USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team Set to Compete at World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 in Brazil

USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team is gearing up to compete at its second international event in 2026. Team USA is traveling to Brazil for the first World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 in Foz do Iguazu, Brazil, marking the first competition to provide ranking points for Team USA in 2026. The World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 in Brazil will be hosted at the Rafain Palace Hotel, with competition scheduled from March 20 through 26.

The Stars and Stripes will send 13 boxers to compete in Brazil, including seven women and six men. USA Boxing is coming off an eye-popping first international tournament, where it earned seven medals at the 77th International Boxing Tournament: Strandja 2026, including one gold, one silver and five bronze.

On the women’s team, USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance will be led by team captain and Paris 2024 Olympian, Alyssa Mendoza. The Idaho native secured a bronze medal at the 77th International Boxing Tournament: Strandja 2026, and will look to add to her medal count in Brazil within the 57-kilogram division.

Yoseline Perez (54 kilograms), Simona Winkler (70 kilograms) and Naomi Graham (75 kilograms) will also compete for Team USA in Brazil after earning bronze medals at the 77th International Boxing Tournament: Strandja 2026. Rounding out the United States’ women’s roster are Noelle Haro (51 kilograms), Marie-Angelis Rosendo (65 kilograms) and Alisha Crockett.

Haro will make her international tournament debut for USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team in Brazil. Additionally, Kendra Samargis (75 kilograms) will travel to Brazil to participate in the acclimation camp and gain international experience.

On the Men’s roster, the USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team will be led by captain Salim Ellis-Bey (60 kilograms). The Philadelphia native earned two wins at his first elite international tournament in Bulgaria earlier this year and will now look to secure his first elite international medal in Brazil.

Lorenzo Patricio (55 kilograms) will also compete for the United States in Brazil, after earning a silver medal at the 77th International Boxing Tournament: Strandja 2026. The Waianae, Hawaii, native scored four wins in Sofia, Bulgaria, earlier this year, showcasing his potential within his first year of Elite international competition.

Rounding out Team USA’s men’s contingent in Brazil are Marcus Luther (65 kilograms), Tyric Trapp (80 kilograms), Malachi Georges (90 kilograms) and Kelvin Watts (90+ kilograms). Trapp and Georges were elevated from the Elite High Performance Squad to compete in place of Robby Gonzales and Joseph Awinongya, respectively.

USA Boxing will be led at the World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2026 by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and assisted by National Development Coach Edward Fonteneaux (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Elite High Performance Coach Nikki Burleson (Oklahoma City, Okla.). In addition to Walsh, Fonteneaux and Burleson, Elite High Performance pool coach Billy Rafalko (Philadelphia, Pa.) will also assist in the coaching efforts in Brazil.