Noelle Haro and Marcus Luther Advance to Quarterfinals at World Boxing Cup: China 2026

Team USA closed out a perfect day of competition on Thursday at the World Boxing Cup: China 2026 in Guiyang City, China, with victories from both American boxers in action. The United States advanced two more boxers into the quarterfinals heading into day five and will look to continue its successful run with six more boxers set to compete on Friday.

Noelle Haro (51 kilograms) sparked the United States' successful day with a 3-2 victory over Mongolia's 2024 Paris Olympian Yesugen Oyuntsetseg in the 51-kilogram division. Haro dropped the opening round 4-1 but showed her resilience by bouncing back to win the second round 3-2 and the final round 4-1, securing the hard-fought victory.

Marcus Luther (65 kilograms) provided excitement in his 65-kilogram matchup against Brazil’s 2025 World Boxing Championships silver medalist Yuri Falcao. Luther trailed after the first round, but chipped away at his opponent and trimmed his deficit as the Washington, D.C., native won the second round 3-2. Luther completed the comeback with a dominant final round, earning a 5-0 score in the third round to secure the 3-2 victory.

Both Luther and Haro will return to action on Friday, along with four more Team USA boxers in the quarterfinals. Getting the day started for the Stars and Stripes is two-time 2026 international medalist Simona Winkler (70 kilograms). The Seattle native will enter the ring for the second time in China and will face England’s Chantelle Reid for the second time in 2026. These two boxers went head-to-head earlier this year at the World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2026, where Winkler punched her ticket to the medal round after defeating Reid by a 4-1 split decision. Winkler will now face Reid again on Friday in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 6, at approximately 1:15 a.m. ET.

Team USA will then have its team captain, Salim Ellis-Bey, enter the ring to face Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov, the 2025 World Boxing Championships gold medalist and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold medalist. Ellis-Bey will face Khalokov in Session 1, Ring A, Bout 9 at approximately 2:00 a.m. ET.

Moving on to the second session, the United States will have four boxers in action on Friday. Haro will return to the ring for the second consecutive day, as she will face China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medalist Yu Wu in Session 2, Ring B, Bout 2 at approximately 6:45 a.m. ET.

Following Haro, Marie Rosendo (65 kilograms) will make her quarterfinal appearance against Kazakhstan’s 2025 World Boxing Championships gold medalist Aida Abikeyeva in Session 2, Ring A, Bout 3 at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET.

Rounding out Friday for the Stars and Stripes are Lorenzo Patricio (55 kilograms) and Marcus Luther (65 kilograms). Patricio will be the first of the two Americans to go, as he will face Mongolia’s Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu for the second time this year after defeating Kharkhuu 5-0 in the semifinals at the 77th International Boxing Tournament. The Hawaii native will look to advance to the medal round when he enters the ring in Session 2, Ring B, Bout 6 at approximately 7:45 a.m. ET.

Luther will conclude Team USA's day as he looks to secure a spot in the medal round. Luther will face Germany’s Mohamed Siala in Session 2, Ring A, Bout 7 at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET.

At the World Boxing Cup: China 2026, USA Boxing will be led by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and assisted by Elite High Performance Coach Nikki Burleson (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Billy Rafalko (Philadelphia, Pa.).

To view brackets, bout sheets, and all other tournament information for the World Boxing Cup: China 2026, fans can navigate to the event page, linked HERE.

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Thursday, June 18 Results

Women’s 51kg: Noelle Haro, USA vs. Yesugen Oyuntsetseg, MGL | W 3-2
Men’s 65kg: Marcus Luther, USA vs. Yuri Falcao, BRA | W 3-2

Friday, June 19 Schedule

Women’s 70kg: Simona Winkler, USA vs. Chantelle Reid, ENG, Session 1, Ring B, Bout 6, at approximately 1:15 a.m. ET

Men’s 60kg: Salim Ellis-Bey, USA vs. Abdumalik Khalokov, UZB in Session 1, Ring A, Bout 9 at approximately 2:00 a.m. ET

Women’s 51kg: Noelle Haro, USA vs Yu Wu, CHN in Session 2, Ring B, Bout 2 at approximately 6:45 a.m. ET

Women's 65kg: Marie Rosendo, USA vs. Aida Abikeyeva, KAZ in Session 2, Ring A, Bout 3 at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET.

Men's 55kg: Lorenzo Patricio, USA vs. Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu, MGL in Session 2, Ring B, Bout 6 at approximately 7:45 a.m. ET

Men’s 65kg: Marcus Luther, USA vs. Mohamed Siala, GER in Session 2, Ring A, Bout 7 at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET