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Team USA Takes Four More Victories on Second Day of 2021 Junior Pan American Games Qualifier
by USA Boxing
The youth USA Boxing high performance team was back in action this evening for the second day of boxing at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games Qualifier in Mexico, finishing the day 4-1.
Julius Ballo (Santee, Calif.) made an impressive tournament debut with a first-round stoppage against his opponent, Ivan Rudas of Panama. The 2020 USA Boxing Youth National Champion will be right back in the ring in tomorrow’s quarterfinal matchup against Mexico’s Brandon Mejia.
Lightweight Joel Iriarte (Bakersfield, Calif.) picked up where he left off yesterday by taking a 4-1 split decision over Puerta Rico’s William Adrian Ortiz. Iriarte will have a rest day tomorrow before looking for his third victory of the tournament, which would secure him a medal and a spot in Cali later this year.
The first female to step into the ring for Team USA, Jewry Rodriguez (Houston, Texas), did not disappoint in her international debut. The featherweight took all five judges’ cards against Colombia’s Maria Martinez to get one step closer to the championship bout.
Rodriguez’s teammate Jesikah Guerra (Victorville, Calif.) continued Team USA’s winning ways with her own victory over Ecuador’s Kelly Delgado to earn a place in Saturday’s semifinal bout and secures herself a medal.
Light heavyweight Santiago Franco (Portland, Ore.) put up a tough fight against Cuba’s Luis Reynosa, but fell short of taking the judges’ card in a split decision victory.
Joining Ballo in tomorrow’s session will be Kayla Gomez (El Paso, Texas), Donte Layne (Elmont, N.Y.), Steven Navarro (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Quincey Williams (Washington, D.C.).
Competition will begin at 4:00 p.m. CST and can be followed along here.
Day 2 Results
57 kg: Julius Ballo, Santee, Calif./USA, won by KO over Ivan Rudas/PAN, KO
57 kg: Jewry Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, dec. over Maria Martinez/COL, 5-0
63 kg: Joel Iriarte, Bakersfield, Calif./USA, dec. over William Adrian Ortiz/PUR, 4-1
69 kg: Jesikah Guerra, Victorville, Calif./USA, dec. over Kelly Delgado/ECU
81 kg: Luis Reynoso/CUB dec. over Santiago Franco, Portland, Ore., SD
Day 3 Schedule
51 kg: Kayla Gomez, El Paso, Texas/USA, vs. Flor Rodriguez/COL
52 kg: Steven Navarro, Los Angeles, Calif./USA, vs. William Jimenez/VEN
57 kg: Julius Ballo, Santee, Calif./USA, vs. Brandon Mejia/MEX
69 kg: Quincey Williams, Oxon Hill, MD./USA, vs. winner of CHI/MEX
75 kg: Donte Layne, Elmont, N.Y./USA, vs. Cristian Garcia/COL
Julius Ballo (Santee, Calif.) made an impressive tournament debut with a first-round stoppage against his opponent, Ivan Rudas of Panama. The 2020 USA Boxing Youth National Champion will be right back in the ring in tomorrow’s quarterfinal matchup against Mexico’s Brandon Mejia.
Lightweight Joel Iriarte (Bakersfield, Calif.) picked up where he left off yesterday by taking a 4-1 split decision over Puerta Rico’s William Adrian Ortiz. Iriarte will have a rest day tomorrow before looking for his third victory of the tournament, which would secure him a medal and a spot in Cali later this year.
The first female to step into the ring for Team USA, Jewry Rodriguez (Houston, Texas), did not disappoint in her international debut. The featherweight took all five judges’ cards against Colombia’s Maria Martinez to get one step closer to the championship bout.
Rodriguez’s teammate Jesikah Guerra (Victorville, Calif.) continued Team USA’s winning ways with her own victory over Ecuador’s Kelly Delgado to earn a place in Saturday’s semifinal bout and secures herself a medal.
Light heavyweight Santiago Franco (Portland, Ore.) put up a tough fight against Cuba’s Luis Reynosa, but fell short of taking the judges’ card in a split decision victory.
Joining Ballo in tomorrow’s session will be Kayla Gomez (El Paso, Texas), Donte Layne (Elmont, N.Y.), Steven Navarro (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Quincey Williams (Washington, D.C.).
Competition will begin at 4:00 p.m. CST and can be followed along here.
Day 2 Results
57 kg: Julius Ballo, Santee, Calif./USA, won by KO over Ivan Rudas/PAN, KO
57 kg: Jewry Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, dec. over Maria Martinez/COL, 5-0
63 kg: Joel Iriarte, Bakersfield, Calif./USA, dec. over William Adrian Ortiz/PUR, 4-1
69 kg: Jesikah Guerra, Victorville, Calif./USA, dec. over Kelly Delgado/ECU
81 kg: Luis Reynoso/CUB dec. over Santiago Franco, Portland, Ore., SD
Day 3 Schedule
51 kg: Kayla Gomez, El Paso, Texas/USA, vs. Flor Rodriguez/COL
52 kg: Steven Navarro, Los Angeles, Calif./USA, vs. William Jimenez/VEN
57 kg: Julius Ballo, Santee, Calif./USA, vs. Brandon Mejia/MEX
69 kg: Quincey Williams, Oxon Hill, MD./USA, vs. winner of CHI/MEX
75 kg: Donte Layne, Elmont, N.Y./USA, vs. Cristian Garcia/COL