an inside look at Team USA.